Foods to get a tan (without enduring the beach heat)
Orange, yellow and red products, such as carrots
Yes, there are foods that help you tan. Which ones? Carrots, with which you can make a tanning and sunscreen drink. For two liters, you'll need half a kilo of carrots, a medium-sized red tomato, four tablespoons of green tea, a few sprigs of spearmint, and a lemon. Boil the water with the chopped carrots and tomato for half an hour. Then strain it, and once cool, add the green tea and mint. Let it steep for ten minutes. Finally, squeeze the lemon and let it cool.
Orange, yellow, and red foods, and leafy green vegetables in summer (carrots, peaches, lemons, peppers, and red fruits), also help skin cells produce melanin, which causes pigmentation. A good menu: in the morning, a smoothie made with carrot, mango, lemon, and some green leaves, such as lettuce. For lunch, gazpacho or a salad with lots of green leaves and all the colors of summer fruits. For dinner, grilled fish and vegetables garnished with seaweed.
Vitamin C is important in summer: it's involved in the production of collagen in the skin, which helps keep it supple and elastic. You'll find it in strawberries, lemons, and peppers, for example.
Basic Decalogue for Sun Protection
According to physician Domingo Bodet, from the Dermatology Department at Vall d'Hebron Hospital.
- Broad-spectrum sunscreen with UVA, UVB, and IR filters (SPF+30).
- Use it whenever you are outdoors, even on cloudy days: UV radiation can penetrate clouds.
- Apply sunscreen to dry skin 30 minutes before going outdoors.
- Reapply it every two hours or immediately after swimming, even if you use a "water-resistant" sunscreen.
- Avoid exposure between 12 pm and 5 pm.
- Expose yourself gradually to the sun and avoid sunburn completely.
- Do not put babies in the sun.
- Protect children with a T-shirt, cap, and glasses.
