Is the sun coming in the way of your daily routine? Not only can the sun put a damper on all your everyday activities, it is also responsible for being harmful for your skin. Sun tanning causes dry skin - which can be handled with a little moisturiser. But the sun also breaks down the collagen in your skin (the protein holding skin together). This leads to wrinkles, delays healing, and increases scars.

Did you know that you could eat your way across the battlefiled this summer? Here's how

  • Tomatoes
    Give yourself some extra built-in protection by introducing tomatoes in your diet. It is not a substitute for wearing sunblock, but the red hue in tomatoes makes your skin resilient against the sun, effectively reducing sunburns.
  • Tea
    Green, white, and black tea can protect your skin from harmful UV rays. When consumed on a daily basis, it slows down sun-related aging and can even prevent skin cancer. It is advised to drink two cups of tea (preferably green) a day.
  • Nuts
    Nuts are rich in vitamin E, containing high levels of quercetin -- a flavonoid known to protect skin from UV damage. They are good sources of omega-3 and contain lots of fiber and lignans.
  • Broccoli and leafy greens
    Broccoli and other greens are a great way of preventing and even repairing sun damage. Many greens contain high levels of folic acid, vitamin A, B, and C which help reduce the risk of skin cancer.
  • Sweet potatoes
    Apart from being delicious, sweet potatoes contain high amounts of antioxidant pigments and provide increased UV protection. Carrots and butternut squash are also good sources of beta-carotene.