Tomatoes may 'help keep skin young' and protect against sunburn

No need to waste your money on buying expensive skin creams.

Scientists say tomatoes may provide the best defence to keeping skin looking young and safe from sun damage.

Tests has shown that eating tomato paste could help protect against sunburn and skin ageing caused by sunlight exposure.

The age-defying ingredient is lycopene - the natural pigment that makes tomatoes red - with highest levels found in processed or cooked tomatoes used in ketchup, paste, soup and juice.

In the study, women eating a diet rich in processed tomatoes had increased skin protection, as seen by a reduction in skin redness and less DNA damage from ultraviolet (UV) exposure.

Researchers compared the skin of 20 women, half of whom were given five tablespoons (55g) of standard tomato paste with 10g of olive oil every day for 12 weeks.

The effects on their skin were compared with the remaining volunteers, aged between 21 and 47, eating just olive oil for the same length of time.

The volunteers were exposed to UV rays found in sunlight at the beginning and end of the trial.

The researchers found significant improvement in the skin's ability to protect itself against UV among those eating tomato paste.

Compared with the other women, the tomato-eating group had 33 per cent more protection against sunburn in the form of less redness.

The researchers calculated that protection offered by the tomato paste to be equivalent to a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 1.3.

Skin samples taken from groups before and after trial showed an increase in levels of procollagen, a molecule which gives skin its structure and loss of which leads to skin ageing and lack of elasticity.

There was also less damage to mitochondrial DNA in the skin, which is also linked to skin ageing.

Dermatology scientist Prof Mark Birch-Machin from Newcastle University said the tomato paste eaten was not overly excessive, but the amount that would be consumed from a lot of tomato-based meals.

"Eating tomatoes will not make you invincible in the sun but it may be a useful addition to sun protection along with sunscreen, shade and clothing," he said.

"The protective effect of eating tomatoes on our mitochondria is important as they are the energy producers in all our body cells including skin. Therefore being kind to our mitochondria is likely to contribute to improved skin health, which in turn may have an anti-ageing effect," he added.

Natural Beauty Tips for Girls

Wake Up Call

Make paste of honey and ginger and apply this paste on face every morning before brushing teeth. This will prevent wrinkles to a greater extent.

Rich Olive

Massage is very useful as it increases blood circulation and result in tightening of skin. Use olive oil to massage your skin daily. Remember to massage in anticlockwise

Ample Apple

Cut apple’s thin slices and rub it on affected area, wash with warm water after 10 min. It helps in controlling oily shine.

Healthy Haldi

Make a paste using Haldi (Turmeric) with a little raw milk and lemon juice. Apply it on the skin, it will help in removing a tan.

Sweet Honey

Prepare mixture of honey, lemon and vegetable oil. Apply this paste on dry skin and wash after 10-15 min. This mixture is a good moisturizer for dry skin.

Fruit Lunch

Make it a habit to add lots of fruits as part of your meals. Take fruits without adding any salt and sugar to it. Eat wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including dark green vegetables and feel the difference in your skin.

Ideal Drink

Make a habit of drinking 2 glass of water early in the morning. Drinking water early in the morning will bless you with shiny and healthy skin.

Utterly Buttery

Buttermilk is another proven recipe to fade the sun tan. Wash you face with Buttermilk regularly for a few days and you would notice the difference. Being a natural astringent, it tones the skin and is ideal for oily to combination skin.

Morning Buzz

Try to take food that contains more calories (as compare to night) in morning and noon. This way you might eat less in the evening. It gives more time and chance for burning the calories during day and noon.

Moisturizing

Applying moisturizer after a warm face wash or a warm shower is the best remedies for skin. Moisturizing helps to restore the oils that our skin has and helps to keep the skin hydrated.

Greedy Grapes

Add 3-4 tablespoons of oatmeal to the juice of a grapefruit. Mix to thick paste. Spread on face and leave on 15 minutes, remove with luke warm water. Get healthy and smooth skin quickly.