Foods that Protect You from Sun Damage.

• Position: NUTRITION

Most of us know the importance of applying sunscreen before going out for a day in the sun. However, there must be more natural ways of boosting our body's natural defenses against UV rays, right?

"Lycopene, a carotenoid found in red fruits, can protect your skin against UV radiation as it absorbs both UVA and UVB rays," says certified clinical nutritionist Vikki Petersen. "Enjoying lycopene-rich foods can reduce sunburn and UV radiation skin aging. The timing of consuming such foods aligns with the sun. In other words, enjoy them during the daytime to get the most benefit."

* Watermelon. "What is more delightful on a hot summer day than enjoying juicy watermelon. Its UV protection takes a few weeks to build up, but enjoying this delicious fruit actually provides more lycopene than fresh tomatoes and can act as a natural sunscreen. While you shouldn't eschew topical sunscreen, this internal protection is a nice benefit."

* Tomatoes. "Half of the richest foods in lycopene are variations of tomato products. The winner is sundried tomatoes, followed by tomato puree, fresh tomatoes, and canned. Sundried tomatoes contain...