Eat Tomatoes For Your Health

According to an article in the May 2011 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine, add tomatoes to the list of superfoods with skin benefits.  When 20 women incorporated 55 grams (about 1/4 cup) of tomato paste into their daily diet for 12 weeks, their skin was less sensitive to ultraviolet light than the skin of those who ate none, says researchers at the University of Manchester in England.  They credit the lycopene in tomatoes with helping boost the woman's internal SPF. 

"Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that helps fight the inflammation caused by UV rays," explains Los Angeles dermatologist Jessica Wu, M.D., author of Feed Your Face. " That's why, we think, it protects against sunburn and sun damage." 

Processed tomatoes in tomato paste, ketchup, and marinara sauce are rich in lycopene; surprisingly, raw tomatoes are not.  Eat these food for extra protection from the sun, Dr. Wu says, but don't rely on diet alone; when you're outdoors, be sure to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen.