As more of us struggle to find the balance between healthy outdoor exercise and protection from the damaging effect of UVB, it is always interesting to hear more ways to protect ourselves from this skin cancer activator.
The latest is bran.
According to recent research at the University of Maryland, atioxidants found in bran could help protect against DNA damage from sun exposure and radiation therapy , regardless of whether it is ingested or applied topically. Yeah – I can just imagine running down the beach with my breakfast spread all over my body!!
But seriously, inositol and inositol hexaphosphate (IP6), found in legumes and bran, can protect human skin cells from exposure to UVB radiation. And that includes protection from the sun or radiation from a nuclear disaster or bomb.
The two molecules, which are found in legumes and bran, protect human skin cells from exposure to UVB radiation, according to researchers. UVB is the longer wavelength radiation that is absorbed in the upper levels of the skin containing keratinocytes. Cell exposure to ionizing radiation may cause permanent DNA damage, resulting in cell death.
There are two ways in which cells normally die:
- They are killed by injury
- They are induced to commit suicide – apoptosis
Under normal circumstances, cell apoptosis is controlled by a tumour-suppressing gene, as a protective mechanism preventing uncontrolled division of damaged cells leads to tumor growth. This occurs in instances such as cancer, virus infection, cells with DNA damage and immune system cells. Both inositol and IP6 are known to have potent antioxidant properties, and when applied topically or ingested IP6 may provide protection against ionizing radiation in general.
It seems therefore, that conventional sunscreens may not be the only defence against sun damage.
Other internal radiation protection foods include a broccoli extract sulforaphane, which may help to protect against UV damage by stimulating the cell’s own protective mechanisms.
I’ll better start eating bran. Prevention is best.
Sunblocks can also reduce the incidence of skin cancer by preventing UV to harm your skin.*-`
you can reduce the risk of skin cancer buy using sunblocks if you are going to get prolonged exposure to the sun ‘*”