Tan: Better foods than carrots that you are not eating.

Who doesn't want to show off a nice tan in the summer? A tanned skin makes us look more attractive and is synonymous with health.

You've probably heard that carrots are a great ally to achieve this, but few people know that there are much better foods to help you achieve the perfect tan.

FIRST OF ALL, WHAT ARE BETACAROTENES?

Carrots have always been associated with being a food that helps to achieve a beautiful and healthy tan. This is due to their high beta-carotene content.

But what is beta-carotene? It is a plant pigment that is a precursor to vitamin A.

It has very important functions. On the one hand, it inhibits free radicals , which arise from oxidative reactions after exposure to UV rays (mainly UVA and UVB).

On the other hand, it helps to achieve bright, shiny and smooth skin, especially in people with fair skin.

Could it be better?

Yes, beta-carotene helps you achieve a beautiful skin tone without having to expose yourself to the sun.

This happens because if there is excess, it is eliminated through urine and through the pores of the skin, through sweat.

If you are one of those who like to lie in the sun in summer, you should know that prolonged exposure can cause beta-carotene deficiency . This can create dry skin, sunburn and, what is worse, a greater risk of skin problems and even vision problems.

So be careful.

WHAT ARE THE FOODS WITH THE HIGHEST BETA-CAROTENE CONTENT?

If you want to add this precursor pigment to vitamin A to your diet, there are many foods you can consume.

Carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and peppers contain this compound.

But there is one that stands out above the rest: spirulina . This algae contains 40 times more beta-carotene than carrots!

Yes, you heard right, forty. Beta-carotene is mainly associated with the color orange, but the chlorophyll present in spirulina algae masks that color.

As if that were not enough, spirulina has many other properties. It is therefore highly recommended to take it this summer.

In addition to spirulina, there are other foods that continue to steal the show from carrots. This is the case of goji berries .

They have more beta-carotene, but also many other interesting properties, such as the fact that they have all the essential amino acids, more vitamin C in proportion than oranges, and more iron than spinach, among others.

They are a perfect snack to nibble on between meals.

But not all that glitters is gold. It is essential to choose quality spirulina and goji berries to enjoy their benefits and avoid the problems, which I will discuss in the next point.

HEALTHY TANNING: THE IMPORTANCE OF CHOOSING QUALITY FOODS

You already know the great benefits of spirulina and goji berries for a perfect tan.

However, if spirulina is not dried in a controlled manner and is excessively oxidized , it loses a large amount of beta-carotene and with it many of its properties.

That is why it is necessary to choose a serious supplier who guarantees the quality of their product. Something similar happens with goji berries.

The cheapest suppliers offer berries contaminated with heavy metals and insecticides. A good decision is definitely to choose a seller of organic products.

Generally, it is not a good idea to buy branded products, which are everywhere. After all, they compete on price, and quality suffers as a result.

By now, you may be wondering what is the best way to incorporate these two foods into your diet. They are very versatile foods, but here I show you two recipes that will make it easy for you to show off an enviable tan.

TWO RECIPES TO LOOK TAN THIS SUMMER

At this time of year, we always fancy something refreshing, and so you don't waste a minute, here are two easy-to-prepare smoothies.

SPIRULINA AND MELON SMOOTHIE :

Ingredients: 2 cups ripe melon, cut into pieces

8 mint leaves

1 teaspoon of spirulina

2 ice cubes

1/4 cup cold water

Preparation: In a powerful blender, add all the ingredients and blend until smooth. Since the melon is sweet, you don't need to sweeten it with anything else.



PINEAPPLE AND GOJI BERRY SMOOTHIE

Ingredients: 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple

1/2 orange in juice

1.5 tablespoons of goji berries

1/2 - 3/4 cup coconut water (depends on taste)

1 small piece of powdered ginger

Preparation: If you don't have a very powerful blender, soak the berries first to soften them (about 10 minutes is enough, although a little more is better...) Put all the ingredients in the blender until you get a smoothie texture and serve cold.

This smoothie is sweet, although it also depends on the sweetness of the fruit. If you want to sweeten it even more, you can add a Medjoul date and it becomes a real treat!

THE RISKS OF FAST AND ARTIFICIAL TANNING

We all like to get things done quickly, but when it comes to tanning, that's not a good idea.

Self-tanning booths are not a good idea either, they use a compound called DHA (derived from sugar cane), the inhalation of which appears to be quite harmful .

Pills that promise to give you a quick tan are not without side effects . They contain a compound, canthaxanthin, in large quantities. A study in the journal American Pharmacy concludes that ingesting this substance in large doses creates problems in the eyes due to the accumulation of crystals. Better to stay away, believe me.

Finally , when beta-carotene is synthetic, it has up to 10 times less bioactivity and acts as a pro-oxidant, damaging cells.

It seems that nature knows how to do things.

At Baïa Food Co. , we are always concerned with finding natural, organic foods of the highest possible quality, and always from small, local crops.

At the moment, we can't do anything else for you, but remember, if you want to show off tanned skin this summer, eating real, quality foods is without a doubt your best option.

Tanning starts from within.