Grapes may protect you from sunburn

Eating grapes can help protect against sunburn and ultraviolet (UV) skin damage and natural components found in the fruits known as polyphenols are thought to be responsible for these beneficial effects, according to a new study.

The results revealed that participants in the study showed increased resistance to sunburn and a reduction in markers of UV damage at the cellular level.

“Grapes may act as an edible sunscreen, offering an additional layer of protection in addition to topical sunscreen products,” said lead researcher Craig Elmets from University of Alabama, Birmingham in the US. The results showed that grape consumption was protective as more UV exposure was required to cause sunburn following grape consumption, with MED increasing on average by 74.8 per cent.