Reduce Cancer Risk -- Baste Yourself In Extra Virgin Olive Oil
I?ve heard of people applying olive oil to their skin after sunbathing and a new study from Japan says the treatment may be effective in providing extra protection against skin cancer.
However, it takes extra virgin olive oil to prevent skin damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation in experiments with mice, according to an article in New Scientist.
Researchers at the Kobe University School of Medicine put hairless mice under sunlamps for three sessions a week and five minutes afterwards painted their skin with either regular or virgin olive oil.
Control mice with no olive oil and those with regular olive oil began growing skin tumors within 18 weeks. However, the mice bathed in virgin olive oil took an extra six weeks to show any signs of cancer and then the tumors were smaller and less frequent.
What happens is that antioxidants such as vitamin E found in extra virgin olive oil can mop up the free radicals released by UV radiation that damage DNA and trigger abnormal skin growth.
Remember, virgin olive oil isn?t a sunscreen, it?s for use after you?ve been out tanning. If you like the sun, this may be one way to help protect yourself from the harmful effects of the rays.
Sources: New Scientist, May 13, 2000; Journal of Dermatology Science, Vol 23, Supplement 1 (5), p 545.
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