Covering up with clothing (check out the Aussie company Coolibar for more specialized sun protective active wear), hat, sunglasses, avoiding peak UV hours etc., should be the first line of defence. However, as an additional protection, high intake of carotenoids, including zeaxanthin and astaxantin can provide a bit of natural skin protection. I supplement with lutein, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, and also regularly consume citrus peel (I cited elsewhere some studies supporting citrus peel vs skin cancer) combined with tea.
Don’t forget the eyes!! The eyes are some of the fastest aging organs of the human body - many centenarians have extremely poor eyesight, Calment was blind in the latter part of her life, Okinawans, Sardinians and all those famous longevity champ populations can still do many things comparatively as well as younger people, but ALL suffer from bad eyesight in late life, no exceptions. Part of it is that the lens is nonrenewable, you get one for life, and physics says that inevitable protein clumping, yellowing UV induced cumulative damage puts a hard time limit on eye lens warranty. The macula deteriorates, the eyeball changes resulting in 100% population deterioration of visual acuity and on and on and on. If you take care of your health, you are health conscious diet/exercise, your eyes will crap out long before your muscles, bones, liver, kidneys, heart or whatnot, even hearing can last a bit longer.
What can you do? You must protect your eyes from UV light. Obligatory UV rated sunglasses - and remember, overcast days still mean 85% of the UV gets through. Also, remember, light bounces off the pavement, walls, and your face below the eyes, all pouring UV into your peepers. UV protection is #1 obligation, if you want to age with any chance at normal life activities, ADL and so on. Next protect your macula. Again, lutein, zeaxanthin supplements are important for both, throw in astaxanthin. Taking care of your CV system through lipid control means taking care of your brain, but ALSO YOUR EYES. High cholesterol is not good for the small vessels in the eye… but unwelcome twist: some statins can exacerbate cataracts (twist on a twist: the eye lens can be replaced with IOL, providing better corrective vision, color accuracy etc.). High blood sugar, diabetes - enemies of eyes. There are several eye conditions that you may be able to do something about, if you catch them early enough - so don’t neglect yearly or every two years checkups with ophthamologists. Protect your eyes, bad vision means higher odds of dementia. Protect your eyes, as this is one of the worst disabilities as rated by people, even worse than hearing loss. You take rapa? Protect the eyes!!
