Florida is famous for its beautiful beaches, rich culture, and delicious food. However, a new study from the University of Florida shows that eating too much citrus fruit may not be as good for you as was thought before. The study found that eating too much citrus fruit might raise the chance of getting melanoma, a type of skin cancer that can be deadly.
Finding the Link Between Citrus and Melanoma
The study, which was published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition, looked at information from two large US health surveys that included more than 100,000 people. Over 20 years, experts tracked what the subjects ate, how much time they spent in the sun, and how many times they got skin cancer.
The results showed that people who ate more than 1.5 servings of citrus fruits every day had a 36% higher chance of melanoma than people who ate less than 0.5 servings every day. Interestingly, the link was stronger with grapefruit and orange juice than with whole foods. The researchers thought that high amounts of psoralens, a chemical substance found in citrus fruits, might be what was causing the higher risk.
Psoralens may make skin more sensitive to sunshine and damage DNA in a way that could cause cancer. The research also said that people who live in sunny places like Florida might be more likely to be affected by psoralens.
Getting Rid of the Risk of Melanoma
It’s important to make it clear that the study doesn’t say that people should stop eating all citrus foods. Citrus foods are good for you because they are full of fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants.
In any case, the study says that people with fair skin or a history of skin cancer should limit their citrus fruit intake to no more than one serving per day. Additionally, it is best to avoid drinking too much orange juice, which has more psoralens and less fiber than whole vegetables.
Keeping yourself from getting too much sun is also very important for lowering your chance of melanoma. When you’re outside, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun is at its strongest, you should take precautions like putting on sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and protective clothes. Regularly checking the skin for changes in moles, wrinkles, or spots and seeing a doctor right away if anything seems off are important ways to keep the skin healthy.
Conclusion
Florida is known for its draws, but a study from the University of Florida says that eating too many citrus fruits may make you more likely to get melanoma. Findings from more than 100,000 people show that eating more than 1.5 pieces of fruit and vegetables every day is linked to a 36% higher chance of melanoma. Citrus toxins called psoralens may play a role.
The study stresses balance and tells people with fair skin or a history of skin cancer to limit how much fruit they eat every day. Sun safety is still very important, which shows how important it is to check your skin regularly and see a doctor right away if anything seems wrong.