Can Eating Too Much Citrus Increase Your Risk For Skin Cancer?
By Dr. Brian McDonough
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- Drinking orange juice or eating grape fruit could lead to a slightly higher risk of melanoma, according to a new study. But, don't toss the Tropicana just yet.
According to a study of more than 100,000 U.S. adults followed for about 25 years, those who regularly consumed orange juice or whole grapefruit had a higher risk of developing melanoma.
That's compared to those who avoided those foods.
Now we know certain citrus foods contain particular so-called "photoactive" chemicals, namely psoralens and furocoumarins. They are known to make the skin more sensitive to the sun when they're applied locally or topically.
The doctor's advice? Eat a wide variety of fruits, but also avoid excessive sun exposure.
Let's see what future studies say and remember there are obvious benefits to eating plenty of fruits.