PROTECT AGAINST SKIN CANCER

Yes, I know this post has nothing to do with the kitchen and/or food, but it is always timely advice. I lost a friend last year to skin cancer and have another friend who has been in a real battle for months fighting this deadly disease. The thing is skin cancer can so easily be prevented by taking precautions when in the sun. I have never had skin cancer, thank God, but I have survived both breast and colon cancers and currently have an incurable type of leukemia. I strongly encourage you to do everything you can to prevent cancer of any type.

According to researchers in Australia who followed more than 1,600 adults for over a decade, one could reduce the risk of getting melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by 50% by using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 16 daily on the head, neck, arms, and hands.

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TOMATOES HELP PREVENT SUNBURN

When in the sun you should always use sunscreen, I want to be sure you know this post does not take away from that fact. But did you know that eating tomatoes consistently can make your skin less susceptible to UV damage? Tomatoes are high in lycopene which may account for the reason why this helps.

WATER AND SUN

The best way to stay safe in the sun is to avoid it between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM! Since that is when most of you want to be in the sun, thankfully I am not one of you, there are a few important things to remember:

• #1 - always use sunscreen. Your sunscreen should be SPF 15 or higher and it should be reapplied every few hours.
• #2 - use an SPF lip balm. Remember lips get sunburn too!
• #3 - DRINK LOTS OF WATER!

There are many more precautions but since this is a kitchen medicine blog I wanted to stick mostly with the water issue. It is so easy to become dehydrated when exposed to the sun in the heat of the day or for long periods of time. Be cautious and keep lots of water with you and drink it!

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