Take Two
Many KFL&A residents abandoned New Year's Resolutions by mid-February. Now,
almost six months later, is a great time to take two in
order to get back on track towards accomplishing those goals.
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Summer Fun in the Sun
Summer is here! While we want to get outside and be active, it is important to practice
sun safe habits. Overexposure to UV radiation (a.k.a. the sun) can have adverse
health effects, including sunburn, premature ageing of the skin, skin cancers, diseases
of the eye, and immune suppression. It’s not just sunburn that we worry about; a
tan is a sign that UV rays have damaged your skin. By paying attention to a few
simple rules, we can enjoy being active with our friends and families during the
short summer months.
- Make sun protection a daily habit.
- Slip, Slap, Slop and Seek your way to sun-safety behaviours.
- Slip on clothing made of a close-weave fabric that covers neck, arms and legs.
Cotton and linen are excellent fabrics for hot weather–wear loose, light coloured,
light weight, heat reflecting clothing.
- Slap on a hat with a wide brim of at least 3 inches (or 8 cm) that covers the face,
neck and ears.
- Slop on a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 15+ water resistant sunscreen.
Apply a generous amount of a broad spectrum sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB rays
about 20 minutes before going outside. Most people put on less than half the amount
of sunscreen needed to achieve the SPF on the label, so it is best practice to also
reapply 20 minutes after being outside. Reapply every 2 hours.
- Seek shade by limiting exposure to direct sun between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Be aware of damages caused by the “invisible sun” on cloudy or overcast days or
UV radiation reflected off surfaces like sand, water, and concrete.
- Set a good example for your children. The damage that leads to adult skin cancers
starts in childhood.
Myth: I need to tan (indoors or outdoors) to get my Vitamin D.
Fact: Tanning indoors or outdoors is not a safe way to get your
vitamin D. Based on Health Canada's preliminary analysis of Canadians' vitamin D
blood levels, most are currently meeting their needs for vitamin D. For the majority
of the population, incidental exposure to the sun, combined with normal dietary
intake of vitamin D, provides adequate vitamin D for a healthy body throughout the
year.
- The Food Guide recommends that all Canadians over two years of age consume two cups
(500 ml) of milk, or a milk alternative such as fortified soy beverage, every day
for adequate Vitamin D.
- In addition, the Food Guide encourages everyone over the age of 50 to take a daily
supplement of 400 IU (international units) of Vitamin D.
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