Prescription for Well-Being

Don’t Get Burned by End-of-Summer Blues

Since the end of summer is upon us, I thought it would be befitting to blog about those last minute tanning sessions you hope to get in before the weather turns cold (ahem, this mostly applies to those of you who experience that strange substance called “snow” – a mystery to those of us in Southern California).   As many of you know the sun, though warming and an all around awesome star, tends to burn us…bad.  It is important, as summer comes to a close, to be mindful of the benefits of wearing sunscreen daily as well as understanding the product itself.  And so, I bring you Red Alert from the editors of Women’s Health and MSN Health.  The article, or listing really, details what to look for in a sunscreen and defines those pesky terms typed in minute font on sunscreen bottles.  It also provides information on the differing types of sunscreen out there.  See, told you the blog is befitting…Anyway, here’s some sage advice offered by the authors of Red Alert:

1.       Be Label-Conscious – Pay attention to what the label says on your bottle of sunscreen, such as the ingredients and the date. Expired Sunscreen is less effective than the up-to-date stuff, so be aware of the expiration date to avoid being burned even though you’re wearing SPF 45. 

2.       Chemical Sunscreens – these sunscreens contain ingredients such as benzophenones, salicylates, and cinnamates which, when combined, create a protective film that absorbs the UV rays (the cancer causing rays emitted by the sun) before they reach your skin.   

3.       Physical Sunscreens – not really sure why these are called “physical sunscreens” but it might have to do with how they repel the sun’s rays.  Physical sunscreens contain zinc or titanium oxides which work by reflecting the UV rays away from your skin.  Think of the sunscreen like its a suit of invisible armor and chainmail – if you want to be the valiant knight slaying the UV beast, go for it, makes life more fun.

4.       Photoaging – FLEE! RUN! SAVE YOUR SKIN (pun intended)! This gnarly affect thanks to the sun is SO not appealing.  This is the polite way of saying “skin damage” and it will happen if you don’t protect your epidermis.  Things like age spots, wrinkles, fine lines, and a body turned to shoe leather are the affects of not wearing the proper amounts of sunscreen throughout your life. So, if you would like to avoid the aforementioned ‘photoaging’ affect start wearin’ that sunscreen!

5.       SPF – Ever wonder what that little ‘SPF’ meant on your sunscreen bottle? Well, I’ll tell you… SPF is the acronym for “sun protection factor” and indicates the length (not strength) of time your sunscreen will keep you from burning.  So instead of going out in your tank top and shorts without sunscreen, glob on that SPF 15 and you’ll protect yourself ten times longer than you would without.  Here’s something cool, Banana Boat has a line of every-day use body/face lotion infused with sunscreen (SPF 50) for all of you who don’t like the feel of typical sunscreen – pretty nifty, I must say!

6.       Water Resistant (Not Waterproof!) – Okay…all those bottles of sunscreen that claim they are ‘waterproof’ are living in a fantasy world.  There isn’t such a thing as waterproof sunscreen; there is however, water resistant sunscreen.  Water resistant sunscreen remains effective 40 minutes after you remove yourself from the body water of you were just splashing around in.  Very Water Resistant sunscreen will last up to 80 minutes after your cannonball and that mad dash to the sun-warmed towel to dry off.  If you’re an active water sports person or simply a parent in need of some sunscreen that will last longer than the standard version, try out the water resistant – you will be happy and your skin will thank you.

There you have it, key points to the benefits of sunscreen to which you can either use or toss out like yesterday’s lunch, but think about #3 – personally, I think it is enough to make me wear sleeves, hats, pants and tennis shoes in 100 degree weather.   

Hurray for Bizarre Vegetables!

Remember the Super Fruits? Well, I now bring to your very eyes the weird, the mysterious, and the most bizarre vegetables around.  You can thank a little article titled Veggie Might I found on MSN Heath while searching for something to talk about for this recent blog.  If those fruits were the super heroes, these alien looking veggies are the plucky sidekicks – think Igor from “Frankenstein” (especially when you scroll down to view 'Celeriac'). Anyhow, if you’re a runner or someone who exercises frequently or you’re just one of the few brave people out there to step outside of the typically ingested veggie box, try some of these strange but wondrous vegetables.

Celeriac and Beets – Dig carrots? Enjoy bananas? Then venture into the unfamiliar goodness of Celeriac and Beets.  Celeriac, or as it’s more commonly known ‘celery root’, may look completely uneatable, but once peeled has the consistency of a potato and the faint flavor of celery.  One cup  of this nutty looking veggie provides you with 80% of your daily intake of vitamin K and contains necessary minerals such iron, calcium, and potassium.  Fresh beets, similarly, provide you with a high concentrate of potassium, but they also hold the often overlooked mineral magnesium which helps prevent muscle contraction (aka cramping).  Another fun fact about beets is that they contain anthocyanidins which help lessen inflammation.  That’s a HUGE deal for all you runners out there!  Your knees, joints, and anywhere else you tend to inflame due to exercise will be hollering their thanks to you and the beets.

Tomatillos– Who knew the little green cousins of the tomato could be beneficial?  Tomatillos are a tasty addition to anything from salads to your fish fry held every other Saturday during the summer months.  These little dudes contain a hefty punch of Vitamin C and, according to preliminary research by leading Universities, may stem the growth of cancer cells because they contain a compound called ixocarpalactone A (hm, tried looking this up and couldn't find much. If you find info on or know about ixocarpalactone A, let us know!). So, if I were you, I’d start searching for the little tomato cousins holding their own in a predominately traditional tomato world!

Mustard greens, Endive, and Radicchio – Okay, because her words make sense, I’m just going to state the information as is (cited properly of course!)…According to “Veggie Might” by Kelly Bastone of Runner’s World, Mustard greens “deliver tons of beta carotene and phytochemicals that may help combat cancer. One cup of endive provides 22% of your DV (Daily Value) for vitamin A.  Along with the endive, radicchio is very high in bone-protecting vitamin K and provides more than you’re daily value.”  Radicchio also contains high levels of antioxidants which is fantastic if you’re a runner, a biker, a walker, or just need a change from the usual culprits of salad because this beautifully colored leafed veggie helps you fight off muscle damaging ‘free-radicals’ produced during exercise.  This means (and this is the important part), you’ll recover faster from that five mile sprint you’ve just put yourself through…willingly. Three cheers for leafy greens!   

Romanesco cauliflower, Purple cauliflower, and Broccolini – Hm, just pause and check out the Romanesco cauliflower (first image) – yeah, you’re probably thinking (as I did), “What in the world?!” BUT! This member of the brassica genus, like purple cauliflower and Broccolini, contains cancer fighting compounds known as isothiocyanates.  All three veggies taste like their drab in appearance and color cousins as well as in their nutritional benefits like folate (a B vitamin geared towards building new cells), potassium, and vitamins K and C.  So be brave, don’t let the spiky exterior of Romanesco cauliflower or the brightly colored Purple cauliflower deter you, try them out with your next meal. Hey! If you have children, even better! What’s more fun than a purple piece of cauliflower set against the mundane, everyday carrot?

Leeks and Fennel – Not really sure I’ll be eating either of these any time soon, but for those of you more adventurous than I am, experiment with Leeks and Fennel as a tasty addition to your next meal.   Leeks have a mild onion flavor and are packed full of iron and allicin. Allicin, in case you’re curious, is an antibiotic that “may help fight tumors, reduce cholesterol, prevent blood clots, and lower blood pressure” (Bastone).  Fennel, for all you Mike & Ikes lovers out there, tastes faintly of black licorice and is important for those of you who run on a continual basis because it contains anethole.  Anethole is an anti-inflammatory compound that hinders stomach spasms and relives cramping. 

The article continues on, detailing different yet simple ways of cooking each of the marvelously weird veggies mentioned. So if you’re into experimenting with new flavors, textures, or food in general, wander on over to the local grocery and pick up some of the most bizarre lookin’ veggies around.  Hm, did someone say purple cauliflower? I’m totally there!