DhaKa Tribune

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Saturday, December 28, 2013

Sweet winter sun is not sweet for skin

Winter is here, with the weather now chilly and a cool breeze blowing, you will see that no one is avoiding the rays of the sun, rather DID YOU in winter mornings KNOW? most people bathe in it. Even later in the day, people are walking under sunlight or doing their activities comfortably. In our country people enjoy being under the sun almost in every part of the day for the pleasant warmth in this chilly weather.

People are likely to stay under sunlight to get pleasant warmth in winter. But are the people aware of the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun? Sweet sunrays are not sweet to your skin And dont forget the ears, neck, and Dr Sajol Ashfaq n the skin around the eyes.
If youre participating in winter sport or picnic, its a good idea to use a sunscreen with moisturiser. Winter weather can be tough on the skin. Use a lip balm with a 15+ SPF. Additionally, sun damage is clearly associated with facial aging. Without sun protection, just a few minutes of exposure each day over the years can cause noticeable changes to the skin. Freckles, age spots, spider veins on the face, rough and leathery skin, fine wrinkles that disappear when stretched, loose skin, a blotchy complexion, and actinic keratoses (thick wart-like, rough, reddish patches of skin) can all be traced to sun exposure. Also known as photo aging, this aging caused by repeated sun exposure makes the skin lose its ability to repair itself by breaking down the skins collagen and impairing the synthesis of new collagen. The sun also attacks the skins elastin, weakening the skin from springing back, and causing loose, wrinkled and leathery skin due to the unprotected exposure to sunlight. Winter is a great time to repair the skin after a long summer of sun damage. It is recommended that you get a great cleansing and exfoliating facial at the start of the season to get rid of the flaky skin that builds up. It is also the perfect time to address pigment damage that has occurred due to sun exposure. l

QuicK TIPS

Winter warmers for older people

Damaging capacity of ultraviolet rays

The sun produces two types of ultraviolet (UV) rays UVA and UVB. UVA rays, which account for up to 95% of UV rays that reach the Earths surface, penetrate deeper into skin, causing wrinkles and have been associated with melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer. In winter the damaging effect of UV rays is more and susceptibility to UV damage is high, particularly for those exposed more times under sunrays.

UV rays in winter have more intensity

Due to cloudless sky in winter,UV rays can directly touch our skin without facing any filtering effect. Usually clouds and humidity act as filters, weakens the UV rays when they come down to the ground. Cloudless sky and less humid environment lets the UV rays with stronger level reach the ground. UV

rays always damage the skin, darken its tone and makes the skin aged earlier. UVA rays are almost equally intense during all daylight hours throughout the year; they can penetrate clouds and glass. In fact, in some winter conditions people have to be aware of the potential UV damage from participating in outdoor winter sports. Cooler temperatures dont mean that its time to put

away your UV protection. Shielding the eyes from the sun in winter is just as important as doing it at any other time of year. Overexposure to UV radiation can lead to cataracts and macular degeneration, two of the leading causes of vision loss among older people.

UV protection
Anytime an individual is outdoors

they should limit winter UV exposure by wearing appropriate UV protection. More than 90% of all skin cancers are associated with sun exposure. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 30+ or higher. Apply 20 to 30 minutes before going outside. Apply sunscreen to all areas of exposed skin. Use at least a teaspoon on the face.

FOOD THERAPY

Broccolis sparkle
The popular vegetable broccoli is now grown in our country. It is available in superstores and even street vendors. Due to its highvitamin C, antioxidant anddietary fiber with potent anti-cancerproperties, broccoli has created its position as a miracle food.

Do plastic containers turn toxic in the microwave?

Gazi Kashif Yousuf n
Placing plastic food containers in the microwave may be harmful to your health. Some containers are okay and others are HEALTH not. Its important to ALERT understand why plastic food containers are a problem and how to avoid the dangers. When you place some plastic food containers in the microwave, depending on the amount of time you are heating your food and at what temperature, chemicals used to produce the plastic may leak into your food. The US Food and Drug Authority is aware of this problem and mandates that manufacturers of plastic food containers test their products to be sure that this danger does not exist. If you follow some basic rules, microwaving is quite safe. Always check for the microwave safe label on containers and wrappers. When you see plastic food containers with a microwave safe label, this is an indication that the required testing has been carried out and that the risk for chemicals leaking into your food is low. Although the FDA reports that low levels of chemicals may move from the plastic to the food during microwaving, especially when its a fatty food such as meat and cheese. Never microwave food covered with

Due to less metabolic rate of the body, older people feel colder in winter. So, an older person needs supplements to warm up the body. To keep your hands and feet warm during winter, you need to improve your circulation. An herbal product like ginko biloba stimulates the flow of blood more efficiently to the extremities, i.e. fingers and toes. Look for a product containing a standardised extract of the herb ginko biloba and take according to the manufacturers instructions. Essential fatty acids (found in fish oil and flaxseed) also support the health of blood vessels. Omega 3 fish oil and cod liver oil products have already been used for this purpose. These products are available in pharmacies. l

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Childrens earache in winter

Broccoli prevents wrinkles

Eating more vitamin C-rich foods, such as broccoli, may help ward off wrinkles and age-related dryness, suggests a research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Vitamin Cs skin-smoothing effects may be due to its ability to mop up free radicals produced from ultraviolet rays and also its role in synthesising collagen, a fibrous protein that keeps skin firm. l

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Helps to prevent cancer

Broccoli is also a source of many substances called phytochemicals, or plant chemicals, that may have anticancer properties. For example, broccoli contains several compounds called isothiocyanates, including sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol (I3C), which have been touted as possible anti-cancer agents in recent years. Early studies have shown these substances may act as anti-oxidants and may boost detoxifying enzymes in the body. Some studies have also suggested they may alter the levels of estrogen in the body, which might affect breast cancer risk. In an article published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, a research team found that eating broccoli daily may help stave off gastric problems. Eating half cup of baby broccoli daily for two months may protect against a common stomach bug helicobacter pylori that are linked to gastritis, ulcers and stomach cancer. The way you prepare broccoli and related vegetables can alter their potentially cancer-fighting powers, new research shows. Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables are a good source of sulforaphane, a phytochemical (naturally occurring plant compound) that has shown strong anti-cancer properties in lab studies. However, the enzyme myrosinase in broccoli is needed for sulforaphane to form. If the myrosinase is destroyed, sulforaphane cannot

When you place some plastic food containers in the microwave, depending on the amount of time you are heating your food and at what temperature, chemicals used to produce the plastic may leak into your food

newspaper, as the print may contaminate food and never put foil in the microwave as it will spark, making it a fire hazard. The damage caused by plastic food containers has been studied in animals. In these studies, high doses of toxic

chemicals from plastics have led to reproductive illnesses, cancer and other health issues. It is believed, however, that the leaking of the chemicals in plastic in very small amounts is not a health hazard in humans. l

An earache from a cold is common in children. Sometimes it can be a sharp, dull, or burning pain that can range from mild to very painful. Winter causes runny nose which sometimes trap fluid in the middle ear, causing pressure on the eardrum. With an earache from cold, you or your child may have difficulty in sleeping, run a fever, mild deafness and have mucus in the nose. An ear infection is usually treatable, and permanent damage to the ear or to the hearing is much less common today with proper treatment. Before seeing a doctor, you can give your kids acetaminophen or ibuprofen, anti histamine and oxymetazoline nasal drop which can help relieve an earache and nasal congestion. l

| Compiled by: Shirsho Saaeadat

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Riper bananas prevent tumour

Dr Abdullah Shahriar n
Banana is one of the favourite fruits to all of us all according to Japanese Scientific Research, full ripe banana with dark HEALTH patches on yellow NEWS skin are better for health because dark patches on yellow skin produces a substance called TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor). TNF is the substance which has the ability to combat abnormal cells like tumour in the body.

form. Researchers compared boiled, microwaved and steamed broccoli, and found that steaming broccoli for up to five minutes was the best way to retain its myrosinase. Boiling and microwaving broccoli for one minute or less destroyed the majority of the enzyme, according to a researcher at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. l

Protects heart, lessens allergy

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Broccoli can provide you with some special cholesterol-lowering benefits if you will cook it by steaming. The fiber-related components in broccoli do a better job of binding together with

bile acids in your digestive tract when theyve been steamed. When this binding process takes place, its easier for bile acids to be excreted, and the result is a lowering of your cholesterol levels. Thus broccoli is becoming the topic of increasing interest with respect to heart disease. Broccoli is a particularly rich source of a flavonoid called kaempferol. Recent research has shown the ability of kaempferol to lessen the impact of allergy-related substances on our body. l

Ripe bananas protect your body against cancer and heart diseases. Whenbanana is ripe with dark spots on skin, the starch content changes to simple sugars that are easier to digest and thatraise your blood glucose levels
The darker the patches are, the higher will be its capacity to prevent the tumour. Hence, the riper the bananas

Compiled by | Dr Mohammad Sayem

are, the better the anti-cancer quality. Dark spots on yellow skinned banana are 8 times more potent to prevent tumour. It is a fact that nutrient content of fruits change slightly as they ripen.

As a banana ripens and turns yellow, its levels of antioxidants increase. These antioxidants in ripe bananas protect your body against cancer and heart diseases. When banana is ripe with dark spots on skin, the starch

content changes to simple sugars that are easier to digest and that raise your blood glucose levels. Make sure you are eating them in the final stage of this picture above - sweet, spotty and ripe. l