GlamityCalamity

Noone is immune to skin cancer. However some factors make some people more prone to skin cancer than others. Calculate your sun safety using the following guide:

Do you:

1. Have Blonde hair?

2. Have Light coloured eyes?

3. Freckle easily?

4. Burn before tan?

5. Have many moles in areas not normally exposed to the sun?

6. Experience/d blistering sunburns?

7. Live in a tropical climate?

8. Family history of skin cancer?

9. Work outdoors during the spring and/ or summer?

10. Spend a lot of recreation time outdoors?

Assign a value of 1 to each “YES” answer and then check the guide below.
 

Results:

7-10 – High Risk

4-6 – Medium Risk

1-3 – Low Risk

Of course, this is not a complete or absolute risk, as there are many other risk factors including age and gender.

Wear a broad spectrum sunscreen daily, one that protects against both UVA and UVB rays – a minimum SPF 15 on the face.

Always be aware of any new abnormal looking growths on skin particularly those parts that are exposed to the sun. Those who have a lifetime of sun exposure should be particularly vigilant. Make note of any unusual lesion(s) and/ or mole(s) and speak with your doctor/ dermatologist about it/ them.

Early detection is key.

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Talk about getting your point across. The possibilities are endless when your man smells like a man. 

How so? check the vid below.

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Thanks Lise!

Ladies, there’s another idea for V-day, some appropriately scented stuff for your bmf.

It may not turn him into a multi-millionaire Rico Swave, but at least he’ll smell like one.

Have a ‘manly’ smelling day fellas.

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The Canadian Dermatology Association (CDA)  plans to soon launch it’s “Indoor Tanning is Out” campaign, and states that:

Indoor tanning before the age of 30 has been associated with a significant increase in the risk of melanoma, and recently sunbeds (UV tanning beds) were moved up to the highest cancer risk category—group 1— ‘carcinogenic to humans’ by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer.

And for all my peeps who choose indoor tanning to ‘base’ themselves before they go bake in the sun (whaaaaaaat?!!!) Errrr… nope. The only ‘base’ that you should be using is SPF 30+

The CDA further states

A tan will not provide protection from the sun on holiday. One of the busiest seasons for indoor tanning starts in January when many teens tan before spring break. A tan offers very limited protection from sunlight or burning. At most, a tan is the equivalent to a sunscreen with SPF of just 2-4. Not enough to keep you safe in the sun.

…[Indoor tanning] is especially dangerous because UV rays from sunbeds can be up to 10-15 times higher than that of the midday sun.  Prevention is key because melanoma, has become the third most common form of cancer in young Canadian women (second most common cancer in young Ontarians aged 15-34) years of age, and is mostly preventable.

There are even reports that individuals are going blind from indoor tanning. Apparently the UV rays are penetrating the eyelids and frying the retina…. *BLANK STARE*

What is melanoma? See here for information as provided by the CDA.

For tanning bed stories of actual melanoma survivors click here. 

Of course, the risk is higher for certain people than it is for others, based on things like DNA, skin colour, age and lifestyle for example. The most at risk are those who:

• are under 18
• have fair or freckly skin
• burn easily
• have a lot of moles
• have had skin cancer in the past
• have a family history of skin cancer
• use medication that increases your sensitivity to UV rays. 

Many antibiotics, birth control pills, blood pressure medicines, diabetes drugs, and pain relievers can increase one’s sensitivity to UV rays, so be sure to ask your doctor about the possible side effect of sun sensitivity of any of the medications that you are currently taking.

 But it’s not just Canada, the American Academy of Dermatology put out an ad years ago that stated pretty much the same thing:

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In Australia it’s a requirement to wear sunscreen. Possibly because Australians are generally light skinned, have an active outdoor lifestyle, the depleted ozone layer coupled with the country’s relatively clear skies and of course it’s location close to the equator. Also, I do believe  it is illegal for a child to be out and about without wearing sunscreen and protective clothing here. 

Protect yourself (face and body) with a broad spectrum sunscreen, i.e. one that guards against both UVA and UVB rays. Wear a minimum of SPF 15+ daily on your face and higher on your body. If you are at the beach the FDA recommends that sunscreen be applied every 2 hours to be effective, sooner if you are sweating or in the water, even if the sunscreen says that it’s ‘waterproof’.

Looking Oompa Loompa orange is so not sexy. If you don’t believe the hype that exposure to UVA/ UVB rays, natural or artificial, can lead to skin cancer, believe this: the fine lines and wrinkles, break down of collagen in the skin which results in a lack of skin tone, and soggy mopey skin, are all signs of premature aging which is one of the harmful effects of over exposure to these harmful rays. 

What are the benefits of indoor tanning again?

Appreciate and flaunt the skin you’re in.

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Source: Canadian Dermatology Association

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Because Trinidad Carnival is around the corner and everyone is in ‘quick fix’ mode.

The smell of intoxication is in the air, everyone is giddy with excitement, no-one has their 9-5 on the brain, soca is dominating the airwaves and clothing is becoming more of a luxury. 

So okay, if you weren’t thinking about this while you were inhaling the lbs of christmas cake and ponche de creme, you may not get the perfect abs by mid February 2010, but maybe you can shoot for Carnival 2k11?

One of the things I planned to do for 2010 was to go through my belongings and throw out anything that I haven’t used or touched in the last year. Needless to say, with the amount of junk that I accumulate over time, that would take me sometime to complete. 

I came across a clipping from a magazine, I’m guessing it’s from either ‘Self’ or a ‘Shape’, it’s not the entire page so I can’t really say and so I do apologize for not being able to quote the source properly. I will say that no, I did think to torture myself with this routine all by my lonesome. 

I used to do this back in the day when I was younger and didn’t even need to, as my stomach was naturally more than flat. Oh the exuberance of youth – to expend energy on things that are unnecessary.

I’d say ‘It’s just 12 minutes” but I’d be lying; It feels like it’s the rest of your life.

Do this routine every other day. The amount of reps is irrelevant, just do the step for as long as the minute lasts, and hold the last rep for as long as you can.

Minute 1 – Basic crunches.

Minute 2 – Bicycle crunches

Lie on floor, legs extended at a 45-degree angle. Bring bent left knee toward chest, reaching right elbow toward it. Alternate right and left knees. 

Minute 3 - Rest

Minute 4 – Left twists

Lie on back, knees bent, hands behind head, elbows out. With feet on floor, curl up, aiming right shoulder at left knee.

Minute 5 – Right twists

Minute 6 - Rest

Minute 7 – Plank

Lie facedown. Support your weight on toes and forearms. Keep elbows directly beneath shoulders and body straight. 

Minute 8 - Rest

Minute 9 - Plank

Minute 10 – Rest

Minute 11 & 12 – Captain’s Chair

Do three sets of 20 at a gym. Grip handles and press lower back into pad, letting legs hang. Slowly lift bent knees to chest. 

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I feel to pass out just typing that.

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Denim is the Western society’s go-to casual look, but with the ridiculous amount of variations out there, it is pretty easy to mess this look up. We also grow out of denim looks, so you run the risk of sabotaging yourself if you do not see to updating your denim to match your Grown ‘n Sexy State of Mind. 

We know things are rough money-wise, so no you don’t have to throw out your entire wardrobe. However, when next you decide to purchase a pair, here are some things to keep in mind.

1. Colour

The most flattering colours of denim are medium to dark shades.

DRESSY / DO

Full black denim can be harsh 

You are better off wearing a trouser, if you are going for a dressy look, or black denim with shades of grey, not white, for a worn in look. ‘Light’ black shades can look washed out; In this case a better option would be a dark grey instead.

Just remember, lighter colours make an area look fuller so unless you have a few pounds to spare on your bottom half, stick to darker, more muted colours.

Faded jeans are super casual and are the least slimming.

The fewer distressing details denim has, the more dressy the look is.
That said, denim itself is a casual look and should not be used to replace a trouser, and no matter how dressy you think the look is, denim should be avoided for Casual Friday work wear.

Gentle distressing details give denim a warm, comfortable look and can indicate that you are a man who is approachable and easy going yet put together. 

Strike a happy medium by going with gentle distressed details. Whiskers are for cats, so keep this look minimum – nothing that is more than a couple shades lighter than the bulk of the denim colour, works well. 

Dress dark denim down with short-sleeved, light-weight shirts or button ups, and dress up with a blazer.

2. Cut   

Straight styles/ DO

Denim should be fitted well.

The fabric itself is already bulky so do find your size. Fit. Fit. Fit.
‘Fit’ doesn’t mean tight by the way. By fit I mean, find your correct size. Denim stretches, and so choosing to wear denim even a size bigger than your natural size, can make you look sloppy.

At the same time, don’t choose something so tight that you cut your nature. It looks uncomfortable, and surely it must be. It’s a trendy look that some guys can definitely pull off, I will not lie, but Grown people wouldn’t take you or what you have to say seriously so avoid this look in professional or networking settings.

Straight cut styles are the most flattering.
Bootcut styles are not, unless you are wearing platform heeled shoes, as they would make you look shorter and curvier than you are. Unless these are the looks that you are going for, stay away. 

Super Skinny DON'T

Flare, baggy, and wide legged male styles should just be outlawed already, right along with the high-rise, male versions of ‘mom jeans’. They don’t flatter anyone, unless one is trying to make a comedic statement.

Unless you’re in entertainment, super skinny jeans on males is not a good look. And unless you have hips, never wear female jeans. Jeans, like sneakers, are constructed differently for males and females for specific, anatomical reasons. 

3. Style

Regardless of colour, distressed denim is the most casual denim look. 
Denim that is both distressed and faded is then both causal and trendy. Although there are situations where this denim combo can work, it should be left for the younger guys, guys who are just a little Grown.

No disrespect at all is meant here, by ‘little Grown’ I’m referring to guys in their their late twenties to early thirties, who can still get away with this look and not appear to be forcing the youth point. The further away you are from this age group, the more you should want to give the impression that you have your affairs in order.

Try a fully faded look rather than partial fading
When choosing jeans in lighter shades, opt for ones without extra fading, and with no distressing, to bring a casual yet grown look. Pairing these types of jeans with lightweight, short-sleeved shirts or classic button up tees can help you balance the line between casual yet Grown swag. Pair with a sports jacket to achieve a dressier look, but remember that light coloured jeans will always be most casual.

4. Length

Male jeans should be long enough to have just about one or two crinkle folds in it when shoes are worn, see any of the above dos. If it falls fully flat by your feet when you stand then it’s too short; any more wrinkles and it’s too long.

Get your jeans tailored if necessary. As denim shrinks when laundered, ensure that you carry it to the tailor after laundering. If they originally came with a hem, you can request that the original hem be used.

Please, no denim capris. 

It’s a very unflattering look as they cut you off abruptly and make you look shorter than you ought to be. If you wish to wear shorts, opt for Grown male, flat-front khakis instead, that cut at, or just below the knee.  Leave above the knee for boarder shorts. 

The colour is your personal choice, it’s the length, and cut that’s most important. The lighter the colour, or more patterned the fabric, the more casual it is.

CASUAL / DO

Avoid flashy back pockets.

Reserve the bling for understated jewelry like watches, perhaps a statement belt buckle (no rhinestone designs please), and your winning white-toothed smile.

The bulkier your frame. the less voluminous your pockets should be also, i.e. pocket flaps and expanded cargo-like pocket styles and what not. The more distracting details on the shorts the more casual it appears.

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5. No denim shirts. Period.

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It’s amazing how much the sofistication ante ups when you keep it simple. 

Ladies feel free to weigh in on your pet peeves for men’s denim, guys feel free to agree to disagree.

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Help your body fight off disease by incorporating these foods into your diet.

Preparing these foods crispy fried, candied, salted or creamed definitely doesn’t count.

Whole grains e.g. Oats

This whole-grain delivers cholesterol-lowering soluble fibre and energy-providing carbohydrates without spiking blood sugar levels. Oats also keeps blood pressure in check.

Prepackaged already sweetened ‘oatmeal’ breakfast cereals contain high amounts of sugar.

Try cooking quick or rolled oats with milk, soy or almond milk and topping with cinnamon, sunflower seeds, sliced almonds, diced dried fruit like apricot, currants or figs to add sweetness, or the good old cranberries (mentioned below) for a tart kick.

Also consider topping with diced fresh fruit like blueberries or strawberries. The possibilities are endless. Use a little agave nectar rather than sugar for added sweetness.

Too much work? Try Original or MultiGrain Cheerios. 

Green and Leafy veges e.g. Spinach

It’s hard to beat spinach as a green and leafy for vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Spinach is also high in calcium and vitamin K, which is great for the lactose intolerant among us.

Eat alone, steamed or sauteed with onions, garlic, green peppers, mushrooms and herbs for flavour. Cooking with cream and excessive salt will reduce it’s overall health benefit.

Legumes e.g. Black beans

Beans (legumes not peas!) in general are packed with protein, fibre and yummy nutrients such as magnesium, folate and iron. They keep the heart happy by controlling cholesterol and blood pressure.

Keep salt and sugar levels down when cooking a mean bean stew. Flavour using herbs and spices instead. Consider adding garlic, onions and diced veges like celery for added depth in flavour profile. Also cook with oils like canola, sunflower or olive oil which are free of trans fatty acids.

Antioxidant berries e.g. Cranberries

Packed with anthocyanins, bacteria fighting substances, cranberries also help heart health by inhibiting the build-up of the bad LDL cholesterol.

Found in it’s usual preparations  however, cranberries are usually laced with sugar – in juices or in most commercially packaged snacks. These don’t count as ‘healthy’.

Nuts e.g. Walnuts and Almonds

Like salmon, nuts in general especially walnuts and almonds, contain significant amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. They also contain magnesium, folate and the anti-oxidant vitamin E.  

Eat nuts fresh or roasted. As you would imagine that I’d say, eating them sugar coated or candied doesn’t count.

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Eating properly doesn’t have to be a production, and need not require cast and crew. 

Cooking up a healthy, nutritious meal can require little effort and just one pan – be it a skillet, a Crock-Pot or slow cooker, a wok or a saucepan.

Stews, soups, pies, jambalayas (pelau anyone?), or stir fries, the variety of foods you can make by just combining all the ingredients in one pan are endless.

You would need at least one type of all of the following:

- Protein
- Vegetable
- Grain or Starch 

and add appropriate seasonings to taste and it’s on like boil’ corn. 

Switch up the esthetics of the food. Tease your eyes and boost your nutrition by substituting vegetables of different colours and  switching to different proteins and grains/ starch from time to time. Also, switch up the taste by experimenting with different herbs and spices, and leave excess sugar and salt out of the mix. For sweetness for example, add some sweet potatoes/ yams to the mix.

Just toss the ingredients into the slow cooker before you head to work, turn that baby on, and come home to a hot, satisfying home-cooked meal.

Alternatively, toss in the ingredients into the cooker at night, close the lid and go to sleep. You’ll wake up to a hot meal that you can pack yourself for lunch.

Slow, simmered, root vegetable foods are rich, flavourful and exactly what the doctor has ordered for the winter blues or end-of-year family get togethers. 

You save time, energy and money, and best of all, you have less dishes to wash!

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The amount of oil secreted by your skin determines your skin type, i.e. whether your skin is considered to be dry, oily, or normal. This oil that is secreted by skin helps the skin to form its lipid barrier, which is a combination of oil, sweat and dead skin cells that form a layer over the skin and protect it against bacteria.

Unlike your laundry, your skin should not feel ’squeaky’ clean. It should not feel so clean that after cleansing and drying your face, rubbing your finger along your skin almost produces a noise similar to the one produced when you drag your bare feet against a newly polished floor. *squeak*

Using cleansers that are too harsh for your skin can remove this barrier completely and give your skin that squeaky clean feeling. When this lipid barrier has been removed, the skin then goes into emergency mode and attempts to restore this barrier by producing, and sometimes over producing, oil.

This lipid barrier decreases with age, which is why you would find that your skin gets less oily and more dry with age.

Huh.

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Losing the extra few pounds can be a challenge, but you may be sabotaging your own efforts. Save yourself from having to do that extra lap or two by avoiding the following:

1. Munching all day
Enter the vending machines when the 3 pm crave starts screaming your name, or the doughnut, cake and cookie ’snacks’ that just stare at you during those forever long office meetings, and those pesky never-ending starters at your office parties.  

These extra often sugary or salty snacks can turn out to be your diet buster. Sweet tooth? Fruits contain natural sweeteners, try some slices of fresh fruit instead. Also, stash healthier snacks in your draw so that when that hunger pang does strike you have a better choice of eats to choose from, rather than the vending machine’s choices.

Real fruit juices as well as artificial juice drinks, soda and energy drinks for example, can also pack a mean calorie bomb. Satisfy your thirst with a glass of water or unsweetened tea instead, and save your calories for later, as chances are you’d still grab a snack after that drink anyways.

Skipping meals is just as bad.

Your sugar level decreases, lowering your energy and alertness levels. It also heightens the chances of you over-eating at your next meal. Womp.

2. Monotonous food

Following a restrictive diet greatly limits your body’s exposure to essential nutrients. Not to mention, variety is the spice of life! Wear, eat, see, hear the same thing every day and you are bound to get bored and cheat somewhere. Mix up your foods to reduce binge eating and fuel your body (and your skin) with the nutrients that it needs.

Eating locally helps you get a greater range of nutrients in your diet. Not only are the foods more accessible but they are usually cheaper and more flavorful too as there are greater avenues for you to get them fresher. Grab a local recipe book on simple cooking and see what you can whip up. Eating healthily doesn’t always have to mean grilling vegetables. You may be amazed by the amount of new preparations you may come across for tasty meals that incorporate your green and leafys.

3. Inhaling food

Yes, we are always running against the clock. The webpage takes 3 seconds to load instead of 1 and we are ready to fire somebody.

Not only does inhaling your lunch not allow you to savour it’s taste, but  doing so does not allow your brain to accurately read how full your stomach is, and can result in you eating more food than you need. It is estimated that it takes about 20 mins for your brain to realise that your stomach is full.  Take the time to enjoy what you eat.

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Genetically Modified Organisms: GMOs 
Natural vs. Organic 

Although we have been consuming foods with modified plant DNA for years, the topic of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is very controversial. As a matter of fact, it has been estimated that genetic modification of food has been practiced for over 8,000 years.

The Native Americans have cross-fertilized corn plants, and thousands of hybrid plants have been created by cross pollination.

Watermelon and oranges have been genetically modified to have their seeds removed, and other everyday foods that we consume today like flax, corn, potato, canola and soybean oil, tomatoes, sugar beets and squash have all been genetically modified.

Genetic modification is facilitated through the transfer of genes between organisms. Through this transfer of genes, food can me modified to:

1. Improve traits
Tomatoes have been modified to contain 10x the amount of lycopene, a bright red pigment and phytochemical that has been considered a potential agent for the prevention of some types of cancers, particularly prostate cancer. 

Rice has been altered to be rich in beta carotene, a powerful antioxidant.

2. Transfer disease-resistant genes from one plant to another
Certain varieties of corn, cotton seed oil and hawaiian papaya have been altered to be more resistant to pests and diseases.

3. Modify colours of vegetables and fruits
Some carrots have been modified to be dark red.

4. Be more commercial
Salmon has been modified to grow to market weight in 18 months rather than 24-30 months.

In addition to foods, animals have been genetically modified as well. Hens have been modified to lay more eggs, cattle to have leaner muscle, and pigs to produce less smelly foods and gas. 

Public concern prevents most of the possible genetic modification of animals to be approved.

Consuming modified DNA s is considered safe by the FDA. Over 60% of processed foods contain genetically modified ingredients, and over 80% of soybeans and 30% of corn in the USA are from genetically modified seeds. 

The future of GMOs is highly debatable. The slippery slide that is the alteration of crops and animals, the livelihood of small farms, and the fact that this modification benefits the producers more than the consumer are just some of the issues related to genetically altering the DNA of organisms. 

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Food for thought.

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Works consulted
Brown, J. (2008) Nutrition Now. CA: Thomson Wadsworth. 
Notes 

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