At Home with Carol Vorderman 2013 - (Page 132)

Avoid summer health woes Here comes tHe Holiday season, and witH it a load of invisible dangers. we investigate How to stay safe in tHe sUnsHine W hether you are staying at home or jetting abroad on holiday, most people think of summer as a healthier, happier, more carefree time of year. Days are longer, you’re more likely to enjoy yourself outside and there are plenty of chances for garden parties, barbecues and music festivals. But aside from its feel-good factor, the sun can actually mask some pressing health concerns – so make sure you’re well prepared. If I wear a higher SPF sun cream, can I stay out in the sun longer? It’s a tempting thought but, as GP Dr Rob Hicks warns, sun cream doesn’t always work like that. ‘If you use an SPF 30 cream, that doesn’t alas make it doubly effective as a 15,’ he says. ‘An SPF 15 product blocks about 94% of UVB rays; an SPF 30, 97% – so there’s really not much difference. Certainly, it’s best to go for a sunblock of at least an SPF 15 rating; but, after that, focus on the amount you use and apply it generously and regularly – every few hours when outside. Another 132 | JUNE 2013 point is to look out for a sun cream that also protects against UVA rays. ‘UVA rays don’t play a part in sunburn, but it’s thought they have a key role in skin cancer melanoma.’ Enjoying the sun safely also means covering up with a wide-brimmed hat or cap, wearing sunglasses and a top with long sleeves during the hottest part of the day, which is 11am-3pm. Why do I get more food poisoning in the summer? The meat’s been marinated, the buns are buttered, and the salad’s been shaken. But before you throw open the doors for your barbecue, have you remembered to safeguard against food poisoning, because summer’s the high season for tummy bugs. Undercooked beef burgers are one of the main a culprits, because it’s only by cooking meat until it’s piping hot that you kill off salmonella, E.coli and campylobacter, the most common germs that bring on food poisoning. But there are other reasons, too. Food’s more likely to be left hanging around while you’re getting ready – in the kitchen or outside. And the sun’s heat doesn’t help this. When a party’s in full swing, it’s easy to let normal procedures slip – particularly if alcohol’s flowing. ‘All the simple hygiene steps you know you ought to take if you’re handling food for other people, such as washing your hands frequently, can fall by the wayside,’ says GP and travel health expert, Dr Jane Wilson-Howarth. ‘And that’s particularly true if there

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of At Home with Carol Vorderman 2013

Editor's letter
Carol's hello
News
Summer days
Rear of the year
Shades of citrus
Maxi moment
Good for the sole
Razzle dazzle
Swing by the sixties
All shapes and sizes
Steal her look
The swimwear round
A moment with Carol
Beaming with pride
Loose women
Forever friends
What men want
The D word
Fear not
Keep your flirt on
Sex on fire
Culinary classics
Food glorious food
At a pinch
Oiling the meals
Flaming hot
Under the grill
Raise a glass
Water works
Weight-dropping wonders
Tuck in
Home improvements
Holiday hazards
Proceed with caution
Warning signs
Down to the bare bones
Back on track
A sorry sight
20 under £20
How do they do it?
Rewind time
Lacklustre locks?
Pearly brights
Good job hunting
Old timers
The golden years
Cash in a flash
Money guru
Foster the love
Child's play
Easy as 1, 2, 3?
Summertime accessories
Those in glass houses
On the tiles
Home safe home
Savvy traveller
Holiday honcho
Port of call
Here come the girls
It's a numbers game
Book it in
Up, up and away!
Last word

At Home with Carol Vorderman 2013