Many expatriates like me who hail from colder climes have a great love affair with the sun but those who are born and bred in hot climates inherit a healthy respect for the sun’s power and adapt their life style to protect themselves from the effects of a desert climate. There is a saying that only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.
Too much exposure to the hot sun damages the skin causing premature ageing. Women’s skin is finer than men’s skin and is more vulnerable to damage and needs extra protection.
Having lived myself in desert climes for many years I have seen at first hand the damage the sun can do. Constant sun exposure in your twenties can lead to you looking older than your peers in your forties and fifties. The point worth mentioning is that sun damage appears very suddenly without warning so it is worth taking care of your skin and wearing a high sun protection factor lotion. And you have a responsibility to protect your children’s skin, for which they will thank you one day in the future,
Even when walking around town use a high factor sun protection on exposed areas such as the face, neck and hands as these are areas that show damage first. A sun lotion that protects against both ultraviolet type B (UVB) radiation and ultraviolet type A (UVA) radiation offers the best protection. These creams are called ‘broad spectrum’ sunscreens. We need to watch out constantly for our skin in the sun. Some people - often those of us who have fair skin - need to take greater care than those who have slightly darker skin in order to avoid skin cancer. If you have dark skin and want to avoid getting darker you need a high factor sun protection cream and wear a hat.
The sunlight helps your body to produce vitamin D which is good for the immune system and for bones; so occasionally sitting out in the evening or early morning sun for 10 minutes to enjoy some light rays can be good for you and can produce a lovely feeling of calm and well being. This feel good factor is important for the body and healing. That said, I would still advise sun protection for the face.
I am 32 years old and have one son aged six. My weight is 74 kg; height is 5’ 2”. I stay with a joint family and I work mornings. What should I do to reduce at least 5-7 kilos?
I have calculated your BMI, which is 30, and that means that you are obese. Your weight could cause you health problems in the future and your first thought should be to get down to 61 kilos, which would be an acceptable, healthy weight for you. You can email me at [email protected] for a copy of my healthy eating guide. I recommend making gradual changes to your eating habits as set out in my plan. If you feel your weight loss needs a kick start you may want to talk to your doctor about taking Actrim a fruit-based slimming supplement which helps boost weight loss while you gradually make changes to your eating habits. You should also start exercising as it is very important for your health and helps tone your body as you lose weight. Inform your family that you are planning to lose weight as some of them may like to support you or even join you.
