Memorial Day – A Time to Remember Our Fallen Heroes

As we spend time with family and friends this holiday and go to the beach or have that barbecue, please take time to remember those who sacrificed their lives while serving our country and preserving our freedom.

The reason we celebrate Memorial Day is to honor our fallen military heroes. Their lives were cut short, their potential never reached and their dreams lost forever. Their families and friends are still grieving, no matter when they lost their Warrior. 

It is not the politician, athlete, basketball star, MVP, actor, movie star, singer or rapper that’s a hero; the hero is the Warrior who serves our great nation. Talent is not equivocal to courage, fame is not synonymous with heroism. Use this day to pause, remember and honor their sacrifices. Remember and help their families. Honor those are still serving us now all over the world, but also in Afghanistan.

A famous quote attributed Abraham Lincoln says it all: “Any nation that does not honor its heroes, will not long endure”. 

4 Tips on How to Eat Olive Oil Every Day

Olive oil is a healthy fat. It contains Monounsaturated Fats (also known as MUFA’s for short) which may help to reduce the risk of heart disease as per the FDA. Use olive oil in place of butter or margarine on a variety of foods each day to meet your daily quota. Here’s how:

1. Breakfast:  Drizzle olive oil on whole wheat toast, whole wheat muffins or hot oatmeal. If you’re eating eggs, cook them in a tablespoon of olive oil.
2. Lunch: Use a tablespoon of olive oil on whole wheat bread for sandwiches, on leftover lean meats and vegetables from dinner the night before or on frozen prepared diet meals after heating.
3. Dinner: Bake chicken, fish, lean beef or pork loin with olive oil and herbs. Sauté vegetables with olive oil.
4. Snacks: Air pop some popcorn then drizzle it with olive oil.

Olive oil is high in calories so make sure you’re not overeating other foods and not taking in too many calories overall.  Using olive oil instead of other fats such as butter or margarine is a great way to enhance the flavor of your foods and help maintain your health. Read more about the wonders of olive oil.

Tip # 3 - 3 Tips to Prevent Skin Cancer – Healthy Food

Can skin cancer be prevented, or, your risk reduced by eating certain foods? Various foods, vitamins and nutrients are being examined to determine just that. The jury is still out regarding this and skin cancer; however, some studies suggest they may offer some protection. In the interim, you can gain numerous health benefits by consuming a diet that contains a variety of colorful fresh fruits and vegetables every day from improved heart and brain health, stronger and better looking skin and a reduced risk of some cancers.

Here’s a list of a few vitamins and nutrients that are good for your skin and health in general:

Vitamin A and Beta Carotene – Found in carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe

Vitamin B – Found in eggs, chicken, nuts, fish

Vitamin C – Found in oranges, strawberries, tomatoes, cantaloupe

Lycopene – Found in tomatoes, tomato paste, ketchup

Omega 3 Fatty Acids – Fatty fish and nuts

Remember to: Drink enough water especially during the hot summer months and with increased physical activity. You’ll feel and look better. Also, try to minimize your exposure to pesticide laden produce whenever possible and buy organic when you can.  All produce needs to be washed well before consuming.


More tips to help prevent skin cancer:
Conduct a monthly examination of your skin along with:

Monitoring Your Moles -Tip # 1 at:  http://carole-jakucs.blogspot.com/2012/05/3-tips-to-prevent-skin-cancer-monitor.html   

and learning to become: 
Savvy about Sun Safety - Tip # 2 at:  http://carole-jakucs.blogspot.com/2012/05/3-tips-to-prevent-skin-cancer-savvy-sun.html  

Tip # 2 - 3 Tips to Prevent Skin Cancer – Savvy Sun Safety

Tip # 2:  Being sun safety savvy is one of the best ways to help prevent skin cancer. The following are "need to know" tips on how to do so:

• SPF of 30 or more - SPF means sun protection factor.  Sunscreen with a strength of 30 is the minimum amount considered to give you a fighting chance against the damaging rays and to help prevent over exposure to the sun.
• Broad Spectrum – Use broad spectrum as this term is necessary (must appear on the package label) to ensure you’re getting protection from both UVA and UVB rays.
• Reapply every hour – The term “waterproof” is no longer allowed by the FDA.  If you’re sweating or swimming, your product is wearing off. Reapplying every hour helps to ensure you’re covered.
• Use enough – Apply a generous amount to all areas exposed.  Research has shown that most of us don’t use enough.
• Cover all exposed areas – And don’t forget the bottoms of your feet (if you’re lying on your tummy in the sun), the back of your neck, ears, and top of the head for anyone who has balding areas.
• Use lip products that contain suncreen (SPF) of 30 or more, to help protect delicate lips from overexposure.
• Wear a hat (with a brim) or sun-visor – to help cover your head and face in addition to sunscreen.
• Fragrance Free – Use “fragrance free” sunscreen if you’re prone to fragrance allergies.
• Oil Free & Non Comedogenic - Look for the terms “Oil Free” and “Non Comedogenic” if you are prone to acne/pimples from oily products. These are formulated to help prevent a breakout from using the product.
• Stay out of the sun between the hours of 10 AM to 4 PM when the sun is at its strongest..
• Eye Protection - Wear quality sunglasses that offer both UVA and UVB protection of 99 - 100 %.

The added bonus with being savvy about sun safety is that practicing these tips over time will help contribute to an improved and more youthful appearance to your skin with fewer wrinkles and sun spots. See this link for Tip # 1 on skin cancer prevention: http://carole-jakucs.blogspot.com/2012/05/3-tips-to-prevent-skin-cancer-monitor.html 
See this link for Tip # 3: http://carole-jakucs.blogspot.com/2012/05/tip-3-skin-cancer-prevention-healthy.html
More info, see these:
http://www.aad.org/media-resources/stats-and-facts/prevention-and-care/sunscreens
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/uv-protection/AN00832

3 Tips to Prevent Skin Cancer - Monitor Your Moles

Tip # 1: Skin Cancer can be deadly if caught late. Monitor the skin on your whole body each month to look for changes to existing moles and for anything new and unusual such as new growths of any kind or irregular patches or areas of scaling, bleeding, crusty skin. Get in the habit of conducting a monthly surveillance your skin, just as it is recommended to do monthly breast and testicular exams. 
See this link for Tip # 2: http://carole-jakucs.blogspot.com/2012/05/3-tips-to-prevent-skin-cancer-savvy-sun.html
See this link for Tip # 3: http://carole-jakucs.blogspot.com/2012/05/tip-3-skin-cancer-prevention-healthy.html

• Don’t forget to look at the bottoms of your feet, between your toes and fingers and your backside. Recent research has shown that a number of new skin cancers are presenting on the soles of feet which usually get skipped over during the exam process.  However, skin cancer can be anywhere. Have a trusted family member or your partner help you check those hard to see places on your body.

Know your ABDCE’s. This is a good way to remember what to look for:
Asymmetry – If one half looks different from the other, see your doctor.

Border – If the border/edges of the growth look irregular and uneven, see our doctor.

Color – Abnormal moles have various shades of color in them, see your doctor.

Diameter- Larger growths are of more concern than smaller ones.  The standard used is to measure it against the size of an eraser on the tip of a pencil. If your mole is larger than that, get it examined by your doctor

Evolving – If your mole or growth is changing in size, color, border, height or anything that is different from before, see your doctor.

• If you find any area of concern, even if it does not match anything above, or, you are not sure, make an appointment to see a licensed healthcare professional or your dermatologist (who is a medical doctor that specializes in the diagnosing and treating the skin).

See these websites for more information:

http://www.skincancer.org/

http://www.aad.org/for-the-public/home

http://www.aad.org/spot-skin-cancer

http://www.webmd.com/melanoma-skin-cancer/ss/slideshow-skin-lesions-and-cancer