Nutrition

Preventing skin cancer with our diet

Intake of shrimps and salmon can prevent skin cancer

In this chapter, we will be discussing how we can prevent skin cancer with our diet.

Skin cancer is more common in Caucasians, but the incidence is on the rise in the black community according to WHO.

The two most common types are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. These usually form on the head, face, neck, hands and arms. Another type of skin cancer, melanoma, is more dangerous but fortunately less common.

Anyone can get skin cancer, but it is more common in people who:

● Spend a lot of time in the sun or suffered sunburn.

● Have light coloured skin, hair and eye.

● Have family history.

● Older than 50 years.

Because the sun’s ultraviolet (UVA and UVB) rays promote cancer causing changes in the skin, learning sun safe practices is one way to protect one from skin cancer. Another way is to know the signs of skin cancer. This is usually a mole that is oddly shaped, strangely coloured, or unusually large, may be a sign of skin cancer, especially if it grows. That’s why it is important to check your skin regularly for moles and/or changes in already existing moles. You should also have your doctor check any suspicious skin markings and any changes in the way your skin looks. These steps can help in early diagnosis and management of skin cancer- the stage when cancer is most likely to be treated successfully. Catching cancer early may also prevent certain types of skin cancer cells from spreading to other parts of the body.

In the misdt of all this, diet plays an important role which has to be harnessed.

Foods to include

● Astaxanthin rich foods such as; salmon and shrimps.

● Catechin rich foods such as green tea.

● D-limonene rich foods such as, grapefruit, oranges, pineapples, and bell peppers.

● Monounsaturated fatty acid rich foods such as; almonds, avocado, and walnuts.

Lifestyle modification

● Avoid direct exposure of the skin to the sun.

● Wear sunscreens when visiting the beach or pool.

● Wearing of protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses for people who work directly under the sun and people with light coloured skin, hair and eye.

● Avoid excessive bleaching of the skin.

● Avoid cigarette smoking.

In conclusion, managing skin cancer can be very stressful and uncomfortable. A well-tailored diet and lifestyle can go a long way to prevent skin cancer. By following the recommendations above skin cancer will become the least of our worries.

The writer Dr. Bernice Asare Korkor is the CEO of Holistic Health Consult.

“Your diet your health, your health your wealth” Email holistichealthconsult.gmail.com

Nutrition

Sobolo

Delicious sobolo

Sobolo, also known as hibiscus tea, is a popular and refreshing drink found in parts of Africa, particularly in Ghana.

Ingredients:

2 cups of dried hibiscus flowers

8 cups of water

1 cup of sugar (adjust to taste)

Ginger (a medium-sized piece), grated

Optional: Pineapple juice, lemon juice, or mint leaves for extra flavour

Preparation:

-Boil water in a large bowl.

-Once the water is boiling, add the dried hibiscus flowers and grated ginger.

-Also, add the peels of the pineapple and lemon to the boiling mixture to give it a strong scent and flavour.

-Reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 20-30 minutes. The longer it simmers, the stronger the flavour.

-After simmering, turn off the heat

and strain the mixture to remove the flowers, peels, and ginger.

-While the liquid is still hot, add sugar to your taste and stir until it’s completely dissolved.

-If you want to add more flavours, now is the time to add pineapple juice, lemon juice, or mint leaves. This step is optional but can enhance the taste.

– Let the sobolo cool down to room temperature. Once cooled, you can refrigerate it until it’s chilled.

-Serve the sobolo chilled. You can garnish it with lemon slices or mint leaves for a refreshing and appealing look.

– Boil about a cup of water and dissolve your sugar in it to make a concentrated syrup and pour in your sobolo. This method works better than adding sugar directly.

Enjoy your homemade Sobolo, a perfect drink for any occasion!

Source: Pulse.com

Nutrition

Khebab

Khebab, popularly known as kyinkyinga in Ghana, is a very popular street food.

With meat variations ranging from beef, gizzards, chicken, guinea fowls, sausages and others, this spicy meat threaded on skewers and grilled over a gentle heat is usually served with sliced onions and spicy pepper powder.

It is very popular among the Hausa people in northern Ghana. The people that sell them are referred to as Abochi.

Ingredients

Kyinkyinga powder

●1 cup of ground peanuts (You can also use peanut butter powder )

●1 tablespoonful of onion powder

Salt to taste

●1 tablespoonful of paprika

●1 tablespoonful of ginger powder

●1 tablespoonful of cayenne

pepper

●1 tablespoonful of black pepper

Beef / meat on skewers