The Healthy Blogger

Debunking the tan myth

I’ve written many times about the dangers of tanning, so I’ve probably done it to death.  Many readers probably don’t care too much about the dangers that may not manifest for many years.  But, it was reported today that the recession will push more people into tanning salons.  This is because they cannot afford to holiday in warm climates, where they can lay out in the sun.

I’m not going to pick on tanning salons, because I believe tanning is bad, regardless of method.  I don’t know what problem people have with the “fake tans”.  Allergic reactions are uncommon, though it does exist.  Yet, it seems the easiest and safest method for those addicted to having a tan.  So, why bother with the tanning salons or the sun and dangerous rays?

Now, sunlight is important, especially for Vitamin D.  However, you can get vitamin D even if you apply sunscreen.  And you should use sunscreen to protect against harmful rays when you plan to be out in the sun for a long time.  But, sunbathers will not do so because they fear it will prevent them from tanning.  That is not necessarily the case.  Believe me on that point.  Sunscreen does not prevent you from tanning.

There is this misconception that a tan look is “healthy”.  This is because it is associated with being outdoors and invalids are not well-known for being out of doors.  No one wants to appear sickly pale, but there are many people unfortunate enough to be quite fair-skinned.  These people are the ones most in danger of getting skin damage from tanning.  They are the most likely to burn, even with the use of sunscreens.

A good proportion of people feel that a tan makes them look healthier.  The emphasis is on looks, not on actuality.  It does not make them feel healthier, nor are they in fact healthier, but many feel it makes them feel more attractive.  Let’s step back a bit.  Do people in general find Hispanics, Asians, and Blacks more attractive than Whites?  Is that why all the Caucasians try to pass themselves off as of a different race?  I find it funny then that amongst the Blacks, they like the light-skinned ones.

Never mind that tanning damages your skin, so that in the long run, you will have less healthy skin.  Let’s just look at the way that leathery skin clings on you.  Do you find that attractive?  I wish I could find and paste some images of women with that ugly leathery skin from too much sunbathing or tanning salons.  What about those with the tell-tale red-brown look that suggests they just came out of the salon?  You call that attractive?  Premature aging attractive?

I understand the need to be attractive.  I have ugly, wrinkly hands and feet.  This is due to dry skin and exposure to wind, heat, water, etc.  I tend to forget to apply lotions.  But I get very embarrassed to show my wrinkly, peeling skin.  I would definitely not tan and make it worse.  Tanning does not make a person more attractive!  In fact, it can make them much less attractive.

Diet and recession 2

OK.  So, how can you survive this recession without becoming a bloated fattened pig?  If healthy foods cost so much, how can we overcome the cost and eat right?

Well, you really don’t have to sacrifice health.  Although fast food restaurants are making good profits due to their cheap menu options and fast service, we need to slow down and think about what we are doing.  Maybe you’d rather pay $1 for that burger than $5 for the salad.  It only stands to reason that if you are short on cash, that is the best option.  However, don’t put yourself in that situation.

Rather than grabbing a quick bite to eat when you are on the run, consider packing yourself a nutritious lunch.  Buying a loaf of bread, some deli meat, cheese and whatever toppings you like, to provide lunch-time sandwiches for at least an entire week will work out to be cheaper than always running to the local McDonald’s.  And it won’t clog your arteries.  Side dishes such as fruits and vegetables, yoghurts, etc., will help to fill you up, as a substitute for those greasy fries.

When shopping, you can always find cheap alternatives in the generic brands.  If fresh fruits and vegetables are too high-priced, used the frozen or tinned ones for now.  They keep longer as well.  Just be careful of the salt and fat content in some tinned foods, especially pre-made meals in cans. 

Some good foods to eat: cucumbers, eggs, skim milk, tuna, nuts.  Snacking on cucumbers is a good way to lose weight as they contain practically no calories and you burn more when you eat them.  Having a salad, with greens and cucumber and a low-fat dressing will fill you up and prevent you from eating too large a portion of other foods.  You can turn the salad into a meal by adding some boiled or grilled chicken, or tuna, or eggs.  Milk is nutritious; however, it can be high in fat.  So the recommendation is to use skim milk.  Fish is always a good alternative to high-fat meats, as it contains some beneficial oils/fats.  Tuna is high in protein, has essential oils, relatively cheap when tinned, and is tasty.  Nuts are high in fiber, vitamins, minerals and protein.  Though people are turned off by their high fat content, the fats in most nuts (with the exception of palm nuts and coconuts) are unsaturated, which makes them healthy.

During times of stress, many people turn to food as “comfort”.  This becomes an extremely bad habit with dire consequences.  Finding other outlets for the stress, such as exercise, relaxation techniques, etc., will keep your thoughts away from food.

So, there are ways to combat recession and obesity at the same time.  We just need to be smarter in the way we approach food and meals.

Diet and recession

It does not take an expert to see that as the recession worsens, people will be inclined to spend less on their shopping. This decrease in spending is most profound in their food selection. Unfortunately, when they opt for less expensive food items, they are also more likely to be choosing more unhealthy foods.

Traditionally, healthy foods, especially organic foods, are much higher priced. Despite all the teachings on nutritious eating, it is practically impossible for the common person to make the move to healthy foods when they are prohibitively expensive. This is most especially true for the lower class and the elderly, whose income is not supplemented by governmental support.

Poor eating habits in these people lead to malnutrition. They may become obese from eating extremely fatty foods and have high blood pressure due to high sodium intake, but their nutritional profile will show that they have deficiencies. It is hard to correct for this without causing other problems. But one of the biggest obstacles is the cost of the healthier foods.

If food manufacturers could make the healthy alternatives much cheaper, people could eat better, preserving their health during hard economic times. Not only that, these people would be spending their money in the right direction, which could help the manufacturer out. In turn, the economy could improve.

It is hard to convince people that during this financially difficult time, they should stop eating at fast food restaurants and buy healthy foods for home consumption and packed lunches when fast food prices are so cheap. The recession may make people spend less, but they do not eat less.