This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Summertime Caution! It's Not All Fun in the Sun

How to keep yourself protected.

There is nothing I love more than the warm sun hitting my face and the smell of meat on the grill. Tank tops and flip flops. Playing in the sprinklers or taking a dip in the pool. Kids are out of school. No homework! So they stay up all night and sleep in all day. The grass is green and the floral print outdoor furniture is being put to major use. I love summer!

While summertime usually brings bouts of fun and long-lasting memories, you should also be aware of some of the other long-term effects that summer activities can have on you and your loved ones.

Some of the most popular foods for summer are those we put on the grill. Hot dogs, hamburgers, steak and chicken are favorites in my book. But did you know that those meats contain nitrogen and may become cancer promoting if heated to a high temperature? Potentially cancer-promoting substances formed by meats are found in the charred portions of the meat and the fatty coating that accumulates on meat when fat drips into the heat source and smokes. Basically, the charred and black, oily coating on grilled or broiled meats are the part you shouldn’t eat. Take some precautions by wiping any coating on meat that results from fatty flare-ups on the grill.

Find out what's happening in Fort Braggwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Nitrates added to food to help preserve them and also to add flavor can also lead to health concerns. Most cases of cancer associated with nitrates are from regular consumption of foods that are smoked, salted and pickled.

Summertime also means lots of outdoor activities. Families should use caution and wear protection for their skin if prolonged exposure to the sun is planned. According to WebMD, “cumulative effects of sun exposure put us at higher risk of cellular damage, early wrinkling, age spots, actinic keratoses, and skin cancer -- including melanoma, the most serious type.”  

Find out what's happening in Fort Braggwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Even the less serious side of sun can cause havoc on person’s psyche. Beware worshipers of the sun! The sun's rays make skin look old and wrinkled years before it should. More than 80 percent of the signs of skin aging in adults are the result of the tans they had as teens before the age of 18.  You should use sunscreen daily and use one that has a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Be sure to reapply frequently for the best protection.

Being protected from the sun doesn’t mean you have to throw all the fun out the window. Find the coolest pair of shades you can come by, get a ridiculously big hat (like Carrie from Sex and the City), park it under a tree or umbrella and sip on something fruity to keep you cool.  Throw that extra layer of skin (waterproof sunscreen) on the kiddos and let them splash around a bit.

Summertime is and always will be great. Just be careful.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Fort Bragg