Anchorage News

 We may be losing daylight but summer is not over yet! There is still time for barbecues and porch sitting. That’s why this month we’re serving up the best summer snack/appetizer in our repertoire: summer corn, avocado and black bean salad.

On top of tasting amazing, this recipe is packed full of potential health benefits. Black beans are rich in selenium, a mineral that aids in liver enzyme function and detoxifies some cancer-causing compounds.

Pro tip: Most canned vegetables and beans contain added salt and you could be adding more salt into your recipe than you’d like. To prevent this, look for “no salt added” ingredients. If you can’t find it, rinse the vegetables before adding them to your dish to get some of the added salt off. This is what we did for the black beans in the recipe below.

July is UV Safety Month and a good reminder to take care of your skin and protect yourself from ultraviolet rays that can increase your chances of skin cancer. Here in Alaska, we’re fortunate to live in the land of the midnight sun; more daylight means more sunshine and for many people, more time outdoors enjoying it. But Alaskans are at just as much of a risk at developing skin cancer, the most common cancer in the U.S. Brush up on our UV safety tips to keep you and your family safe this summer.

1. Wear sunscreen (duh!) but choose it carefully! Many sunscreens can have chemicals that are dangerous for both you and the environment. Take a few minutes to do a little research and pick the sunscreen that’s right for you.
2. Think outside the box. It’s obvious that you need to apply sunscreen when you’re lying on the beach but what about when you’re just out for a hike? It’s still very important to wear sunscreen, especially when you consider that higher altitudes can increase your exposure.
3. Know the UV index for the day. Different levels of UV rays change the risk. The more you know, the safer you can plan.

While these tips are important for everyone to follow, those receiving radiation treatment need to be extra careful in the sun. Skin in an area receiving radiation therapy may already be red or burned from treatments so be extra cautious. Schedule your sun time when the UV index is lower, either early or late in the day. Wear a hat and clothes that cover most of your body and choose your sunscreen carefully. As always, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about your concerns or to ask for recommendations.

World Lung Cancer Day is part of a grassroots effort of the lung cancer community to raise awareness about lung cancer and its global impact. Aug. 1 is recognized as World Lung Cancer Day, a day to commemorate, celebrate and support those impacted by lung cancer. It is also important to educate the public about lung cancer risks and early treatment options in order to combat this one of the most common cancers worldwide.

Every year, lung cancer claims more lives than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined. It accounts for an estimated one in five cancer deaths globally. While smoking can definitely increase a person’s risk for developing lung cancer, there are other risk factors that are less commonly known. Environmental toxins have been linked to lung cancer. So have diseases like chronic bronchitis and TB.

We encourage you to recognize World Lung Cancer Day by learning more about lung cancer, celebrate survivors, remember loved ones who have passed and help propel the education movement.

Every year the American Cancer Society and community members come together for more than 3,500 relay events around the country. Anchorage’s Relay for Life event is coming up! Join us on July 21 at Bartlett High School for all of your Relay for Life favorite activities plus, new this year, a 5K! This event is all about the fundraising. Download the app to fundraise from anywhere and help get Anchorage to its $70,000 goal! Check out all the details of the event and don’t be late! Activities start at 10 a.m. on July 21.