SOAKING up rays and enjoying Ballarat’s summer sunshine is all about balance – whether it be working off that extra slice of Christmas pudding, making the most of warmth between the city’s notorious winters, or setting a new holistic health outlook for the New Year.
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Like ensuring the right daily dose of vitamin D.
Cancer Council Australia experts say walking from the front door to check the letterbox or ducking out to grab lunch can provide sufficient enough vitamin D. Sun protection should be the priority. And it need not just be on days that are a scorcher.
The mercury in Ballarat is set to dip into the low-to-mid 20s leading into New Year with similar temperatures expected for the flocks of Ballarat people on break along the Surf Coast.
This is the mild kind of weather that tends to make us get out and move more, or to fire up the barbecue with friends.
But the ultraviolet index is indicating extreme all this week.
UV radiation from the sun is the best natural source for producing vitamin D in the skin but is also the main source for causing skin cancer.
In a modern world where we are urged to get away from our desks, screens and couches to step up our exercise, health messages can get mixed.
Vitamin D is essential for strong bones, muscles and overall health and daily exercise can boost the body’s vitamin D protection.
An Australian observational study has also linked vitamin D to improved brain power in middle-aged women.
Cancer Council Australia’s Craig Sinclair said vitamin D for good health was not a big issue for most Australians during summer because ultraviolet rays were so intense. He said even with sun protection, most Australians would still reach adequate vitamin D levels.
Slip, Slop, Slap – with modern additions to seek shade and slide on sunglasses – has been one of the most successful Australian campaigns since 1981. The preventative message is still just as important as ever to ensure we can enjoy all Ballarat has to offer this summer, from a bumper events calendar to lazy afternoons by the lake.
If unsure, there are plenty of tools, to help including the free SunSmart app which lets you know when you need sun protection.
This is about more than beating the heat, it is playing it safe all summer.