Care

Clothing And

Manypeoplechoosetheirclothes based largely on their own unique fashion sense. But the clothes people wear can serve a greater purpose than broadcasting their sense of style to the world. The Skin Cancer Foundation notes that clothing is the first line of defense against the sun’s harmful ultraviolet, or UV, rays. The right clothing can absorb and block UV radiation and the SCF recommends wearing such attire as part of an effective sun protection regimen. When purchasing clothing, consumers are urged to determine each article’s ultraviolet protection factor, or UPF. The UPF factor indicates what fraction of the sun’s UVA and UVB radiation can penetrate the fabric and reach the skin. Clothing with a UPF of 50 will only allow 1/50th of the sun’s UV radiation to reach the skin. The UPF rating system is relatively new, so consumers in North America may not find UPF ratings listed on the labels of clothing they typically purchase from their favorite retailers. In addition, the sun protective clothing industry in North America is self-regulated, which means some, but not all, manufacturers’ claims regarding the safety of their clothing may be dubious. However, consumers concerned about the safety of the clothing they wear when spending time in the sun can speak with dermatologists about finding clothing manufacturers with strong reputations of producing sun protective clothing that can protect them from the sun’s UV rays.

Soy Foods Pack A Powerful Punch

The Cleveland Clinic notes that soy foods provide a host of nutritional benefits. Plant protein, including soy, can provide cardiovascular benefits, including helping with people with high blood pressure lower their blood pressure to healthier levels. While many people rely on animal-based proteins to get their daily recommended intake of protein, soy foods are naturally free of cholesterol and low in saturated fats. That makes soy foods more heart-healthy sources of protein than animal products. The Cleveland Clinic says substituting soy foods for animal-based proteins a few times per week can reduce a person’s risk for cardiovascular disease. Soy foods also can be a great source of dietary fiber, though the U.S. Soybean Export Council advises consumers that not all soy products are the same. The USSEC notes that foods like soy milk and tofu contain very little fiber. People who want to utilize soy beans as a source of dietary fiber should look to foods that utilize the whole bean, such tempeh, soy flour and textured soy protein. The USSEC also notes there’s some confusion in regard to the connection between soy foods and iron, though the group admits research is ongoing. While a 1/2 cup serving of cooked soybeans contains four milligrams ofiron,thephytateandsoyprotein present in soy foods reduce iron absorption, meaning that the body won’t really benefit from the iron. However, the USSEC recommends consumers purchase fermented soy foods, including tempeh and miso, because the body might absorb more iron from these foods than it will when consuming other types soy foods.