We’re there! At last, summer has arrived! For those lucky enough to be able to take time off, here are some tips to make the most of your hols!

Barbecues

When you talk about summer, you might as well be talking about barbecues. However, you should pay attention to this type of cooking. According to the health organisation, ANSES: “Cooking food at high temperatures, particularly when in direct contact with flames, can lead to the formation of chemical compounds on the surface of the food, some of which have carcinogenic properties”. These carcinogenic properties include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Benzopyrene.

ANSES recommends

• Position the grill so that the food is cooked above the embers rather than the flames.
• Choose a purified charcoal (grade A) rather than ordinary charcoal
• Avoid letting fat fall onto the flames: dripping fat incites flames which when put in contact with meat forms PAH. It’s therefore recommended to use white meat (low fat) and remove any residual fat from the meat.

The sun

Thanks to the sun and UVB, our body synthesises vitamin D. Sun exposure during the summer allows us to keep up reserves until the autumn. But over-exposure to the sun can be dangerous to your skin!

How to tan safely?

• Protect your head.
• Be careful of the wind; it can be a real traitor: you’ll won’t even feel getting sunburnt.
• Protect yourself at the beach: reapply sunscreen after every swim.

Supermarkets

Summer is the season of fruits and vegetables. Market stalls are stacked with apricots, peaches, watermelon, strawberries and melons. This is the time to fill up on vitamins and antioxidants.

Work-out!

We all know that the summer is synonymous with the beach, sunbathing, and relaxation but a little bit of physical activity during the holidays will do you no harm at all. A quick jog or an energetic walk in the mornings will keep you in good shape.