T.J. Samson | Destination Health | August 2019

Healthy habits for a Regular checkups are one way to help keep your kids healthy now and in the future. Call 270-651-1111 to make an appointment with a primary care provider for kids. possible). And point out that indoor tanning also causes skin cancer. Set the tone for a tobacco-free tomorrow. Most adult smokers started the habit when they were kids. So intervene now on your future adult’s behalf. Along with your firm, no-tobacco rules, look for opportunities to talk about the dangers of tobacco. Did someone in the family have a tobacco-related illness, like lung cancer? Point this out as a powerful lesson. Get their HPV shots. Vaccinating kids helps protect them as adults from several cancers caused by the human papil- lomavirus (HPV), including cervical and throat cancers. Both boys and girls should begin getting the HPV vaccine (it’s a series of shots) at age 11 or 12. But it’s not too late to get your kids caught up if they’ve missed any shots. Additional sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; American Academy of Pediatrics; American Cancer Society HEALTHY FUTURE 6 ways to help lower your kids’ risk of cancer as an adult 1 2 3 4 5 6 A s a parent, you know when that natural instinct to protect your children kicks in. You’ve felt it countless times. (Think back to that adrenaline jolt you felt when your tot started toddling—and seemed ever-poised to fall.) Fast-forward to the future, to a time when your kids are grown. What if you could safeguard your children from a serious disease like cancer? And what if you could actually do that—starting right now? While there are no guarantees that your children will enjoy perfect health as adults, there’s plenty you can do to lessen their future risk of cancer and other serious diseases, in part by teaching them lifelong healthy habits. Check out these six tips, courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Preven- tion, the American Institute for Cancer Research and other health pros: Promote active play. At least one hour of daily activity helps promote overall health and weight control. Why does a healthy weight matter? Among other risks, unwanted pounds can set the stage for cancer and other chronic diseases when kids become adults. Encourage your youngsters and teens to step away from screens and be active outdoors. Better yet, set a good example and join them on a bike ride or a walk. Serve up a diet rich in fruits and veggies. It’s another key to good weight control. Plus plant-based foods contain nutrients and compounds that may convey disease protec- tion. Include fruits and veggies with daily meals. For snacks, set out a bowl of fresh fruit, and keep crunchy carrots or other kid-friendly vegetables cut up and ready to eat in the fridge. Get them into grains. Whole grains are also part of a plant-based diet, and eating them can help lower the risk of colorectal cancer. To help your kids get more, offer whole-wheat sandwich bread instead of refined white bread. Switch to brown rice, and give whole-wheat pastas a try too. Save them from sunburns. Painful sun- burns can make kids prone to skin cancer— including melanoma, the most deadly kind—in later years. For protection, have them always wear sunscreen before heading outside. And teach your kids to seek shade (especially when the sun is overhead). Encourage a sun-savvy dress code (think hats, pants and long-sleeved shirts, when Children’s Health 6 DESTINATION HEALTH