Nutrition
Preventing skin cancer with our diet
Intake of shrimps and salmon can prevent skin cancer
In this chapter, we will be discussing how we can prevent skin cancer with our diet.
Skin cancer is more common in Caucasians, but the incidence is on the rise in the black community according to WHO.
The two most common types are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. These usually form on the head, face, neck, hands and arms. Another type of skin cancer, melanoma, is more dangerous but fortunately less common.
Anyone can get skin cancer, but it is more common in people who:
● Spend a lot of time in the sun or suffered sunburn.
● Have light coloured skin, hair and eye.
● Have family history.
● Older than 50 years.
Because the sun’s ultraviolet (UVA and UVB) rays promote cancer causing changes in the skin, learning sun safe practices is one way to protect one from skin cancer. Another way is to know the signs of skin cancer. This is usually a mole that is oddly shaped, strangely coloured, or unusually large, may be a sign of skin cancer, especially if it grows. That’s why it is important to check your skin regularly for moles and/or changes in already existing moles. You should also have your doctor check any suspicious skin markings and any changes in the way your skin looks. These steps can help in early diagnosis and management of skin cancer- the stage when cancer is most likely to be treated successfully. Catching cancer early may also prevent certain types of skin cancer cells from spreading to other parts of the body.
In the misdt of all this, diet plays an important role which has to be harnessed.
Foods to include
● Astaxanthin rich foods such as; salmon and shrimps.
● Catechin rich foods such as green tea.
● D-limonene rich foods such as, grapefruit, oranges, pineapples, and bell peppers.
● Monounsaturated fatty acid rich foods such as; almonds, avocado, and walnuts.
Lifestyle modification
● Avoid direct exposure of the skin to the sun.
● Wear sunscreens when visiting the beach or pool.
● Wearing of protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses for people who work directly under the sun and people with light coloured skin, hair and eye.
● Avoid excessive bleaching of the skin.
● Avoid cigarette smoking.
In conclusion, managing skin cancer can be very stressful and uncomfortable. A well-tailored diet and lifestyle can go a long way to prevent skin cancer. By following the recommendations above skin cancer will become the least of our worries.
The writer Dr. Bernice Asare Korkor is the CEO of Holistic Health Consult.
“Your diet your health, your health your wealth” Email holistichealthconsult.gmail.com
Ghana has nutrition policies. Ghana has nutrition targets. Ghana has nutrition programmes spread across multiple ministries and dozens of implementing partners.
What Ghana does not have is a single, empowered body responsible for leading, coordinating, and holding all this together. That is the gap a National Nutrition Council would fill, and stakeholders are calling for one now.
The case for a council
At a stakeholder engagement convened under the Nourish Ghana project in 2025, participants proposed the establishment of a National Nutrition Council to provide effective leadership and a governance framework for addressing malnutrition in Ghana. The meeting, which brought together policymakers, development partners, civil society organisations, and the media, highlighted a fundamental problem: nutrition responsibilities are fragmented across various ministries. Without a dedicated coordination body, efforts are duplicated, accountability is diffuse, and nutrition consistently loses out when budgets are tight.
The proposal echoes a model used in several countries that have made the fastest progress against malnutrition. Nigeria’s National Council on Nutrition, for example, recently pledged $107 million at the 2025 N4G Summit, a level of coordinated ambition that Ghana has struggled to match.
Ghana does have existing coordination structures worth acknowledging. The Scaling Up Nutrition Cross-Sectoral Planning Group (CSPG), established in 2012, was set up to harmonise planning, implementation, and monitoring of nutrition actions across sectors. It has produced real gains. But the challenge has been institutionalising those gains beyond project cycles, and analysts have called for an elevated national coordination body with presidential oversight to ensure genuine cross-sector accountability. A National Nutrition Council would go further, providing the dedicated financing and convening authority that the CSPG, as currently structured, does not have.
What a Council would do
A National Nutrition Council would provide political oversight and coordination across all sectors involved in nutrition, health, agriculture, education, social protection, and finance. It would track Ghana’s nutrition commitments, hold ministries accountable for delivery, and ensure that nutrition budgets are protected and spent effectively. Most importantly, it would give nutrition a permanent seat at the table where national development decisions are made.
The Time Is Now
Ghana made 10 commitments at the 2025 N4G Paris Summit. Translating those commitments into results requires a governance structure that does not currently exist. Establishing a National Nutrition Council is not a bureaucratic exercise. It is the institutional foundation without which Ghana’s nutrition ambitions will remain promises on paper. Leaders must act on this proposal without delay.
Feature article by Women, Media and Change under its Nourish Ghana: Advocating for Increased Leadership to Combat Malnutrition project
-350grammes of plain flour
-2 tablespoonfuls of baking powder
-2 tablespoonfuls of grinded ginger
-1 tablespoonful of grinded cinnamon
-1/2 tablespoonful of grinded cloves (optional)
-1/2 tablespoonful of nutmeg
-Salt
– 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, softened
-1 cup of dark brown sugar
-2 large eggs
-1/2 cup of golden syrup
-1 tablespoonful of vanilla extract
-Sprinkles, edible glitter, or small sweets
Preparation
-Begin by preheating the oven to 180 degrees Celsius and lining a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
-In a large bowl, sift together the plain flour, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Stir well and set aside.
-In another bowl, use an electric whisk or a wooden spoon to cream the softened butter and dark brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. (This step helps incorporate air into the dough, giving your gingerbread a lovely texture).
-Beat eggs into the butter and sugar mixture, then mix in the golden syrup and vanilla extract. (Stir until the mixture is fully combined).
-Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until a dough forms. The dough should be soft but not sticky.
-Wrap the dough in cling film and chill it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Chilling the dough makes it easier to roll and ensures that the shapes hold their form during baking.
-On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of about 5mm (1/4 inch). Place the cut-out shapes on the prepared baking tray, leaving a little space between each one.
-Bake the gingerbread in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges begin to darken slightly. Keep a close eye on them to avoid over-baking.
– Get creative with sprinkles, edible glitter, or small sweets to make your gingerbread truly unique.
