AVOID THE ‘NEW DIET’ APPROACH TO INVESTING

Saving is a tricky financial discipline to master. Most people agree that it’s wise to save, but are unsure as how best to do it. They try one way, take a break, then try another. It’s similar to the way many people try to eat healthily. Again, we all agree to the benefits of healthy eating, but few can stick to the right diet for a period long enough to produce significant results.

Just as different diets work for different people, we cannot view investments as a cookie-cut, one-solution-fits-all models. And, just as with dieting, creative and tailored solutions often work best! As a financial advisor, it’s my job to be your financial dietician!

5 MORE FACTS ABOUT HOSPITAL PLANS

As I wrote in a previous article, full medical cover has become an expensive purchase that few South Africans can afford. As we see a significant increase in the purchase of hospital plans, we are also seeing a decrease in how much our clients fully understand the big differences between an old-school medical aid and the intuitive products of today’s marketplace.

5 FACTS ABOUT HOSPITAL PLANS

Full medical cover has become an expensive purchase that few South Africans can afford. This is the reason for the increased popularity of hospital plans that cover your medical bills if you are hospitalised.

Having come from a generation that largely understood medical cover as a ‘covers all’ policy, it’s important to run through these five facts about hospital plans that are overlooked until they are needed!

STAY INFORMED. STAY HEALTHY.

One of the biggest drives around Breast Cancer Month is education and awareness. There are many programmes in place to provide extensive knowledge and encourage support for those who are looking for expert advice.

The PinkDrive website is an amazing site that offers a place to ask questions, find answers, enter events, raise money for research and buy Breast Cancer Awareness gifts and promotional items. 

One of the procedures that they explain is the mammogram. Here’s what they have to say:

WHAT WILL IT REALLY COST ME?

The current SA stats for breast cancer reveal that one in thirty-six women has breast cancer. My blog last week spoke about the general costs and overall statistics of cancer, but today I’d like to get a little more specific as to the expected ‘realistic’ impact that breast cancer will have on those who may be diagnosed this month.

Whilst it’s a scary reality, the sooner breast cancer is diagnosed the higher the chance that it can be treated through to full recovery. Breast cancer can run in families, but fewer than 10% of cases are as a result of an inherited family gene.

PLAN FOR THE HIDDEN COSTS OF BREAST CANCER

Last year I shared an article on my blog that spoke to the stark reality of the tragic impact that cancer has had (and continues to have) on almost every family in South Africa. It’s very rare, in fact, to meet someone who hasn’t either had cancer themselves, or has a close family member who has been diagnosed with some form of cancer.

As I wrote in my previous blog, cancer has increased exponentially and is, in many cases, treatable – at a cost; making cancer a life, health and personal finance issue.

According to South African cancer stats for the insured population, 100 000 cases are diagnosed in South Africa each year with 60 000 deaths from cancer each year. Around 1 in 4 men and 1 in 6 women are diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime (figures for the general population are 1 in 6 males and 1 in 8 females) with the top cancers being breast, cervical, prostate, lung, colorectal and oesophageal.

E-CIGGIES… THEY COST MORE

A brief walk through any public space will reveal the presence of a new type of technology. It’s not a new phone or tablet, it’s a cigarette; an e-cigarette. I came across this article in an email that explains why life insurers apply a loading for the use of e-cigarettes.

E-cigarettes are becoming increasingly popular, but they’re no stranger to controversy. The latest news on the topic highlights the increasing number of governmental regulations kicking in across the world to restrict or limit the distribution and use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).

The Cancer Society of South Africa (CANSA) is one of many organisations voicing its dismay with the popularity of e-cigarettes, emphasising that the use and distribution of e-cigarettes is regulated under the Medicines and Related Substance Act, which classifies nicotine as a schedule 3 drug and requires it to be sold only at pharmacies and with a doctor’s script.

LOVE YOUR HEART (II)

Last week I wrote about the importance of managing your blood pressure in order to keep your heart and vital organs healthy. One of the biggest dangers of hypertension is that it often goes unnoticed until it is too late and serious problems arise. These could include heart failure, a heart attack or kidney failure.

As with my previous blog, I’d like to share some fantastic information that I recently read on Dischem’s website as it pertains to the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.

LOVE YOUR HEART (I)

If you’ve ever owned a pool you’ll be keenly aware of what happens when your pump and filter breaks; the water flow stops, dirt builds up, algae blooms and you have a big problem on your hands. Most car owners are also vividly attune to the costs, complications and annoyance of their petrol pump breaking and their filters being dirty.

How about fish tank enthusiasts? They’ll quickly tell you how important their pump and filtration systems are in keeping the eco-system of their aquariums in check. Your body, too, has a pump and a filtration system and if these go bonkers, you could be in for a lot of discomfort, a long road to recovery and a shopping list of medical cost.

KIDNEYS AND RISK COVER

If you were to take a quick poll from your peers of what they fear the most, you’re most likely to receive answers like snakes, flying, thunderstorms (non-Highveld-people…), needles, the dark and, if they’re really honest, the dentist! For the most part these fears originate around our mortality and anything that threatens our health. Which means that a dentist shouldn’t really be too high on the list…

When signing any policy for personal risk cover your health and medical conditions play a fundamental role in the processing and approval of your cover. For most clients, the first thing that they think about is the condition of their heart, which for most is not really a concern. But the important two organs that are frequently overlooked, and of high interest to insurance houses, are our kidneys.

These two 130g (approximate weight) organs are essential in the urinary system and serve in the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and regulation of blood pressure (by maintaining salt and water balance). They serve the body as a natural filter of the blood, and remove wastes which are diverted to the urinary bladder. In producing urine, the kidneys excrete wastes such as urea and ammonium, and they are also responsible for the reabsorption of water, glucose, and amino acids. The kidneys also produce hormones including calcitriol, erythropoietin, and the enzyme renin. So they’re pretty important!

Most people who suffer from chronic kidney failure will not be covered by a life insurance company, even if they’ve receive a transplant.

This is because the risk exists that the body will reject the organ. In this situation the person will need to take medication to prevent them from rejecting the organ. The medication results in its own set of additional risks.

5 TIPS FOR HEALTHIER KIDNEYS

Whenever we see an article with a list of ways to improve something, we seem to jump to the points and skip the first bit out… I hope you don't do that here! Healthy kidneys are important when applying for any kind of risk cover, so naturally an article about keeping your kidney’s in great health would be read fast!

Your weight is a consideration when applying for risk or medical cover.

So if you’re actually reading this intro and not just jumping through points one through five, then you will now know that these five points are actually great for your overall health. Not only will they benefit your kidneys, but they will improve the health of all your major systems: cardiovascular, nervous, digestive, respiratory, reproductive, skeletal and, of course, your urinary system that includes the kidneys.

All in all, they’re five great habits to build into your lifestyle if you want to enjoy a life to the full potential!

1. Stay hydrated

Always remember to drink water, every day. Not juice, not coffee, not tea, not milk: water. You can drink the others, but be deliberate in drinking water. Whether it’s in a bottle that you carry around with you or in a glass, staying hydrated helps your kidneys function properly. Your urine should be straw-coloured or paler - if it's any darker it's a sign of dehydration. However, if you’re taking vitamin B supplements, they will cause your urine to be considerably darker about 4-6 hours after taking them.

Every time you have a hot drink (tea, coffee, hot chocolate etc), have a glass of water. When you go out to a restaurant, before you place your first orders, ask for a glass of water, this will sate your appetite and you will drink less alcohol, eat less and save money! Before you go to the shops, have a glass of water and you will be less likely to buy snacky treats whilst you’re walking through the aisles.

THE COST OF CANCER

Every year countries throughout the world dedicate the month of October to raising awareness around Breast Cancer. Cancer has increased exponentially and is, in many cases, treatable – at a cost; making cancer a life, health and personal finance issue.

There are very few families in South Africa that have not had one or more members diagnosed with some form of cancer.

Recently I read an email from Money Marketing that highlighted some of the statistics and implications of this disease on individuals and families in South Africa.

According to South African cancer stats for the insured population, 100 000 cases are diagnosed in South Africa each year with 60 000 deaths from cancer each year.

HEALTHY EATING IS HEALTH LIVING

Did you know that most weight loss occurs through improving your diet?  

If you’ve ever been on a diet, or heard your friends speaking about their diets, you will know that Calories are a fairly important part of our diets. Food contains all sorts of nutrients, not just Calories, so it’s good to choose foods that contain the nutrients (vitamins, minerals, fats and calories) that you need. 

If you’re uncertain as to what is a good diet for your body, you can see a nutritionist or dietician who will be able to help you with this.

WHAT ARE CALORIES?

Calories are a measure of the amount of energy in food.

The reason that you want to know this is to make sure that the amount of Calories going into your body are equal to the amount that you use every day. If you want to lose weight, you would want to use more calories than you’re putting in. If you need to gain weight, you would want to be putting in more calories than you’re currently using.

In short: if you’re not very active – you’re not using a lot of calories in a day. If you’re very sporty, you’ll need a lot more calories as you’ll be burning them when engaging in physical activity.

WHAT’S A BALL PARK CALORIE COUNT?

Calories are measured in kcal. An average man needs around 2200kcal a day. For an average woman, that figure is around 1800kcal a day. These values can vary depending on age and levels of physical activity, among other factors – so they are just an average!

FINDING THE BALANCE

CUT BACK SALT AND CUT YOUR PREMIUMS!

If you've read up on salt facts, you'll know that too much salt can cause raised blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. When you are applying for any type of risk cover, your general health plays a large part in the algorithms that are used to asses your risk… and ultimately how high or low your monthly premiums will be.

Eating healthily and getting regular exercise is crucial to keeping your body at its optimum and reducing your risk cover premiums. This blog is full of tips to reducing the amount of salt that you eat and came from England’s National Health Service’s Livewell campaign on their website. If you would like to know anything else about reducing your premiums, go to my contact page and let’s hook up!

So… back to the salty truth. You don't have to add salt to your food to eat too much of it – around 75% of the salt we eat is already in everyday foods such as bread, breakfast cereal and pre-made meals! Yes – without even trying, you’re already eating lots of salt a day. Don’t get me wrong, salt in your diet is essential for energy and electrolytes, but too much (as well as too little) can have long term negative effects on your health.

Remember, whether you're eating at home, cooking or eating out, don't add salt to your food automatically – taste it first. Many people add salt out of habit, but it's often unnecessary, and your food will generally taste good without it.

Buy lower-salt foods and snacks

1.   Use nutrition labels to help you cut down on salt:

     • high is more than 1.5g salt per 100g (or 0.6g sodium)

     • low is 0.3g salt or less per 100g (or 0.1g sodium)

2.   When shopping for food, you can take steps to cut your salt intake:

     • Compare nutrition labels on food packaging when buying everyday items. You can really cut your salt intake by checking the label and choosing the pizza, sauces or breakfast cereal that's lower in salt. Try choosing one food a week to check and swap when you're food shopping.

    • Go for reduced-salt, unsmoked back bacon. Cured meats and fish can be high in salt, so try to eat these less often.