Kitchen Time During Festive Season: Cooking Together 

The holidays are a great time for caregivers and kids to cook together. Families can use this time, away from work and school, to reconnect with each other by cooking together and teaching their families valuable skills.  Skills such as how to prep family recipes, learn how meals/dishes are put together, and the nutritional value behind these foods. Caregivers who want to cook with their children are often faced with trying to figure out how to make it fun and engaging. Here are some ideas for easy kitchen activities that will make cooking together a fun experience: Start small and encourage play! Make kitchen time fun by encouraging play.  Getting comfortable in the kitchen goes beyond watching but also involves handling food and cooking utensils. We want our kids to feel like the kitchen is their space. Allowing kids to handle ingredients, wash produce, or even simply play with toys within the cooking area creates a connection. Set up a “sensory activity” like allowing kids to use measuring cups and spoons to practice scooping and levelling. You can take this a step further and let them measure the basic ingredients such as sugar and flour Make up songs for simple tasks and make it fun Humming a song, putting on your child’s favourite soundtrack, or creating your very own cooking jingle, can lighten the mood for both of you. This is effective fun when teaching kids skills that require patience like stirring slowly or taking turns. Children will learn to love cooking if you relax and have fun with them in the kitchen. Give the children an opportunity to experiment with your guidance and only step in when it’s necessary, otherwise let them enjoy and create. Embrace the mess Cooking is messy, there is no way to completely avoid it. Kids learn so much from exploring. Don’t mind the mess, let them be creative and have fun. Wiping down the counter or washing up dishes can be a dual exercise. Create food art and encourage their imagination Make healthy eating fun for kids by getting creative at mealtimes. Presenting food in the form of a picture or simple pattern, or decorating the rim of the plate, can make it more exciting and enticing for children. Animals and faces are always popular, and broccoli and cauliflower make excellent trees! Why not let kids cut carrots and cucumbers with cookie cutters, into interesting shapes like hearts, stars and diamonds. Encourage your kids to be imaginative in the kitchen. Give them free reign when decorating their cookies or challenge them to create a fruit-salad rainbow or vegetable animals. Turn it into a contest to see who can come up with the best design. But remember, everyone is a winner as they all get to enjoy a delicious prize. ROLL, ROLL, ROLL THE DOUGH  Get your pre-schoolers involved teaching them about the dough. Helping to roll out or need dough will give their muscles a good workout, and they’ll be amazed when they see the results of their labour. Children tend to eat more of the healthy food on their plates when they help prepare it. There are lots of tasks that your children can help with. Washing, grating, or mashing are all fun activities for kids. And don’t forget the washing up too! For fun recipes and more tips, visit the Nestlé for Healthier Kids site: www.nestle-esar.com/N4HK By Anne-Marie De Beer, Nutrition, Health and Wellness Manager, Nestlé East and Southern Africa

December 16, 2022

Power into the Gifting Season & Celebrate Xmas Beautifully with Elixir Fusion

Ready, steady, Merry Xmas! Whether you are celebrating this festive season at home with your extended family and friends or zooming off across the continent, Elixir Fusion has hot updates for great looking skin delivered in handy holiday travel-sizes all elegantly wrapped up into specialty seasonal gifting collections for him and her, young and old.     Sample for yourself or share the Elixir Fusion magic with this amazing range of natural skin beauty health products. With something for everyone, there is a handcrafted bespoke gift pack to suit your holiday and your life.    Take the stress out of Secret Santa office gifting events, and gift the joy of clean, beautiful, hydrated skin at elegantly affordable Xmas prices to pamper and beautify every generation of your extended family of friends and loved ones.    SMILING EYES AND CURLING CHRISTMAS LIPS Elixir Fusion Eye & Lip Rescue – R250 is a gloriously handy gift pack comprising Firming Eye Gel – 15ml and Lush Lips treatment lip balm  – 10ml    Feel the power of pure essential oils containing active, plant-based ingredients and only the highest quality vegetable-based soy proteins with the Elixir Fusion Eye & Lip Rescue to keep at hand at home, on the beach or on the plane, train or taxi. Argiraline, a natural anti-wrinkle peptide that inhibits the movement of facial muscles thereby reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles has been added to the eye gel for a younger, fresher skin, while this natural beeswax, olive oil and shea butter based lip balm is luxuriously rich with a delicious vanilla fragrance. ON THE GO, KEEP YOUR GLOW!  Elixir Fusion Travel and Go – R290:  The perfect travel sized products for your holiday trips, and a great opportunity to try out some of the most popular products in the Elixir Fusion range. This collection includes Elixir Fusion’s most essential products to keep your skin glowing, bright and nourished this holiday and party season. This pack includes: Multi-Active Enzymatic Exfoliator 20ml, Regenerating Anti-Ageing Cream 20ml, Balancing Cleanser 30ml, and Hydro C Oil GO BEAUTIFULLY YOUNG LOOKERS! Elixir Fusion Youth Pocket Pack – R220 Explore five exciting products all at once with the youthful pocket pack designed especially for teen skins and on the go lifestyles. Perfect as a stocking filler, it provides the ultimate chic Summer look for beach days and long nights spent hanging out under the glow of a million Christmas stars. The youth pocket pack includes: Youth Cleanser 30ml, Youth Day Cream 20ml, Apricot Facial Scrub 20ml, Lush Lips treatment lip balm and Hydro C Oil 5ml. YOUTH BEAUTY BASICS TO JUMPSTART THE FUN Elixir Fusion Youth Basics Kit – R320 Once the 1-2-3 basics are in place for clean, refreshed and healthy looking skin, the rest of the season is yours to socialise spontaneously. Elixir Fusion is the simple, gentle and more natural approach to youth skincare that easily fits in that trendy travel tote bag.  The Youth Basics Kit includes four luscious products to luxuriate in: Youth Cleanser 125ml, Youth Day Cream 50ml, Apricot Facial Scrub 20ml and a Lush Lips treatment lip balm.  NOURISH & SOOTHE SILLY-SEASON SKIN Elixir Fusion Anti Ageing Power Pack – R680   Say no to frowns and wrinkles and smooth on your most perfect smile with the platinum power of the Elixir Fusion Anti Ageing gift set made for radiant eyes and ageless, hydrated skin from morning sunlight until the ambiance of dinner’s candlelit glow. Includes two powerful hydrating serums: Platinum Radiance Eye Serum – 15ml and Platinum Ageless Youth Serum – 30ml.   *Purchase any 4 x Elixir Fusion Anti Ageing Power Packs for R1632.00. BALANCING BASICS TRIO  Elixir Fusion Balancing Basics Trio – R625 Lock in moisture with the Elixir Fusion Basics Trio gift pack including a Balancing cleanser, day moisturiser and Hydro C treatment oil to calm skin after a day spent in the hot, dry summer sun.  HYDRATE FOR EXTENDED HEALTH  Elixir Fusion Hydrating Basics Trio – R625 The Hydrating Basics Trio is designed to slow the ageing process and is suited to dehydrated, mature and sensitive skins. Includes extended sizes for longer travel days and rested night and comprises: Hydrating Cleanser – 125ml, Hydrating Day Moisturizer – 50ml, Hydro C Oil – 15ml  FESTIVE MOODS FOR THE MASCULINE FACTOR Elixir Fusion Men’s Basic – R385 and the  Elixir Fusion Men’s Basic Large – R485 Elixir Men’s Basic is the perfect gift pack for the modern man who wants to step out this festive season. Introduce some new habits for him this gifting season and see your guys step up to the plate in the beauty stakes as we head into the New Year in 2023. Each naturally fragrant gift pack includes: Daily Defence for Men -50ml or 125ml, and a Hydro C Oil – 15ml.  *Purchase 4 x Elixir Fusion Men’s Basics for R912.00 / *Purchase 4 x Elixir Fusion Men’s Basics Large for R1164.00 Also available in the Christmas Gift Pack range are the Hands & Heels and the Body Oil Combo: Elixir Fusion Hand & Heels  – R195includes Sun Defence Hand Cream – 40ml and Heel Balm – 30ml  Elixir Fusion Body Oil Combo – R360Stress & Relaxation Massage Oil -and Muscular Aches & Pains Oil, both 100ml.  Elixir Fusion is a proudly South African skincare brand that has been harnessing the power of pure essential oils to awaken natural beauty since 1999. Hand-blended with love in Cape Town, Elixir Fusion products contain active, plant-based ingredients and only the highest quality essential oils to nourish the skin for visible results, at home and in the salon. Elixir Fusion remains committed to delivering top-quality, affordable skincare, made exclusively with the highest-grade essential oils for impressive results. Using Elixir Fusion is a sensory experience, as the oils interact with the skin and release a pleasing aroma.  No artificial colours, fragrances, palm oil or parabens. Tested on people, not on animals. Elixir Fusion is available from selected salons and online at www.elixirfusion.co.za   Website: www.elixirfusion.co.za Facebook: www.facebook.com/elixirfusion Instagram: @elixirfusion

December 16, 2022

Back to school with NutriPure

Just as the holiday season had settled in, it’s time to prepare for the upcoming school year from shopping for new stationery supplies, thinking about healthy meal plans and more. Starting the year with optimum health is certainly one of the biggest things on the to-do list. It is vital for any parent to consider the absolute best options for their child’s physical and mental health and performance and how to maintain and boost sustainably. NutriPure understands the need of parents and the challenges their children may have to face going into the new year. Between new subjects, new schedules, and physical activities, it’s essential that parents support their children in the best possible way. Supplements like NutriPure Gummie Vitamins can help unlock energy, support immunity, and maintain overall health daily. NutriPure gummies are specially formulated with natural fruit pectins for adults and children. Say goodbye to morning delays as Nutripure Gummie Vitamins offers an easy and tasty way for kids and adults to take their daily vitamins with an all-natural sweet treat packed with best ingredients for you. NutriPure is vegan-friendly, has no sugar coating, and it is GMO-free. The NutriPure range is the perfect way to enhance your daily routine anytime, anywhere.  Nutripure has now made it even easier for you with their convenient travel-friendly pouches that contain 14 gummies each (R36,95). The pouches come in five different variants and are available at Dis-Chem. Three variants for kids: Immune Support+ Vitamin C Multivitamin Two variants for adults: Immune Support Multivitamin Nutripure can be found at Dis-Chem, Clicks, Takealot, and other major retailers.  For more information, go to http://nutripure.co.za/ Our back-to-school essential vitamin list: Children’s bodies are constantly challenged by rising toxin levels in the environment and dietary supplements cannot replace a healthy diet, but they can support these efforts. Multivitamins help ensure that basic nutritional needs are met. Try NutriPure Immune Support + (From R 109.95) to help protect your child’s immune system daily. NutriPure Immune Support Gummies have been carefully formulated with six essential vitamins and minerals: vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, zinc, and selenium which all contribute to the maintenance of good health. Their body needs certain bacteria to stay healthy. Bacteria aids digestion, absorbs nutrients, and fights off other disease-causing bacteria. Try NutriPure Multivitamin for kids (From R109.95) which contributes to the function of the immune system and many other systems in the body. Each NutriPure Multivitamin complete contains 11 essential vitamins & minerals: vitamin D, B6, B12, C, biotin, pantothenic acid, and niacin help to increase energy levels and strengthen the immune system. A balanced gut is essential in keeping the body healthy at any age. Try NutriPure Probiotics for kids (From R 109,95) is formulated with bifidobacterium infantis & lactobacillus rhamnosus, two scientifically tested bacteria strains. Each Nutripure gummy contains 1 billion live cultures to help your child boost their daily culture intake.  Vitamin C’s best-known function is its role in supporting the body’s immune system. Vitamin C is an antioxidant and is essential for maintaining overall health, and helps boost the immune system when your child catches a cold. Try NutriPure Vitamin C 60s/120s (From R 109.95) which contributes to the immune system by helping to boost immunity. Vitamin C also contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system and can reduce fatigue and exhaustion. Nutripure gummies contain 80mg of vitamin C. 

December 16, 2022

WHY TAKING 10,000 STEPS PER DAY IS GREAT FOR YOUR HEALTH

Affinity Health, a leading provider of high-quality healthcare, explores the benefits that 10,000 daily steps have on your health and well-being. You’ve probably heard the hype about walking 10,000 steps daily, but do you know why? The habit of tracking steps has grown in popularity over the last decade. People track to improve their fitness or compete with their friends or coworkers. The current advice is to walk 10,000 steps per day – but why? Interestingly, while this “recommendation” was not initially supported by science, science demonstrates compelling reasons why 10,000 steps per day is a good goal. What’s The Meaning Of A Number? The magical number 10,000 steps originated in a Japanese marketing campaign in 1965 when a Japanese health science professor invented a pedometer and believed that walking 10,000 steps per day would prevent obesity in the Japanese population. The pedometer was named Manpo-Kei, which translates to “10,000-step-metre”. Since then, the 10,000-step recommendation has stuck. How To Get 10,000 Steps Into Your Day If 10,000 steps seem daunting, we have good news: you can begin with fewer steps and reap significant benefits. Even minor efforts to move more throughout the day can have substantial benefits. Research shows that doing anything other than sitting for 30 minutes daily (walking, yoga, skipping, stretching, etc.) reduces the risk of premature death by 17%. Higher-intensity exercise reaps even more significant benefits, reducing the risk of early death by 35%. “Millions of South Africans have been working from home since COVID-19 began. That is why it is more important than ever to get out of the house and walk to improve your health,” says Murray Hewlett, CEO of Affinity Health. “Start by tracking your average steps for a week or two if you’re new to tracking steps. Then set a goal to go above and beyond your average step count. Trying to reach 10,000 steps is a great goal, but if you are getting discouraged, consider re-accessing your goal. Get out and move more than you did yesterday.” Health Advantages Of Walking 10,000 Steps Per Day Promotes Weight Loss Walking 10,000 steps per day equals about 8 kilometres. You could burn roughly 150 more calories daily if you added 30 minutes of brisk walking to your daily routine. Of course, the more calories you burn, the more you walk, and the faster you walk. It Helps Clear The Mind According to a Stanford University study, walking opens the mind and promotes the flow of ideas. It sparks creativity and aids in the improvement of concentration. Enhances Sleep Taking more steps during the day may be sufficient to improve our sleep. A new study published in the journal Sleep Health examined healthy adults who slept an average of 7 hours per night. Participants were divided into two groups: the Intervention group, instructed to increase their daily steps by at least 2,000, and the Control group, which was not. Fitbits were given to both groups to track their daily steps. The researchers compared the responses of the two groups to sleep questionnaires, including how long they slept and the quality of their sleep. Overall, the walking intervention resulted in significantly better sleep. Reduces Anxiety And Depression  Some studies say a quick 10-minute walk can help lift a depressed mood. Regular exercise can help with depression and anxiety by doing the following: Endorphins, natural brain chemicals (endogenous cannabinoids), and other natural brain chemicals that can improve your mood, taking your mind off your worries to break the cycle of negative thoughts that feed depression and anxiety. Lowers Blood Pressure A healthy heart can pump more blood while exerting less effort. Increasing your physical activity can reduce your systolic blood pressure by 4 to 9 points on average. Stabilises Blood Glucose  Walking causes the muscles to use more glucose, lowering blood sugar levels over time. This can make you more insulin sensitive. In fact, according to a study published in Diabetes Care, three short 15-minute walks per day are just as effective as one long 45-minute walk at the same pace in lowering blood sugar levels. According to the same study, taking a short walk after your evening meal helps regulates your blood sugar levels. Reduces The Likelihood Of Having A Heart Attack Numerous studies have shown that walking has health benefits related to cardiovascular disease. A sedentary lifestyle is one of the five major risk factors for cardiovascular disease (high blood pressure, abnormal blood lipid values, smoking, and obesity). Studies show that lowering these risk factors reduces the likelihood of having a heart attack or another cardiac event, such as a stroke, and the need for a coronary revascularisation procedure (bypass surgery or coronary angioplasty). Strengthens Your Lungs Everyday movement helps to strengthen your lungs and surrounding muscles. Your body’s ability to use oxygen efficiently increases as the rate and volume of oxygen you inhale (a measurement known as your “VO2 max“). The fitter you become, the higher your VO2 max. Strengthens Your Bones Physical activity (especially weight-bearing exercises) strengthens your bones, which improves their density and reduces your risk of osteoporosis later in life. Conclusion Keeping track of how many steps you take, how far you walk, and the time it takes can help you see where you started and what is possible. Consider how good it will feel to see how many steps you’ve walked each week, month, and year. Use an activity tracker, app, or pedometer to calculate steps and distance. Alternatively, keep track of these figures in a walking journal. “Walking – no matter the distance – can benefit both physical and mental health. Whatever method you use to incorporate walking into your daily routine, you will most likely notice some benefit that will accumulate over time,” concludes Hewlett.

December 16, 2022

Air Purification Pal improves air quality to protect baby and toddler health

Designed with babies and toddlers in mind, the Air Purification Pal, by air treatment and lifestyle technology specialists Solenco, will improve the air quality in nurseries and baby rooms, which brings with it important health benefits – both immediate, like helping babies to sleep better, and long-term, like increased life expectancy and reduced chances of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease later in life. Bianca Leonard, Marketing Manager at Solenco says that breathing cleaner air has a number of health benefits. “Ensuring that your baby breathes purified air gives him or her the best start in life. It will help to protect your baby’s health by reducing the chance of him or her catching colds and flu, and developing asthma, allergies and hay-fever.” The Air Purification Pal is approved by the South African Allergy Foundation and advances the foundation’s agenda of enhancing the quality of life and reducing the cost of healthcare for South Africans suffering from allergic disorders and primary immune deficiencies. Remaining steadfast in their mission to help improve overall health and enhance comfort in living spaces, Leonard says there was no reason why babies and toddlers shouldn’t be included too. She explains that even the cleanest home can have polluted air – cleaning materials, carpets and upholstered fabrics, pets and nearby traffic can all impact indoor air quality. “In fact, indoor air can be five times as polluted as outdoor air and, since indoor air is not circulated as much as outdoor air, many airborne pollutants thrive inside.” The Air Purification Pal’s triple filter system kills bacteria and viruses and traps up to 99.975% of particles, allergens, pollen, dust, smoke, mould spores and pet dander. It also reduces VOCs (volatile organic compounds, which can be 10 times more concentrated indoors compared to outdoors), toxic fumes and odours, ensuring that your babies have an increased chance of developing a healthy respiratory system. Health benefits aside, with its soft night light, cute interchangeable stickers and low noise output, the Air Purification Pal is perfect for toddlers. It’s also compact and lightweight, which makes it easy to move around the house, and its impact on a household’s electricity bill is minimal. Solenco sources international award-winning air treatment and lifestyle products to improve the health of South African families. These include a range of air purifiers, humidifiers and dehumidifiers to suit regional climates. “The Air Purification Pal fills a gap for health-conscious parents who want to give their babies every advantage,” said Leonard. The Air Purification Pal can be purchased via the website or Takealot.

December 15, 2022

A home and travel safety guide for first-time parents

Now that the easy part of having a baby is over, you have to go home and deal with the most challenging part – keeping your baby safe. Babies don’t understand danger; as they age, they become more curious and want to touch everything they see. You will need to make changes around the house to keep your baby safe. This is what experts call babyproofing. Doctors recommend going room by room and making a checklist of all the items needed for each room, but with a newborn baby, who has time for that? Lucky for you, we have made it easy by breaking down the essential items that you will need to keep your baby safe. Let’s talk about safety gates. Even if you live in a single-story house with no stairs, a baby gate is still essential; for example, it can stop your baby from crawling into the kitchen while knives are lying around and hot oil splashing everywhere. The Safety 1st Auto Close Safety Gate (From R 1 199,00) is the best choice. We all have those moments where we need to double check if we closed a door because we can’t remember; with the Safety 1st Auto Close gate, you don’t have to worry as it has an automatic closing mechanism; the gate also opens in both directions making it easy to use. One of the biggest dangers in the home is plug points; when baby crawls about, they are at the perfect height for little ones to get curious and want to stick their fingers into the holes. Do you want to prevent your little one from sticking their fingers into a plug point? Safety 1st Outlet Plug Protectors (From R 59,00) are made with child-resistant rounded edges to fit unused electrical outlets in your house and ensure that baby doesn’t get electrocuted. Your home will be baby ready with Safety 1st Corner Cushion 4 Pack (From R47.99). The soft, rounded foam absorbs impact. Protect your active child from sharp corners with this four-pack of foam bumpers; they easily apply to tables, counters, and other furniture to soften sharp corners. Cupboards are another easy hazard for children to get into and play with the contents. Walking into the kitchen and seeing your child creating a ‘meal’ for you in your pots seems like the cutest scene, but the danger comes in when there are cupboards with cleaning products or glass items that are easily accessible. If it is possible, you can move all the dangerous/hazardous items to higher cupboards that they can’t reach; If this is not possible Safety 1st Cabinet Slide Lock (From R 72, 99) will turn your home into a child-friendly zone and ensure that your child stays safe. Safety on the move From the moment you leave the safety of the hospital, you are extra cautious with your baby to protect them from the dangers of the world, and you will also want everyone else to be careful. Safety 1st Baby On Board Sign (From R 52,99) hangs from your rear window and alerts all drivers on the road to drive carefully around you. When driving, it is not ideal to constantly be taking your eyes off the road to glance at the back seat and ensure your child is safe. Safety 1st Child View Mirror (From R 99,99) this adjustable mirror will help you to keep an eye on your child in the back seat; you can use it to watch children that are in either rear-facing or forward-facing car seats; it can attach either to the front or rear window depending on baby’s position. Keeping your baby safe at home and in the car is not only about ensuring the environment is safe but also ensuring that you have all tools necessary to take care of them. Safety 1st Baby Care Basics set 4 Pack (From R 99,95) has all the essentials for a newborn baby, including a nasal aspirator, a brush and comb, and a fold-up nail clipper that is perfectly sized for those tiny nails. The Safety 1st 11 Piece healthcare Kit (From R 290,00) is excellent for keeping in the nursery or for storing in the car for any emergencies. Some items included are a digital thermometer, a soft toothbrush, a medicine dropper, and a reversible carry case to store everything. This kit has all the necessities for your little ones’ health needs. Shop Safety 1st at Dis-Chem, Clicks, and other major retailers.

December 14, 2022

Plan and Prep Ahead for the Holiday Travel Season with 10 Top Baby Essentials at Hand

Life doesn’t stop just because you have children and summer travel vacations and holiday escapes shouldn’t either! You can still enjoy a robust traveling lifestyle after childbirth – even if it is just a weekender – and no matter how young your family may be, these 10 top childcare essentials are here to support you every step of the way. Start your holiday plans by prepping early and packing in the essentials and as you go you will gain holiday travel experience, tips and habits to last a lifetime. By staying flexible, parenting on the go will soon become your second nature. Check out our top ten secrets for success below when traveling this festive season with your newborn, infant, or toddler in tow.  On the Road….   Half the stress of travelling is getting there. Road tripping with a baby is easier than traveling with a toddler or older child, since babies are not yet mobile and your won’t have worry about your infant climbing out their car seat or throwing items, such as your expensive sunglasses, out the open window. Babies also sleep for longer stretches than older children, saying that however your child should not use a car seat for more than two hours in one go; for babies of all ages but especially newborns. This is because their heavy head can fall forward causing difficulties with breathing and even suffocation, according to Dr Harvey Karp, making baby travel seats unsafe for overnight sleeps whether in or out the car. You will want to make regular stops and take roadside breaks. Remember, your child will be out of their normal routine, so expect a few toilet accidents and mishaps. Even if your toddler is toilet trained, you may want to take along a pack of soft disposable diapers with adhesive waist strips and elasticated edges to keep your little one comfortable and dry. Baby’s Naturally offers an affordable and disposable answer to baby and toddler toilet moments with the Large 20 pack size ideal for 7kg-18kg babies retailing at just R56.10, which won’t break your holiday travel budget. Best of all, the moisture indicator changes colour so that you know when to change your baby’s diaper, and with a cut-out for the umbilical cord you won’t have to worry about irritating that sensitive area. Mealtimes on the go… Full tummies make for happy faces but feeding your young family while traveling or sightseeing in a new environment can be challenging, especially if you don’t want to resort to sugary snacks and fast-food fillers to fill the gap. This is where the ease and breeze of Happy Family meals for babies and toddlers come in handy. With only 30% of 1-year-olds eating their required portions of vegetables each day, the Happy Baby organic baby food is not only packed into handy travel pouches, their unsalted Savoury Blends delivers 1½ servings of veggies in delicious recipes made with flavourful fats, spices and herbs such as their Happy Baby Squash, Chickpeas & Spinach with Avocado Oil + Sage R55.00 which helps busy moms to introduce a variety of vegetables and fruit to little ones taste buds. To make it a travel no-brainer, their Happy Tot Super Smart range has choline and DHA included, the most abundant fatty acid in the adult brain and essential for baby’s brain health.  Organic and containing no artificial food colorants or flavourants, Happy Family offers a full range of savoury and dessert flavours for all stages of life with all natural ingredients. Try the delicious baby dessert Happy Baby Bananas & Peanut Butter dessert at R67.40… yummy! Snack Attacks…   Long hours of traveling for infants can be boring and for baby’s with developing gums, the Happy Family Teethers provide easily dissolving, organic teething wafers to soothe and entertain them. Made with ancient grains, they support self-feeding habits and dissolve easily, leaving no mess! Try the latest flavour with the  Mango and Pumpkin Strawberry and Beet flavoured Teether Crackers. Happy Baby Creamies is a dairy-free melt-in-their-mouth organic snack made of delicious drops featuring at least 40% veggies, Happy Baby Puffs are a fortified organic snack with choline for eye and brain health which are irresistible in taste and texture and Happy Baby Yogis are scrumptious, freeze-dried organic yogurt drops made with wholesome yogurt and organic fruit, offering your baby or toddler a snack on the road that you can feel good about! Play away the hours…   Traveling with your young family (when you are not the driver) provides surprising amounts of down time for you and your little one and can be the perfect opportunity to spend some one-on-one sharing and learning time together. For activities in the car, in the plane, on the bus or after snack time, the Infantino Piano & Numbers Learning Toucan R381.10 introduces little learners to music and numbers. With 9 songs, 18 spoken words and phrases plus 13 fun sound effects, you can switch the Toucan’s head feather to mode two for older toddlers to unlock playful quizzes. Its easy to grip handles and sounds and colours help your baby to focus, listen, learn, and hear while giving their little fingers added dexterity. Hydrate right… Hydration is vital for your toddler when traveling but avoid sugary pops and juices which can make little ones hyper. Try to stick to milk and water while travelling and for a sweet healthy treat pack some cut fruits such as watermelon, orange and pineapple which also aids in hydration. Parents can help advance baby’s drinking skills with the Vital Baby Easy Sipper HYDRATE™ drinking cup R158.00 which features a non-spill, easy-clean, 100% silicone valve and durable spout with a hygienic cover and removeable handles, which is both dishwasher and microwave safe for road travel convenience. Keep them close…   The safest place for your baby to be when you are preparing a day for at the beach or meandering around the local markets is when you are wearing them! The Infantino

December 14, 2022

Ageing gracefully with Dermaheal

The idea of “ageing gracefully” means something different to everyone. At Lamelle Research Laboratories, we believe it’s being able to look like the very best version of you, nobody else, for as long as possible. This is why we’ve created our cutting-edge Dermaheal collection, an innovative range of skincare that addresses the three root causes of ages. These are chronic inflammation, something you can read more about here, cell stagnation and damaging enzymes that increasingly ravage your skin’s cells and structure. What is cell stagnation? Your skin is made up of billions of cells and, to function at its best, these cells need to communicate with each other, relaying important messages like “renew” and “clear waste”. Over time, our cells start to lose the connections that convey these important messages and the results become visible in your skin. Think a loss of elasticity, fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, dullness and dryness. Knowing this, we’ve dedicated years of research and relied on Nobel Prize-winning technology to create a unique and patented blend of recombinant human growth factors that you’ll find in all Dermaheal products. These human growth factors are created in a laboratory to be exact replicas of your own growth factors found naturally in your body. By applying them topically, they help restore your skin’s ability to communicate and, within just a few weeks, your skin will start behaving in a dramatically more youthful way. Suddenly, millions of messages to perform vital tasks like exfoliate, heal and produce healthy, fresh collagen start getting “heard”. Ultimately, skin that had once slowed its every natural process receives an invigorating jolt on a cellular level to perform at its very best. When good cells go bad Many anti-ageing skincare products focus on helping your skin produce more collagen and elastin, the proteins that give our skin its youthful firmness. While this is important, it’s a bit like using a cup to remove a flood of water from your house while your leaky roof is still letting in the rain. This is because, as we get older, our bodies don’t just slow down the production of collagen, they also attack it! To explain, we all produce matrix metalloproteinases (yep, it’s mouthful – that’s why we call them MMPs), an enzyme that’s very helpful when it comes to things like wound-healing. In fact, its main job is to snip out excessive, old and damaged collagen where it’s not needed to help pave the way for new, fresh collagen. Alas, thanks to the passage of time, UV exposure and unchecked inflammation, we see an uptick in these once helpful enzymes and then you’re dealing with a case of MMPs gone wild. Suddenly, MMPs can have such a collagen-killing effect on the skin that, much like that annoying junk email we can’t unsubscribe from, we simply have to block them. This is where Dermaheal gets to shine with its potent and proven mix of all-natural MMP inhibitors that include the super antioxidant Pycnogenol, Purslane extract and the Nobiletin. (FYI, Nobiletin is a flavonoid that also helps turn off chronic inflammation on a cellular level. Talk about a great multi-tasker!) The bottom line At the end of the day, who wouldn’t want to look and feel as vital and youthful for as long as possible? While you can always consider going under the knife (no judgies!), you can also rely on our years of clinical research in creating what we believe is our most powerful anti-ageing skincare collection to date. It doesn’t just tackle the signs of aging but addresses the root causes so you can enjoy firmer, smoother, less lined and more radiant skin for as long as possible. To us, this is the very essence of aging with grace. Learn more at www.lamelle.co.za

December 13, 2022

HOW TO HELP YOUR NON-NEUROTYPICAL CHILD THRIVE

Parents of young children often fear whether their child will “fit in”, cope in a sporting environment or achieve academically if they are non-neurotypical. These concerns are based on a societal perception that children should at least be ‘average’, even if they are not top of their class.  However, an educational psychologist says this is the wrong approach to take for parents of non-neurotypical children, because it will always be possible for them to belong and fit in somewhere, even if this does not occur perfectly within society’s norms of what ‘fitting in’ means. Dr Greg Pienaar, Educational Psychologist and Principal at The Bridge Assisted Learning School, in Lonehill Sandton, notes that ‘average’ is literally defined as dividing a total by the number of quantities. “By that definition alone, no child will be average. Every child has strengths and weaknesses. That is the Neurodiverse approach, which acknowledges variations in the brain regarding learning, attention, and moods in a non-pathological sense. In other words, as Judy Singer noted, these differences are not deficits, they are variations. That does not however mean that we can’t support our children – with the help of their school, their teachers and potentially their therapists – to achieve and empower themselves to the best of their ability, says Dr Pienaar. “Most educational scientists or educational psychologists will tell you that everybody needs support somewhere. Some people less than others, some people more. Some children require assistance with academic areas. Some children require assistance with developmental deficits or with their “building blocks”. This could mean Speech or Occupational Therapy, for instance. Most professionals would agree that the earlier certain developmental issues are addressed, the better the chances are that issues may be either sorted out, or much improved.”  Dr Pienaar notes that at an Assisted Learning School such as The Bridge in Lonehill, support is provided as a team of the teacher, the therapists involved, and always the parents or guardians.  “It is therefore important to work together. Even if your child is receiving professional support, parents or guardians of the child have an important role to play at home. Very often (most of the time) it is vital that many of the concepts learnt during therapy are reinforced in the home environment. Regardless of the interventions and support required, by identifying what kind of support is needed, and by working together as a team, all children can rise to their potential,” Dr Pienaar says. The team of Therapists at the Bridge compiled the following helpful tips for parents:  SPEECH 1. Bath Time Language Modelling: Bath time is a great opportunity to model language as the options of bath toys and sensory-integrated water play is endless.  Quantity concepts: Water cups and toys are great to teach concepts of ‘more’ ‘less’ ‘heavy’ ‘light’ ‘the most’ ‘the least.’ Your child can fill up water cups with water from the bath to the desired quantity you specify to them. Remember that the modelling on the quantity is important so that they understand the concept before they are expected to demonstrate it.  Oral Motor Exercises: Blowing the bubbles in the bubble bath or using toys to collect the bubbles and blow them is a great way to stimulate the oral motor muscles required for the various articulation movements.  2. Transition Games: Transition games are activities that can be done as your child transitions between places or routines.  I-Spy Games: While driving to school in the morning, play a game of I-Spy with your child and ask them to name items starting with specific sounds. This targets an underlying early literacy skills or initial sound identification. Memory Games: As you walk through the grocery store with your child, play a memory game with them where they are required to recall items you put into your trolley, adding in a new item each time, and asking them to recall the list.  3. Bedtime Routine Games: Bedtime is the best time of day to include reading stimulation and book awareness. Use the method of paired reading, ask questions about the book, make predictions, point, and label items and colours, and make it fun.  OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY Foundational skills such as sensory processing, body awareness, eye movements, postural stability, and proximal stability (to name a few) form the building blocks of executive functioning skills such as performing gross/fine motor movements, writing, spatial reasoning, and so forth. These foundation skills can be supported and developed by: Providing deep pressure which improves body awareness and can assist with sensory regulation. Give lots of hugs Roll your child in their towel Let your child sleep with a heavy blanket Alternate seating improves postural and proximal stability. Let your child lie on his/her tummy while playing, watching TV, or working Let your child sit on a gym ball instead of a chair Work against a wall by sticking the work on the wall, instead of working on a table Activities of daily living can help in developing good planning and organisation skills, strength and stability, bilateral coordination, and other executive functioning skills. Wash a car with your child Allow your child to lay the table for meals Baking activities Allow your child to assist with wiping windows/mirrors Assist with putting clothes on the line “These are some of the few ways you can be involved in your child’s development, to allow for regular and consistent stimulation,” says Dr Pienaar. “While it is extremely important to facilitate your child’s development through structured tasks, children should also be encouraged as much as possible to play and to explore their environment. As our world becomes more technologically inclined, children are playing less and exploring less, which results in delayed development.  “If you identify areas of concern, it is important to approach a professional team as early as possible, to assist your child as soon as possible. Then, get involved in the professional support. By all role-players being involved in your child’s development, a supportive environment is created for your child to learn

December 13, 2022

Managing your medical expenses

Taking charge of your medical expenses has become increasingly important as healthcare costs continue to rise. Finding the right healthcare cover, that is affordable and meets your healthcare needs, is the first step.  At this time of year, medical aid members are reviewing their options to ensure they make the right decision regarding access to the highest quality of healthcare, for the year ahead. It’s a delicate balancing act that needs to support your physical, mental and financial wellbeing.  Lee Callakoppen, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund, provides some insights into how you can save on healthcare costs by using networks, Designated Service Providers (DSPs), opting for virtual care and generics to stretch your benefits.  Using networks  One way of reducing monthly medical aid contributions, without compromising on care, is to use a network plan. Generally, these are around 15% cheaper but, you must agree to use network hospitals.  ‘We implement networks to negotiate the most favourable tariffs for our members so they can avoid out-of-pocket expenses and get more value,’ explains Callakoppen. ‘Using networks also means you can reduce or eliminate co-payments. ‘Members are seeing the value of hospital networks,’ he says. ’Around 1.2 million open scheme members are on a network option, accounting for 53% of the industry.’   If you choose to go with a network plan, ensure there are doctors and facilities in your area.  Check what co-payment might have to be paid for not using a DSP or network. Don’t forget that network options are waived for emergencies. Co-payments Medical practitioners and hospitals often charge more than medical aid rates, this means medical schemes seldom cover the entire bill.  A co-payment refers to the outstanding portion of the account, for which you will be responsible.  Co-payments vary from one scheme to another. Tariffs and rates of payment  Every medical scheme has a rate of payment: The amount the scheme will pay for that service.  Some providers charge different rates known as the Scheme Tariff. Members often misunderstand that 100% of the scheme tariff/rate doesn’t necessarily mean 100% of the account or what you will be charged.  Read the details of your plan carefully and know what rate is being paid and the benefit limits to avoid any surprises. Virtual has the Edge  Technology is driving innovation and with the introduction of virtual integration and digital interventions, this is an ideal way to access healthcare, while stretching your benefits and minimising your monthly contribution costs.  Designated Service Providers (DSPs) Healthcare costs in South Africa are unregulated, which means providers are free to charge any tariff, However, by using DSPs you can limit out-of-pocket expenses and co-payment and stretches your annual benefits. ‘Bonitas networks include over 4 000 GP practices, a pharmacy network of around 2 500 to dispense chronic, acute and over-the-counter medicine, around 3 000 dental practices and an optical network of over 2 300 practices. Use generics  A generic is the exact copy of brand-name drugs.  They have the same dosage, intended use, effects, side effects, route of administration, risks, safety and strength as the original.  But they are much cheaper than the originals. – on average between 30 and 80% less. The Medicines Control Council (MCC) carries the responsibility of making sure that generic drugs are safe and effective in South Africa. Generic manufacturers have to prove their medicine is bioequivalent to the innovator brand before a product is allowed into the South African market.  Benefits The benefits you receive vary depending on the plan you choose, make sure you read the fine print to understand what is and isn’t covered.  Gap Cover Gap cover is an insurance policy, designed to cover the difference between what the medical scheme pays and the service provider charges for in-hospital procedures/treatment and specified outpatient procedures. The advantage of having a Gap Cover is that you are insured against some of these additional costs.  However, never assume that all costs will be covered as the payment options depends on the product you have taken out, which is subject to limits and exclusions and you might still be asked for a co-payment. Medical savings  A medical scheme allocates an annual fixed amount for medical savings – you need to know what this allocation is and whether you feel it will be adequate for your needs and you are able to tap into your savings for a number of medical expenses. Managed Care One of the key healthcare trends is the rise in non-communicable or lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer. ‘80% of these conditions are caused by lifestyle risk factors,’ explains Callakoppen, ‘which is why we offer a range of Managed Care programmes aimed at assisting members understand and manage chronic conditions include cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, mental health and back and neck pain.’   To this end use the supplementary benefits offered by your medical aid to save on significant day-to-day expenses such as: Blood pressure medication, cholesterol, blood sugar and Body Mass Index (BMI) measurements through to mammograms, pap smears and prostate testing. You can ‘work smart’ with your medical aid benefits. And wisely. Not only will you have access to quality healthcare but you will be able to extend your benefits. 

December 12, 2022

Home births vs the hospital – what you need to know

If you’re expecting a baby then you’ll probably know that you’ll have a choice between a home or hospital birth. If a home birth is something you’re considering it’s important that you weigh up the relative pros and cons. A home birth means you’ll be giving birth at home as opposed to the hospital, and if this is something that you are considering it is important that you discuss it with your doctor. What are the benefits of a home birth? The first pro of a home birth is that you are at home, in a familiar environment with familiar people or trusted friends. It is only recently that hospital births have become so common, and prior to half way through the 20th century, most births did happen at home . Another reason why some moms choose to deliver at home is the fact that allows them to give birth with a lesser degree of medical intervention and they have more freedom in the birthing process. After giving birth you are able to be in the comfort of your own home with your new baby and family, another reason why home birth would be chosen over a hospital by moms. If you think this may be an option for you, you’ll need to find a midwife who has experience with home births so that if any issues should arise, she has a contingency plan to deal with the situation. The risk depends on your situation. If you are only carrying one baby, don’t have diabetes or high blood pressure, haven’t had a previous c-section and live around 15 mins away from the nearest hospital (in case of emergency) you are a more ideal candidate for a home birth. It’s important to weigh in on the possible risks  before deciding if a home birth method is right for you and your baby. When would the hospital be a better option? Generally speaking, hospital births are safer because there are always doctors available in the case of an emergency, for instance if the baby becomes blocked in the birthing canal or the mom starts hemorrhaging. During your home birth, you may need to be transported to the hospital if your labour or birthing process doesn’t go to plan (that’s why it’s important to live close by to one if you choose this option). If your labour is slow, you need pain relief, the baby shows signs of distress or isn’t head first it’s best to be transported to the hospital for medical assistance. What do you need to prepare for a home birth? If you are seriously considering a home birth make sure you’ve consulted with your doctor to make sure this is a good option for you and your baby. If it’s something you want to consider, you’ll probably be wondering what you need to prepare for a home birth. Before getting to the details, you’ll need to choose a midwife or health care professional to assist, create a birthing plan, a well as a plan to prepare for a hospital transfer, should this become needed. If you still have questions, Home Birth South Africa, which is a website dedicated to home births in South Africa, has many resources you can browse through.

December 12, 2022

Summer is Here!

Summer is here and the holidays just a hop, skip and a jump away!  With so many balmy carefree days ahead, laying out at the pool or swimming in the sea is pretty much all we want to be doing.  However, as a parent with a tiny baby or toddler, you’re more than likely feeling a little uneasy when it comes to safety around the pool and in the hot weather, in general. Of course you want your baby or toddler to enjoy swimming with you, whether that’s in the pool or in more open water, such as the sea. Babies can go swimming from 2 or 3 months of age.  Whilst on holiday, a great tip is for you to first visit the pool by yourself and have a look around.  Check whether or not there are change rooms available.   If you have chosen a public camping site, it’s not likely that they will have water warm enough in the deeper pools.  The toddler pool will be your best choice.  Always go in the pool with your toddler and if possible let your partner accompany you as well.  That way, you can divide up the tasks, keeping an eye on safety and also take some amazing photos.  Bring along a swimming band that will allow your baby to kick and float and enjoy the water with you. Swimming in the sea with your baby or toddler is a little different.  The sea is much colder than a warm toddler swimming pool.  Sticking to the shallows where the waves break onto the beach, can be great fun for your toddler.  Make sure that if you are going to the beach, that your toddler wears shoes or sandals, to avoid them getting cuts on their feet from sharp stones or shells. We all find it quite uncomfortable to sleep during those incredibly hot summer nights and of course, baby will too.  This rough guide should help you decide what best to dress your baby or toddler in to ensure that they are comfortable and more able to sleep. 27 degrees + : dress in a vest and happy or even a nappy only 24 – 27 degrees : dress in a short sleeved vest and 0.5 tog sleeping bag 21 – 23 degrees : dress in either a short or long sleeved vest and a 1 tog sleeping bag 17 – 20 degrees : dress in a Babygro and a 2.5 tog sleeping bag Always opt for light-weight natural fabric blankets to cover your baby or toddler whilst they sleep.  Baby and I have a selection of muslin and cellular cotton blankets that are just perfect for warm summer nights and to cover baby in the pram.   There are a number of ways that you can keep your baby or toddler cool during summer and these are: A cooler than usual bath before bed.  Increased fluids.  If your baby is being breastfed, that should be sufficient, however, formula fed babies can be offered some cooled boiled water when it is excessively hot.  Water can be given to your toddler in their sippy cup or a water-bottle with a straw.  Please don’t give baby any water within 30 minutes of their feed as they won’t feel as hungry for their milk feed. Using a fan to keep the air moving in their room will create a very welcome all-round breeze.  A great tip is to place a bottle of frozen water in front of the fan to keep the room even cooler. Fresh air coming in from an open window is great.  Keep the blinds partially down or the curtains partially closed.  Open windows a few hours before nap time and bedtime. Monitor the room temperature to keep it constant. Placing your hand on your baby’s or toddlers tummy or the back of the neck, should give you a fairly accurate indication of how hot they are.  Remember that arms and legs are always cooler to the touch. Use white noise which also mimics the sounds of inside the womb, to muffle outside noises.  Your baby or toddler will fall asleep easier and will stay asleep longer too. Other signs to look for to tell if your baby or toddler is too hot are : A flushed face Rapid breathing Skin that is unusually warm to the touch Pick the right clothes and swimming attire : Loose-fitting, lightweight garments, preferably made from a natural fibre such as cotton is always best.  Natural fibres absorb perspiration much better than synthetic fabrics and sweating is body’s way of cooling your baby or toddler down. When outdoors, light-coloured lightweight long pants and long-sleeved shirts help to ensure that their delicate skin is protected from the sun.  Always choose a wide-brimmed hat to shield their face. Time outdoor activities to ensure that you limit the amount of exposure your baby or toddler has to the hot South African sun.  And of course, don’t ever forget that all important sun-screen!  Use a lightweight muslin or cotton blanket if they are in their pram when the weather is hot.  This will allow the air to circulate – always supervise your baby or toddler when they are sleeping in their pram. When it comes to fabrics for baby clothing and blankets, cotton is always the best choice primarily because it is so soft.  It is also one of the most popular options available and has been used for generations.  Cellular blankets are made from 100% cotton with holes or ‘cells ‘ to allow for airflow and insulation when layered.  They are most certainly the safest type of baby blanket and the best option to use as bedding for your newborn baby. Baby and I Melrose have a beautiful range of baby swimwear, including matching Mommy and Me swimsuits which can add an element of fun to any swimming lesson or outdoor swimming activity.  Protect your children’s eyes from the harsh South African sun with funky sunglasses,

December 12, 2022

Picnic Pack List – must have snacks for the outdoors

Pack away the sweaters! Summer is here and that means more time to get outdoors with your family and friends. There is nothing better than a lazy Sunday walk followed by a delicious picnic in the park, on the mountain or at the beach. If you’re out of ideas of what food to pack, Rhodes Quality has you covered with convenient, easy-to-make and wholesome goodness that is sure to put an end to the cries of ‘oh no not another tuna sandwich.’ Try these quick tasty, sweet and savoury treats the next time you are packing a basket to head outdoors: from a gherkin cheese ball to crispy chicken and avo wraps or Hawaiian pizza pancakes, jam filled shortbread cookies or a chickpea trail mix; there’s something for everyone. Gherkin cheese ball No-stress appetiser, perfect for outdoor dining. Ingredients (serves 8) 130 g (± 8 whole) Rhodes Quality Sweet & Sour Whole Gherkins, chopped 250 g (1 tub) plain cream cheese 80 ml (⅓ cup) sour cream 250 g (1 cup) grated cheddar cheese 2.5 ml (½ tsp) garlic powder 45 ml (3 Tbsp) flat leaf parsley, chopped salt and freshly cracked black pepper 100 g (1 cup) pecan nuts, chopped To serve: crackers or bread Method Place the cream cheese and sour cream in a large bowl and mix until smooth. Stir in the sour cream, cheddar and garlic powder until evenly mixed. Add the Rhodes Quality Sweet & Sour Whole Gherkins and the parsley and stir to mix. Season to taste. Chill the mixture for 30 minutes. Spoon the mixture onto a sheet of plastic wrap and use the plastic wrap to shape the mixture into a ball. Roll the ball in the chopped nuts. Serve with crackers or fresh baguette. To prepare for a picnic: Roll the mixture into individual small balls. Crispy chicken and beetroot wrap Crunchy and fresh, these are an excellent wholesome meal on their own. Prepare and wrap individually ready for your picnic.   Ingredients (serves 4) 250 ml (1 cup) Rhodes Quality Sliced Beetroot in Vinegar, drained 250 ml (1 cup) Hinds Southern Coating Original 400 g chicken breast fillets, sliced into even strips 125 ml (½ C) all-purpose flour 2 eggs, beaten oil for frying Wraps 4 wraps 500 ml (2 cups) mixed salad greens, washed To serve: lemon wedges and mayonnaise (optional) Method Toss the chicken strips in the flour and shake off any excess. Dip the chicken strips in the egg and then toss in the Hinds Southern Coating until evenly coated. Deep fry in hot oil until golden and crispy. Drain on a paper towel to remove excess oil. Heat the wraps. Top with lettuce. Top each wrap with a serving of Rhodes Quality Sliced Beetroot in Vinegar. Divide the chicken between the wraps. Top with mayonnaise if using. Chickpea trail mix Crunchy roasted trail mix, perfect for lunch box munchies, picnics or a hike.   Ingredients (makes 5 cups) 1 x 410 g can Rhodes Quality Chickpeas 15 ml (1 Tbsp) brown sugar 15 ml (1 Tbsp) ground cinnamon 250 ml (1 cup) pumpkin seeds 100g (1 cup) walnuts, toasted 125 ml (½ cup) sunflower seeds 125 ml (½ cup) chocolate chips 500 ml (2 cups) popcorn Method Drain and rinse the Rhodes Quality Chickpeas. Lay the chickpeas out in a single layer on a clean dish towel. Pat as dry as possible and leave to air dry for a further 30 minutes. Place the chickpeas on a baking sheet that has been lined with baking paper. Roast in an oven that has been preheated to 180°C for 10 minutes. Mix together the brown sugar and the cinnamon. Remove the chickpeas from the oven and toss in the cinnamon sugar. Return to the oven and roast for a further 15 minutes or until golden. Turn off the oven and leave the chickpeas to cool and crisp. Toss the cooled chickpeas with the remaining ingredients. Store the trail mix in an airtight container. Hawaiian pizza pancakes Savoury pancakes perfect for packing. You can make these ahead of time, cool and portion to save for later.   Ingredients (makes 12) 1 x 50g sachet Rhodes Quality Tomato Paste 1 x 440 g can Rhodes Quality Pineapple Pieces in Light Syrup, drained 250 g (2 cups) self-raising flour 1 ml (¼ tsp) salt 300 ml (1 cup +3 Tbsp) milk 1 egg 150 g ham, chopped sunflower oil for frying Method Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Whisk together the Rhodes Quality Tomato Paste, milk and the egg. Whisk the milk mixture into the dry ingredients, beating until a smooth thick batter. Stir in the Rhodes Quality Pineapple Pieces and the ham. Allow the batter to stand for 10 minutes. Heat a little oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Use a 65 ml measuring cup to scoop the batter onto a non-stick pan and shape quickly into rounds. Fry only two pancakes at a time. Cook until the pancakes have bubbles on the top, then flip them over and cook for an additional minute. Repeat with the remaining batter. Cool, portion and freeze for later use. Remember to Go with Goodness this summer, go with the right food choices for your family, go with Rhodes Quality. Visit: www.rhodesquality.co.za or follow @rhodesquality #GoWithGoodness for more summer inspiration.

December 10, 2022

National Geographic’s Team Sayari to broadcast on Disney Chanel from 12 December 2022

he Walt Disney Company Africa, along with its partners the US Department of State, The U.S Agency for International Development (USAID), and WildlifeDirect, are pleased to announce that Team Sayari will air on Disney Channel, (DStv 303) at 14:05 (CAT) from Monday 12 December 2022, with one episode airing each day from Monday to Friday. This announcement follows the successful launch and first run of the entertaining and educational program, Team Sayari, on National Geographic Wild, in response to requests from those that didn’t get the opportunity to see it and for those that would like to enjoy it again over the holidays.   This innovative, children’s documentary series is produced by Kenyan production company, White Rhino Films and aims to celebrate, encourage and inspire the next generation of environmental champions to interact with, look after, and safeguard the environment and its resources. The series aims to instill knowledge and encourage actions to conserve the world’s biodiversity in a fun way.   The series is hosted by Mysha Hodson (13), Marita Lucas (12), Shanah Manjeru (14), Railey Mwai (10) and Adarsh Nagda (12) and incorporates a team of brilliant youngsters as field reporters from various parts of Southern, Eastern and Western Africa, to provide Team Sayari viewers with an engaging and diverse experience.  South African viewers will be able to follow the adventures of a range of kids from across the continent, including three home-grown presenters. Nature enthusiasts Atule Mazane (13) and Khahliso Khojane (14) hailing from the Western Cape and Thandolwethu Fani (15) from Gauteng, feature as field presenters in the programme. In Team Sayari, they travel to wilderness areas and interview experts on the ground to learn and share what is needed to conserve our natural world, reporting into Sayari Base Camp in Kenya. Team Sayari is the result of a collaborative effort between National Geographic, The Walt Disney Company Africa, USAID, the U.S. State Department and WildlifeDirect.

December 9, 2022

Summer tanning do’s & don’ts

Warmer weather is finally here, and as summer approaches, we’re looking forward to lazy days spent next to the pool and on the beach. While spending time outdoors is great for your mental wellbeing as well as for your vitamin D production, it’s important to take precautions against one of the biggest threats to our skin: the sun. Exposure to some sunlight can be good for you, but overexposure can be extremely harmful. The sun’s UV rays penetrate the outer layers of our skin and have the ability to reach the deeper layers where they can potentially damage or even destroy skin cells. UVA rays are the type that cause ageing (think fine lines, wrinkles and that leathery texture we’ve all seen before) and UVB rays are the ones responsible for burning the skin. Without protection against both of these rays, your skin will not only burn, but it can also develop sun spots, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles and even precancerous and cancerous growths. Living in South Africa means that you are likely to develop a tan during summer, even if you take all the proper precautions. Follow these simple do’s and don’ts to ensure a safe and healthy glow this season. Tannings do’s DO get a fake tan While a little bit of sun exposure is good for our vitamin D production, there is no such thing as a healthy tan, with any level of skin darkening indicating damage. The best way to get a golden glow is to use self-tan products at home. Modern formulas are easy to use, offer even, natural-looking colour and don’t result in any mess or fuss. Australian Gold offers a variety of easy-to-apply formulas: Australian Gold Instant Sunless Mousse (R264.00) is a quick-dry, oil-free formula that delivers a natural-looking, Aussie-glow all year round. It allows for even, streak-free coverage in one easy motion. Australian Gold Instant Sunless Lotion (R304.00) helps your skin develop a rich, sun-kissed bronze colour in no time. It offers the perfect balance of caring and bronzing ingredients for summer-ready skin that’s healthy and nourished. Australian Gold Instant Sunless Spray (R312.00) combines bronzing ingredients and nourishing moisturisers to feed and protect skin while developing a sunless tan that lasts longer. Its oil-free formulation dries quickly and allows for even, streak-free coverage. DO avoid direct sun during peak hours The sun’s rays are at their strongest between 10am and 2pm. Try to schedule your outdoor activities outside of those hours, and if not possible, find a spot in the shade and cover up with a sun hat, sunglasses, kaftan or other protective materials. DO apply after sun lotion Even if your skin hasn’t been burnt by the sun, it’s important to hydrate it after sun exposure as the sun can be incredibly drying. After sun products are specifically formulated with this in mind, offering plenty of hydration and cooling formulas. Piz Buin After Sun Lotion (R104.00) is non-greasy and fast-absorbing, and combats the effects of sun stress by cooling and moisturising skin for 24 hours with aloe vera and mint extract. DO choose a broad spectrum SPF formula It’s important to select a sunscreen that offers both UVA and UVB protection to ensure you’re protected against sunburn as well as against developing signs of ageing. Piz Buin In Sun Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF30 (R172.00) offers advanced UVA/UVB filters to protect the skin from the sun. It is also enriched with antioxidants to prevent premature skin ageing and is non-greasy to allow skin to breathe. Tanning don’ts DON’T forget to reapply SPF Even when a sunscreen is water-resistant, you’ll need to reapply it after each and every swim to ensure you get full protection. In general, it’s recommended to reapply after every two hours, however, you may need to do this more often if you are swimming or sweating, and less often if you are indoors. DON’T bake in the sun We all know that a fake tan is the healthier option, but regardless of this, there will always be people who opt for a natural tan instead. If you’re going to go that route, it’s important to take precautions. Don’t lie in the sun and bake during peak hours. Rather get your tanning time in early morning or late afternoon. Protect your skin with a tan-enhancing SPF product like Piz Buin Tan & Protect Tan Accelerating Oil Spray SPF30 (R216.00) which protects skin from the sun while helping enhance the natural tanning process with a special ingredient called melitan. Australian Gold Dark Tanning Accelerator Lotion (R248.00) is formulated with a powerful blend of bronzing ingredients, ideal to achieve a dark and natural sun-kissed look. The Black Walnut Extracts delivers an instant gold colour, the DHA focuses on providing a delayed tan. This product doesn’t contain an SPF so it’s essential to apply a sunscreen over it. DON’T forget smaller parts of the body It’s so easy to forget to apply SPF to your ears, lips or even between your toes, but don’t neglect these areas: skin cancer often develops on one’s ears because they’re usually forgotten when it comes to sunscreen! Piz Buin Allergy Face Cream SPF50(R152.00) is a great option for smaller or more sensitive areas of the body. It offers very high protection to sun sensitive skin and combines immediate and effective UVA/UVB sun protection with Calmanelle®, a unique anti-irritant shield complex proven to help strengthen the skin’s resilience to the sun. It provides hours of moisturisation to keep delicate skin soft. Piz Buin Moisturizing Sun Lipstick (R54) is perfect for lips – it offers SPF30 protection, has a lovely velvety texture, and a great flavour too! However you plan on speeding your summer, be sure to be sun-smart – your skin will thank you for it.    

December 9, 2022

Here’s why you need to wear sunscreen on your face and neck every single day

Wearing sunscreen every day is no longer an option, it’s a necessity. The sun’s harmful UV rays have the potential to harm and even destroys skin cells, resulting in hyperpigmentation, sunburn, wrinkles, a leathery skin texture, and in some cases, skin cancer. Despite the accessibility of sunscreen products, some people are still reluctant to use one, thinking they don’t need it, or forgetting to apply it. If you fall in that category, this image might change your mind. This photograph was shared on social media by Dr. Avi Bitterman, a dermatologist in New York. It depicts the cheek and neck of a 92-year-old woman, who for more than 40 years, applied UV-protective moisturisers on her face, but not on her neck. The consequences are visually striking. The skin on her cheek shows significantly fewer spots of discolouration, fewer wrinkles and has a smoother texture and more even appearance than the skin on her neck. While it’s only recently made waves on social media, this image was originally published in the Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology in October 2021 as part of a report on skin cancer and ageing. Read more about this image here. How does the sun damage our skin? The sun’s rays emit UV light, which is an invisible form of radiation. Exposure to this radiation can result in damaged skin cells, which manifests in the form of wrinkles and discolouration (also referred to as hyperpigmentation). UV exposure can also result in skin cancer. While those with fair skin and light hair are at higher risk, the truth is that anyone can get skin cancer, no matter what your age, skin type or ethnicity. UV radiation is not just a summer concern. The sun’s rays can damage your skin on overcast and wintery days too, so it’s important to stick to your sun care regime all year round. Help is at hand in the form of SPF. It is recommended that everyone (including children and babies over the age of six months) wear a broad spectrum SPF on all exposed areas of the body, whenever they go outside. Broad spectrum means that it offers protection against both UVA rays (the rays that are responsible for ageing the skin) and UVB rays (the rays that are responsible for burning the skin). And if this image has taught us anything, it’s that you shouldn’t neglect any parts of the body! The skin on our necks is as vulnerable as the skin on our faces, and because both are usually exposed, it’s essential that they are protected by sunscreen every time you step outside. Piz Buin has been a trusted sun care provider for more than 70 years. In fact, Piz Buin was one of the first to make tanning safer by implementing the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) system in the 1960’s. After suffering overexposure to the sun while climbing the Piz Buin alpine peak in 1938, chemistry student Franz Greiter developed one of the world’s first sun protection products in 1946, the Piz Buin Gletscher Creme, or Glacier Cream. Working with his wife Marga, a trained beautician, they developed a specialist sun care brand dedicated to developing cutting edge sun protection with luxurious skincare for anyone who wanted to enjoy life in the sun. And the rest, as they say, is history… All Piz Buin sun care products contain advanced UVA / UVB protection to ensure you get effective sun protection, and the extensive range offers something for everyone. This summer, stay protected with one (or more!) of Piz Buin’s hard-working formulations. For skins sensitive to the sun, try: Piz Buin Allergy Face Cream SPF50 (R190.00) Offering very high protection to sun-sensitive skin, this sun cream combines immediate and effective UVA/UVB sun protection with Calmanelle®, a unique anti-irritant shield complex proven to help strengthen the skin’s resilience to the sun. It provides hours of moisturisation to keep the delicate skin on the face soft. Piz Buin Allergy Lotion SPF30 (R270.00) This water-resistant lotion has been clinically proven to protect sensitive skin from the sun. It also provides long-lasting moisturisation and increases the skin’s tolerance towards the sun. For those who want to develop a tan faster, try: Piz Buin Tan & Protect SPF15 Tan Intensifying Lotion (R270.00) This protective lotion is formulated with melitan to enhance the skin’s natural tanning process. It offers medium protection from UVA/UVB rays and leaves skin moisturised. Piz Buin Tan & Protect SPF30 Tan Accelerating Oil Spray (R270.00) This spray protects skin from the sun while helping enhance the natural tanning process with a special ingredient called melitan. It is fast-absorbing and non-greasy. For everyday protection, try: Piz Buin In Sun SPF30 Sun Lotion (R215.00) Offering advanced UVA/UVB filters to protect the skin from the sun, this SPF lotion is also enriched with antioxidants to prevent premature skin ageing. It has a lovely non-greasy formula that allows skin to breathe. It takes just one or two bad sunburns to put you at a high risk of developing skin cancer. Be sure to stock up on your favourite sun care products and enjoy a safe summer (and younger looking skin, for longer!).

December 9, 2022

Here’s what a skincare expert thinks of the biggest Tik Tok beauty trends of 2022

Tik Tok has become a major platform for beauty tips, tricks, advice and tutorials. From creating the perfect curl to mastering a cut crease, beauty Tik Tok offers an overwhelming amount of information, but like most social platforms, it’s not all good. While it’s the perfect platform for makeup artists and beauty experts to share their knowledge, it also allows those who are not educated on the topic, to share their ideas, and potentially create a viral video that can cause more harm than good. We asked Karen Bester, Medical Trainer at Lamelle Research Laboratories, to separate fact from fiction. She investigated some of the top Tik Tok skincare trends of 2022, and this is her professional take on them: Slugging Slugging originated from K-Beauty (Korean Beauty), and involves one simple act: Coating your skin with an occlusive like petroleum jelly before going to bed. The concept is that the occlusive will act as a barrier and seal in moisture, resulting in soft and moisturised skin the next morning. Karen says: “Here I believe that balance is very important. We know that occluding the skin will trap water which will in turn help the enzymes in the skin to exfoliate any dry cells that need removing. If we, however, trap too much water this can lead to maceration which is never a good thing. So slug along when your skin is feeling dry in general or after having a treatment, when your skin needs to heal. Occlusion is not required every night though; your skin should have the ability to trap enough water if the lipid bi-layer is intact. ALSO – long-term use of occlusive products can be comedogenic – i.e. cause breakouts.” Moisture sandwich Another Korean technique, a ‘moisture sandwich’ refers to the act of applying products to damp skin (as opposed to dry skin), because it is suggested that the ingredients will trap the moisture from the water and thus better hydrate the skin. The first product is usually a humectant (a water-absorbing product) and this is followed by an occlusive (to seal in the moisture). Karen says: “It is true and well-researched that applying your products to your skin when your skin is still moist after cleansing does help your skin to trap higher concentrations of water and keep it better hydrated. Applying a humectant (hyaluronic acid is my favourite) first will also help to draw the water in and will trap the water in the skin. A good moisturiser, applied over the hyaluronic acid-containing serum, will mimic the skin’s biology and oils and will keep this moisture trapped. It will also allow the skin to ‘breathe’. Occluding the skin is not required and has its own challenges as discussed under Slugging.” Pore vacuums A pore vacuum is a device that uses suction to remove oil and dirt from the pores in an attempt to deep clean the skin. These devices are readily available online, sometimes for as little as R120. Karen says: “I wish that these did work – we could then just go for relaxing facials and not need to have deep cleanse facials with extractions. Unfortunately, these tools can be quite damaging and cause painful bruising without extracting the comedos. Especially when the skin is not prepared well or with larger, more stubborn congested areas. You would need to cleanse and moisturise the skin, maybe use an enzymatic exfoliator just to loosen the congested areas.” Skin cycling The skin cycling trend was originally posted on Tik Tok by a dermatologist. It involves a four-day skincare cycle, during which active ingredients are applied to the skin for two days (usually a chemical exfoliant on day one and a retinoid on day two), and then the skin is given two days to “rest” (only moisturisers are applied – no active ingredients), before starting the cycle again. The cycle is thought to be good for sensitive skins that can’t use active ingredients every day. Karen says: “We love this trend. Even though it was made Tik Tok famous around a year ago, this has been how medical practitioners have always included more aggressive ingredients that have a side effect profile, into skin routines. This removes the need to add lots of ingredients over each other, it lowers the risk for irritation when using products that contain high concentrations of ingredients and it gives us the ability to also combine ingredients used on the skin and look at stimulating the skin in different ways.” Face taping As strange as it sounds, face taping involves applying tape to areas of the face where wrinkles might form, in an attempt to “straighten” the skin and give it a more youthful appearance for longer. Karen says: “I have not personally tried face-taping but I think it is a fabulous cosmetic tool to have droopy skin look younger – Joan Collins cannot be wrong! Unless you are ripping off the top layer of the skin – the corneum. That is not a good thing and can cause semi-permanent damage to the skin. Of you are using tapes, maybe use an oil to remove the glue so you do not hurt your skin when removing them.” Salt water cleanse Based on the concept that skin looks glowy when you emerge from a swim in the ocean, the salt water facial cleansing trend took off on Tik Tok earlier this year. Users used salt water to cleanse their skin twice a day, before applying their skincare products, and recommended the practice to enhance the skin’s radiance, as well as to treat and prevent breakouts. Karen says: “There is very little data on the use of salt water in skincare. In ancient (pre-2000) medicine we used salt water to rinse wounds and mouths to lower bacterial load and assist in healing. I do not believe that salt water cleansing will have any negative effects on the skin. The only challenge might be if the salt content in the water is extremely high. In this

December 9, 2022

Getting ready to BREASTFEED!

How to get ready to breastfeed? Milk Galore, a brand made for mommies to assist with the increase the flow of breastmilk, would like to advise Mommies on how to get ready to breastfeed especially when nearing the end of pregnancy and planning to breastfeed baby. Below are some helpful hints on how to ensure the process goes hump less.  Here’s how to prepare for breastfeeding your newborn: Doing some research is key. Learn the basics about breastfeeding. Reading up on good books on breastfeeding, reading on breastfeeding tips on social media or trusted websites so that Mommy can educate herself on the benefits of breastfeeding. These are helpful during the initial challenges you might face and can help you prepare for your baby’s first few days of life.  Support group are great for community support. Many hospitals and pediatricians’ offices have a support group for breastfeeding moms. These meetings are meant to give new moms community as they learn the ups and downs of breastfeeding.  Check out lactation consultant close to you.  These professionals can assist a great deal especially the first few weeks of your newborns life assisting with monitoring weight, troubleshoot latch issues, and address any challenges that might arise as you and your baby learn to breastfeed. Prepare to pump with assistance from Milk Galore products to help stimulate the flow of milk as a natural supplement. Ensuring enough food is available for the baby is crucial so pumping as a mom is important, and then some moms will pump exclusively as a way to breastfeed their baby. Mom can educate helfself on pumping and storing breast milk. Moms going back to work need to discuss with their employers on appropriate place to pump. Talk with your partner about how they can support you as a breastfeeding mom. A lot of your time during the first months of your baby’s life will be spent skin-to-skin, nursing your little one. Your partner might not be able to nurse your baby, but they can take on more housework, care for older children, and deliver water and snacks to you to make sure your needs are being met. Get close right away.  Immediately after you give birth, place your baby skin-to-skin on your bare chest. (You can also do this after a C-section; just ask your medical staff for extra support to place your baby safely on your chest.) When babies are left undisturbed on Mom’s bare chest, it wakens their feeding instincts. Start breastfeeding immediately after you deliver your baby. Breastfeeding shortly after birth is associated with increased chances of breastfeeding success. Your baby may be sleepy at first but more awake the second day, and they may cluster feed at night. Follow their hunger cues and feed your baby on demand. Enlist your friends and family for help. Breastfeeding will keep you busy, especially when your baby is a newborn. Friends and family can help by dropping by meals, spending time with your older kids, and helping out around the house. But limit visits if they interfere with breastfeeding and being skin-to-skin with your baby. If possible, ask your partner to be a gatekeeper at the door (greeting visitors, accepting food or gifts, and relaying information) so you can rest. What do you need for breastfeeding? These products can make breastfeeding more comfortable and convenient: Milk Galore products as a natural stimulant to increase flow of breastmilk. Only does it increase milk but also a natural supplement for iron. Dependent on preference of mother available in juice and rooibos. Available at www.milkgalore.co.za  Nursing bras are comfortable and provide the extra support your larger-than-usual breasts need. They come with flaps that you can easily undo at feeding time. It’s best to wait until the last couple of weeks of pregnancy to shop for new nursing bras – this is when your breasts will be closest to their postpartum size. That said, once your milk comes in your breasts may grow another size or two! Keep that in mind when buying. Nursing tops and pyjamas have convenient flaps that allow you to breastfeed easily and discreetly. Some nursing tanks are very supportive and can work as a bra and top in one. Note: In the early days of breastfeeding, you may just want to wear a comfy button-down shirt or robe so you can easily keep your baby skin-to-skin. Nursing pillows are specially designed to support your baby while you’re nursing, and can help you avoid straining your shoulders or neck during feeding sessions. They’re more convenient – and better at keeping your baby in position – than regular pillows. Nursing pads. It’s normal for your breasts to leak while you’re nursing, and another baby’s cry or the sight of an infant can bring on a gush of milk when you least expect it. Disposable nursing pads (or reusable, washable ones) will keep you and your shirts nice and dry. A breast pump. Even if you’re not planning to pump regularly, a breast pump can be a useful tool – to help relieve engorgement, for example. Many health insurance plans cover breast pumps, so check with your insurer before buying a pump. Bottles and nipples. If you’ll be feeding your baby pumped breast milk, you’ll need a selection of good bottles and nipples. Some babies prefer one brand over another, so it’s a good idea to avoid stocking up until you learn which bottles and nipples your baby likes best. Other breastfeeding accessories. Nipple cream or balm can help relieve sore nipples, and hot/cold gel packs can soothe swollen or sore breasts. Some moms also like to have a nursing cover for breastfeeding in public and breast milk storage bags for storing pumped milk.

December 9, 2022

Exfoliation: The Key to Smooth, Fresh & Glowing Summer Skin

Every day 330 billion of your body’s skin cells replace themselves in a skin evolution of natural exfoliation, with your body taking approximately 27 days to completely regenerate your skin’s protective sheath transforming you into a ‘new’ you. With significant increases in air pollution however, including cigarette and vape smoke, dust, exhaust fumes, chemical smog, and harsh weather conditions, all of these pollutants can have a significant effect on your skin, accelerating skin irritations, allergic reactions, rashes and wrinkles, leaving your skin with decreased elasticity and accelerated aging as it becomes grimy, clogged, stressed and unable to protect you effectively. Regular exfoliation as part of your personal skincare routine is your simple and most effective answer to doing away with that weathered, winter look. The ultimate way to rejuvenate your skin, exfoliation resurfaces your skin, gently cleaning out your pores of oil and dead skin and polishing and refining the surface to leave it smooth, velvet-soft, and radiantly glowing. Make some smart moves this summer and make a debut this holiday season with a well-maintained and youthful glow when you support and stimulate your skin to be smooth, clean, and healthy each day. What happens if you don’t cleanse and exfoliate your skin? Poor exfoliation causes increased production in your skin’s oil glands and is the leading cause of blackheads and whiteheads, acne, ingrown hair follicles, and trapped dead skin cells which can lead to inflammations, pustules, and a feeding pool of bacteria. Apart from delivering fresh and hygienically healthy skin, exfoliation has several other benefits for you as well. Exfoliation encourages: #Faster Cell Generation: Exfoliation is the key to boosting new cell turnover, loosening, and lifting dead skin cells and making way for cleaner, younger, and more absorbent skin that can be nourished and protected. #Increase in Collagen: When you add or increase your exfoliation treatments, your skin is stimulated and alerted to produce more collagen which helps to keep your skin firm and wrinkle free. Exfoliation helps your moisturiser and anti-age serums to penetrate better. #Wrinkle & Worry-Free Days: Research tells us that wrinkles get wedged into place and are deepened by corneocyte plugs which are balls of dead, hardened skin which build up and keep your wrinkles in place. The gentle circular motions of your all-over body exfoliation provide a massage effect which helps to keep your skin clear of these plugs, so it is more difficult for wrinkles to form. #Boost Lymphatic Drainage: Exfoliation encourages blood circulation and an increase in your skin’s hydration levels. It also reduces the risk of ingrown hairs, making shaving easier and diminishing the appearance of skin discolouration and dark spots with use over time. #Sensory Touch Stimulation: Just like a baby’s, our bodies love to be touched and soothed and exfoliating your body’s skin is a perfect opportunity to calm and pamper yourself with a loving touch and healthy attitude towards self-care, mood enhancement and confidence, enjoyed along with the fragrant feel-good scent of your exfoliator.   How often should you exfoliate? Depending on whether you have a sensitive skin or are a sun goddess soaking up the sun rays all day will decide how often you should exfoliate. The recommended use is two to three times per week but if you have sensitive skin, exfoliate once a week but always go according to how your skin feels after exfoliation. It should tingle and feel invigorated and stimulated and not dried out, irritated or red from over scrubbing. Over exfoliating can remove the natural oils from your skin which it needs to stay subtle. If you stop exfoliating your skin, you will soon notice it will become dry and rough again within about two weeks. After exfoliating apply a moisturiser or moisturising tissue oil and consider protecting it with a sunscreen before going outdoors. Bramleys’ Limited Edition Shea Butter Exfoliating Body Scrub 250ml R29.99 is launching! This quality and highly affordable exfoliator comes in a Limited Edition as a special addition to Bramley’s trusted Tissue Oils, providing a solution to modern day skincare problems that suit your monthly beauty budget without hurting your pocket spend.   Suitable for everyday use on all skin types, the Bramley’s Shea Butter Exfoliating Body Scrub removes dead cells from the skin’s top layer. Not only does it help your skin become smoother, clearer, and brighter immediately and over time, but all the other products in your regime will be absorbed more effectively. The exotic fragrance of Bramley Shea Butter exfoliating scrub is warm, vibrant, and delicious, guaranteed to take you to your happy place. This joyful scent is perfect for the upcoming warmer months. Why shea butter? Shea butter is a fat that’s been extracted from shea tree nuts, mostly found in West Africa. It has a creamy consistency that can be spread onto skin and absorbed easily. Shea Butter is known for its healing properties and its incomparable ability to protect and regenerate. It contains high concentrations of fatty acids and vitamins, making it an ideal ingredient for softening skin. Shea butter has anti-inflammatory and healing properties and can be used to tone, condition, and soothe skin. Its many benefits made it the perfect addition to Bramley’s Shea Butter Tissue Oil. Find the Bramleys’ Limited Edition Shea Butter Exfoliating Body Scrub 250ml R29.99 launching in store at PEP Nationwide from 25 November 2022 until stock lasts.

December 9, 2022

DO MY KIDS NEED VACCINES BEFORE TRAVEL?

According to Affinity Health, a leading provider of high-quality healthcare, pre-travel immunisations can help keep your children safe and happy while you explore the world together. Here’s everything you need to know about travel vaccinations, including those for babies, older children, and everyone else in your family. The December holidays are just around the corner, and you may have planned to travel to an international destination with your children. While travelling with children introduces families to memorable adventures, it can also expose your child’s immune system to diseases not routinely vaccinated against in South Africa. As a result, travel vaccines are an essential part of preparing for international travel to specific countries or regions. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in terms of illness, children face the same risks as adults, but depending on their age, they may not have completed their routine vaccine schedule. Recommendations and travel vaccination schedules differ depending on where you live, where you are travelling, the health of your child, and the type of vaccine,” says Murray Hewlett, CEO of Affinity Health. What You Should Know About Travel Vaccinations  Vaccinations for travel are recommended or required depending on the destination. In some cases, vaccines are recommended based on specific health risks. Begin by visiting the CDC’s travel vaccination website to determine which vaccines are recommended or required for your destination. Then, book an appointment with your healthcare provider (at least four to six weeks before your trip), who can provide tailored information based on your child’s vaccination schedule and destination and decide whether optional travel vaccines are required. The best time for your child to get travel vaccinations is usually at least a month before departure. This gives your child’s body enough time to build immunity before your trip. Do Some Routine Childhood Vaccines Necessitate A Change In Travel Schedule? Your children should have their routine immunisations up to date before embarking on any trip. In some cases, regular childhood vaccination schedules may need to be adjusted to provide additional protection for travel. For example, MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) is frequently administered to children at the age of one. In the case of travel, however, your healthcare provider may advise giving your child a MMR vaccine dose before 12 months (minimum six months old). It is important to note that in this case, you will still need to re-vaccinate the entire course (two doses of MMR vaccine) after your child’s first birthday. What Is The Efficacy Of Travel Vaccinations For Children? Vaccines’ effectiveness varies. Most childhood vaccines provide more than 90% protection against diseases that would otherwise result in severe complications and death. Your child’s age, health status, immune response to the vaccine, and how well the vaccine components match the disease-causing bacteria or virus circulating in the population are all factors that contribute to vaccine effectiveness. “Some children who have only developed partial immunity to the vaccine may contract the disease in some cases. In this case, the vaccine aids in the reduction of disease severity and the prevention of complications,” adds Hewlett. Are Travel Vaccinations Safe For Children? The US Food and Drug Administration has thoroughly tested and approved all routine childhood vaccines and vaccines for international travel in babies and children. Vaccines stimulate the body’s immune system to produce protective antibodies against the disease. As a result, your child will be protected against the disease if you are ever exposed to the actual bacteria or virus. Vaccines are occasionally contraindicated in some children, but the most common side effects are minor and typically include fever and swelling or soreness at the injection site. Consult your healthcare provider to determine whether a vaccine is appropriate for your child and how to manage any adverse effects. Is A Vaccine Against A Now-Rare Disease Necessary For My Child? Vaccination schedules that are widely used are effective, which may explain the scarcity of diseases like varicella or measles in your home country. These diseases, however, may still be prevalent in other parts of the world where such vaccination schedules do not exist. If you take your child to such a country without immunisation, they may be exposed to these preventable diseases. Furthermore, travellers may unknowingly bring back disease-causing bacteria or viruses. If the community is not immunised, these diseases can resurface quickly. Will Giving A Child Multiple Vaccines At The Same Time Overwhelm Their Immune System? Numerous studies have demonstrated the safety of administering multiple vaccines simultaneously. Children are exposed to countless foreign particles from the environment and their diets daily with no adverse effects. Similarly, the amount of bacteria or viruses in vaccines is insufficient to cause harm. Giving multiple vaccines ensures the child receives protection as soon as possible and avoids unnecessary delays in vital vaccinations. In general, there is no upper limit to the number of routine or travel vaccinations for babies that can be administered concurrently. If live vaccines are to be administered at different times, each dose should be separated by at least 28 days or as your healthcare provider recommends.

December 9, 2022

HASBRO’S 2022 GREAT GIFTS SELECTION HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Hasbro is back with an exciting selection of great gifts recommendations from its wide range of play and entertainment options.  These include the latest releases from popular brands such as Nerf, Baby Alive, FurReal, Play-Doh plus fun new Hasbro Gaming solutions – perfect for the upcoming summer holiday season. Hasbro’s commitment to creating the world’s best play experiences ensures there is something for everyone – from fun family activities to active play, imaginative play, creative play and so much more. First up is a must for all pet and pony lovers – say hello to FurReal Cinnamon, My Stylin’ Pony pet. With more than 80 sounds and reactions, this 35cm tall beauty is so responsive and expressive.  She blinks, and moves her ears, head, and neck; she responds when she’s fed; and when petted on her back, cheeks, and nose. She makes loving noises, kissing sounds, and her cheeks even glow. It’s so much fun to groom and style this beautiful, poseable pony: she comes with 26 styling accessories, including 4 shimmery horseshoes, flower crown, and 20 flower hair decorations for her bridle, and her apple accessory doubles as a both a brush and a snack. Kids ages 4 and up are sure to love the pony’s night-time mode, too – for snuggle time, she can be posed into a sitting position and will play a song! A wonderful way to end any day.   Blast with the power of airblitz action or motorized mayhem. The Nerf Elite 2.0 Motoblitz blaster features two ways to fire darts, giving you flexibility and tactical advantage in Nerf games. Unleash 6 darts at once with airblitz blasting powered by air pressurized pump-action. Pump the handle back and forth and press the airblitz button to release a 6-dart swarm. Take on opponents with motorized blasting to fast-fire 10 darts in a row in rapid succession. Load the 10-dart clip into the blaster and you’re ready to go when you rev up the motor and pull the trigger. This 2-in-1 blaster includes 22 Official Nerf Elite darts to fill both blaster modes. Use the integrated scope to help with aiming. The tactical rail gives you the ability to customize the blaster with Nerf accessories. Eyewear recommended (not included). Accessories sold separately, subject to availability. Requires 4x 1.5v AA alkaline batteries (not included).   When will she grow into a gorgeous princess? Baby Alive Princess Ellie Grows Up talking doll grows little by little with kids’ care and responds with 75+ sounds and phrases. A twinkly chime plays whenever she grows! As a baby, she slowly grows with rocking, giving her a pacifier and pretending to feed her with her sippy cup and bowl/spoon. Bouncing movements and pretend feeding/drinking will help her keep growing as she gets taller. Kids ages 3 and up will have fun tracking her height with the included growth chart and styling her with dress-up baby doll accessories! Place her brushable tiara hair extension on her head and put the princess skirt over her outfit to complete her royal look. Instructions and quickstart guide help kids care for their growing doll and reset her to play again! This 45-cm Baby Alive doll that grows up is an exciting toy for any child, and a great gift for birthdays and holidays.   Get imaginations brewing with the Super Colourful Play-Doh Cafe Playset. This pretend play cafe set lets kids imagine creative Play-Doh drinks their way. Make the toy coffee maker fill the cups with colourful Play-Doh modelling compound, then spin and slide them to the topping station and add pretend whipped cream. Create lots of colourful Play-Doh bakery treats with the cookie, cupcake, and donut moulds, then display them on the clear stand. Whether they’re creating Play-Doh coffee, tea, frappes, or pretend smoothies, kids can have fun playing barista again and again. This Kitchen Creations drinks toy for kids 3 years and up also comes with 8 Play-Doh cans and 20 accessories to perk up their imaginations.    Turn your play space into the ultimate Play-Doh Ice Cream Truck party. This life size kitchen set gives kids a big space to express their big imaginations. Create so many pretend treats with the 27 tools and soft-serve station, customise the creations with the Play-Doh sprinkle maker, tools, and pretend candy moulds, and check out customers at the register. Fun music and cash register sounds make kids feel like they’re really running their own ice cream truck. 12 cans of Play-Doh modelling compound give them all the colours they need to get started. The toy food truck was also designed with parents in mind with a lot of storage and effortless ways to clean up when the fun is done for the day.   The Monopoly Travel World Tour board game is a twist on classic Monopoly gameplay that has players discovering and visiting exciting travel destinations. Players buy destinations, complete travel goals, and stamp the dry-erase gameboard with their token stamper to win. Create memories with the Travel Journal cards that become part of the gameplay in future games and learn fun facts about locations across the globe along the way. What a great game for travel buffs. This travel edition of the Monopoly game is a fun game for a family game night and it’s a great game for kids 8 and up.   Hasbro products are available from leading retailers (subject to availability) including:  Takealot.com, Toys R Us, ToyZone, Toy Kingdom, Hamleys, Makro and Importatoy.  For more information visit:  Facebook @PlayDohSouthAfrica; @MonopolySouthAfrica; @NerfSouthAfrica Instagram: @hasbro_sa;  @NerfNationSA; @playdohza

December 9, 2022

Thinking about enrolling your child in online school?

They are not all the same.  These are the must-ask questions for the school leader, which we put to Koa Academy’s Principal Mark Anderson: 1.            What is the child to teacher ratio? Mark: Koa has small Pods with a maximum of 8 children to one teacher. We believe that this is essential in the online space to maintain high engagement. Unfortunately, many online schools are packing more kids than ever into virtual classrooms, which leads to everyone feeling disconnected. Our Pods make sure that we stay engaged! 2.            How easily can I contact the teacher/principal if I have concerns? Mark: Our teachers and school leaders are readily and directly available to you online through phone, video chat and email channels. 3.            Is the school accredited? Mark: Yes!  Koa is accredited with the IEB and staffed only by teachers who are SACE registered.   The IEB offers a range of top benefits to our learners and we can tell you all about that. 4.            Does the school offer latest online education resources and platforms, or is it simply traditional school dumped online and presented on-screen? Mark: We say ‘no’ to school-on-a-screen! Koa leverages platforms and courses which are designed to be online from the start, which makes for an engaging and individualised learning experience that is relevant for today.  5.            Is the school intentional about socialization online and in person? Mark: Online school can and should be a safe, connected place of socio emotional as well as academic learning.  Koa actively fosters an on- and off-line school community in a variety of ways.  Online, learners interact every day in their Pod and regularly meet in whole-school gatherings. We also do regular in-person events in all the major centres. 6.            What do the school fees include? Mark: When comparing school fees, make sure there are no hidden but compulsory costs.  Many online schools advertise a set fee but then add on unavoidable costs for textbooks, online platforms or tutors.  At Koa, we keep it simple with a fully inclusive fee.

December 8, 2022

My baby crocodile rolls during nappy change time

There comes a time when some babies, usually around the eight to ten month mark, start to roll and do flick flacks at the one time we really need them to just lie still. Nappy changes.  This can make things quite challenging however know this – this stage does pass and there are some things you can do to keep baby entertained while you get the nappy on. It does not need to be struggle if you have some things up your clever sleeve. Keep reading… I had two babies and used our Pokkelokkie cloth nappies through both of them. I loved our nappies. It wasn’t hard work or difficult. I felt proud of every single nappy I used as I knew it wasn’t going into a bin into the earth. Using disposables stank, my babies got a rash and golly they are just so expensive. Money in the bin. The more you use your cloth nappies the smoother the process becomes. You eventually become so streamlined and well-practiced you can put nappies on with eyes closed. It really is just this! When we reached the croc stage I was desperate to find a solution. I realized my baby was bored and he became very smart and knew exactly when I wanted to change a nappy. It became almost impossible to pin him down. I felt helpless. Until I started to present small “challenges” to him during this time.  I kept a small basket hidden at the change area. Inside I added objects he would never normally encounter. Not the normal plastic toys… rattles etc. None of that stuff. The object ideally needs to have some sort of intellectual challenge the baby can master. I must add here that all objects of this nature can be found in and around your house. No need to go out and buy anything. Keep reading to see a list of these. So our nappy changing process went a bit like this. Sit baby on change mat. Present object. Baby shows interest and holds object. I lay him down while he is observing the object. I take his dirty nappy off and wipe him clean all the while talking to him about the object. I then show him what can be done with the object and see if he can do it himself. I modeled the task to him. We take turns.For example opening and closing a toothpaste lid (empty of course)/ baby bum cream lid is a good example of this small task. The most important part is showing them repeatedly how to do the task before attempting the nappy change. You may need to do this a few times and then change the nappy at the same time. Multitasking is really what this is all about but you’re a mum so you’re born with it!! You may need to show him the task, take the nappy off, show him again, wipe him down. Clap hands when he managed it. Put new nappy on. Show him how you can do it- you also have a turn- he claps hands for you etc. It’s a whole process of fun that you can both enjoy together. I must say the more you try to hurry a child the worse it will get. Children cannot be hurried- they do not have a concept of time.  Tip: Do not resort to videos or a phone. This tactic does not end well in the long run. Trying then to stop the screen will be a meltdown and anything after that kind of visual stimulation will just be boring. You are not doing yourself any favors. What you want is a nappy change to end well with a smiling baby and happy mom. A screen does not result in this. It will end in tears. Guaranteed. Once babies reach nine/ ten months old they are generally capable of small tasks. Challenge them and they will rise to the occasion.  Here are some things that worked for us. There are really many, many more objects just look around you. Please note the items must be a decent size to prevent any sort of choking. Keep an eye on your baby as babies put everything in their mouth.  A toothpaste flip lid (baby must open and close). A big plastic bottle and screw top lid (baby must learn to screw the lid on and off) A bum cream flip lid – pass them the bum cream. An empty syringe (baby must put it back together and pull it apart, repeat). A toothbrush (take turns to “brush teeth”). An electric toothbrush wins every time. A hairbrush (take turns to brush hair). A baby book (that squeaks) – anything that makes a noise is a winner. A long rope or piece of wool. A pair of plastic tweezers – open and close. Apply a small dot of bum cream on to baby’s finger. Let him do it to you. On your nose? Clothes pegs – open and close, peg baby’s t shirt, moms t shirt (baby must learn how to open and close) Use the nappy change time as an opportunity to engage with baby. Eye contact is so valuable. Sing a fun song Tickle baby Hide below the table/bed/ a book/ your hands and jump up and peek a boo Play “round and round the garden” on baby`s tummy or hand Do “this little piggy went to the market” Make ridiculous sounds with your lips and blow on baby`s tummy. Be totally silly.  Babies love silly moms!! The use of “foreign objects” was a game changer for me as my second baby was a crocodile roller and I realized I also wasn`t actually paying him the attention he needed at nappy time as I was busy trying to make him sit still. I was also rushing him and he hated that. By both being engaged in a simple task or experimenting with something together distratcts baby from the actual nappy change and allows

December 8, 2022

Medela Introduces Category Expansion with New Baby Care Product Lines Developed with Experts called Medela Baby

Medela, the world’s leading breastfeeding advocate and partner for mother’s milk, is excited to announce the launch of Medela Baby in South Africa. Medela baby includes a range of pacifiers for infants through to 18 months. This category expansion combines Medela’s 60 years of expertise in breastfeeding and 30 years of scientific research on the natural suckling behaviour of breastfed babies with the decades of experience in silicone manufacturing excellence of Bibi, based in Switzerland and acquired by Medela in 2019. Medela infused its years of knowledge on infant suckling behaviour with experts in silicone manufacturing to create an exclusive pacifier portfolio designed according to the highest standards in safety and quality while delivering a soft, lightweight, gentle-on-skin feel. A pacifier, when used responsibly, can be complementary to the infant’s well-being.1-2 Developed in cooperation with midwives, dentists, speech therapists, lactation experts, and an ergonomist, the Medela Baby portfolio features a collection of newborn to toddler pacifiers in the optimal size, form, weight, and characteristics for the ideal tongue, lip, and jaw movement.3-4 The pacifiers feature Medela Baby’s exclusive SensoPearls™ for a gentle-on-skin feel and enhanced airflow, a symmetrical teat with a thin neck and reduced teat volume for healthy gum and jaw development,3-4 with a light and ergonomic shield to fit the contour of baby’s face.5-6 The Medela Baby Collection offers three styles of pacifiers to South Africa: Original (R305.99), the perfect all-around dummy that comes in cute and trendy designs. It’s designed with gentle-on-skin SensoPearls™ and offers a symmetrical teat for easy acceptance. This lightweight and orthodontic pacifier supports healthy speech and gum development and fits the contour of your baby’s nose and chin to allow easy breathing. Available in 2 sizes (0-6 months and 6-18 months). Soft Silicone (R315.99) supports natural suckling with a one-piece super soft, lightweight, and flexible design. Inspired by Medela’s Contact Nipple Shield, it is shaped to fit under the nose to not interfere with breathing and smell the comforting scent of the mother. This perfect everyday pacifier is available in 2 sizes (0-6 months and 6-18 months) and in a variety of colours (clear, pink, and blue). Benefits include: 24% lighter than the leading competition Newly developed pacifier with a softer & more flexible teat due to a thinner wall Designed to feel gentle on the skin with SensoPearls™ that enhances the airflow on the skin, n. one concern for mums* Ergonomic design under the nose to not interfere with breathing and to facilitate smelling mum’s scent – inspired by our knowledge of contact nipple shields Swiss quality, premium quality & high industry standards One-piece soft, lightweight silicone – flexible & transparent and cute panda design Day & Night 24-hour 2-piece set (R299.99) includes an Original and Night pacifier that glows in the dark. The set is offered in 2 sizes: 0-6 months and 6-18 months. A study shows that this pacifier was accepted by 9 out of 10 babies.7  The perfect 24h set with two great benefits combined. The day pacifier features a ring to fix with a pacifier holder during the day, and the night pacifier with a glow-in-the-dark knob, allowing mum and baby to find it during the night. Without a ring, baby’s sleep is not disturbed when moving actively at night.  Other benefits include: Designed to feel gentle on the skin with SensoPearls™, n. one concern for mums* Accepted by 9 out of 10 babies Symmetrical teat for easy acceptance Swiss quality for over 85 years, premium quality & high industry standards Use any pacifier with the new Medela Pacifier Clip (R199.99), a universal pacifier holder that fits all Medela Baby pacifiers and most other pacifiers. The material is made without BPA and BPS and features an easy-to-use innovative clip, allowing you to open the holder with one hand.   All Medela Baby pacifiers come with a protection cap or Steribox for hygienic use and easy transport and storage. The collection is made from food-grade silicone without BPA or BPS and produced in Switzerland, meeting the highest safety design and quality standards with the added benefit of Medela’s leading research-based commitment to supporting breastfeeding mothers and their babies. Medela Baby pacifiers offers other vital advantages within the baby care category: Developed with experts with expertise from the Medela midwives’ network and expertise in silicone manufacturing SensoPearls ™ to feel gentle on the skin and for enhanced airflow Thin shaft teat to allow lip contact Reduced teat volume for healthy gum & jaw development Ergonomic shield with airflow benefits Teat size increases according to the stage of baby’s development 0-6 months, and 6-18 months Uses the best materials Comes with either the protection cap or the sterilizing box for hygienic use & transport Medela launches two new intimate apparel items for pregnant and nursing mothers. Medela continuously researches to understand the needs of breastfeeding mums and babies. This enables them to translate the knowledge into functional maternity and nursing apparel, working with leading textile and garment technology experts. All garments are developed by a Team of Designers and R&D professionals and tested with mums every step of the way. In line with Medela’s commitment to decrease environmental impact, all New Collections come in new sustainable, 100% recycled packaging. Pump and breastfeed comfortably with the Medela 3 In 1 Nursing & Pumping Bra (R1999.99). This 3-In-1 versatile design is lightweight, ultra-breathable, and features Adaptive Stretch™ for a perfect fit. Bond with your baby with the full drop-down cups and enjoy medium to high support when pumping (to hold bottles or for in-bra pumping). This 3-In-1 bra is an all-day-wear bra designed for nursing, pumping & in bra pumping. Available in black and comes in sizes S, M, and L.   Using a hands-free pumping bra allows you to get on with other activities or relax while collecting breast milk for your baby. Replacing the Medela Easy Expression™ Bustier, Medela hands-free™ Pumping Bustier™ (R1 299.99) is made with comfort and convenience, with a seamless strapless tube top design providing a snug fit and ample

December 7, 2022

Online Education for Homeschoolers and Cottage schools

Educ8 SA+ is a brand new premium package of Educ8 SA. We offer international & accredited curriculums with the added benefit of completely virtual supervision and assistance, guidance for choosing curriculum and career paths, and biweekly reporting with daily attendance tracking. Our excellent daily attendance and academic time tracker functions to hold students accountable and keep them on track. Our bi-weekly report gives you a comprehensive and overall insight to your student’s progress and learning trajectory. We also offer language courses and a wide array of career/skill building courses. Virtual meetings on any matter or topic relating to our students’ progress and academics are readily available to all parents and students. What we believe We here at Educ8 SA+ believe in offering a consistent, tried and tested solution to parents who are concerned about not giving enough oversight and/or are too busy to give their homeschooled students the time and attention necessary to reach their full potential. What we aim for The homeschool/self-school journey, as wonderful as it is, is often overwhelming, leading parents and students to be stressed out and far from as focused, efficient, and productive as they can be. Instead of the often seen scenario where students have a great curriculum, but with no structure, they end up never reaching or achieving their full potential. We avoid that by providing structure, oversight, discipline, and a set calendar and schedule. School holidays and public holidays are stipulated on our Educ8 SA+ school calendar. Additional pros when choosing Educ8 SA+ We offer you, through our curriculum providers, the SAT prep course and micro courses. These courses are part of our scheduled learning paths to widen our student’s knowledge and to grow and develop their interests. There are many courses that students can complete and will pay for at the end once they have committed to obtaining the accreditation, wanting the credits and certificate that these courses offer. Should you want to complete any of these courses (terms and conditions apply) for self enrichment only, there are many courses that you have no obligation to pay for if you do not want the credits and certificate.  Every Friday, we give our students a break from scheduled school work. Don’t get too excited, this is not an OFF day. Educ8 SA+ uses Fridays as an opportunity to encourage and reward students for self improvement. Fridays are when students get the time to do courses and learn new skills that will help them open doors in their bright futures.  Zoom meetings or phone calls are available to our students should they need guidance on matters such as proper note taking, motivation, self-discipline, time management, etc. We firmly believe in not only corrective supervision, but adding to our students “toolbox” of life skills. This is done through interaction with our students via motivational conversations, virtual meetings, and 2 webinars every month on topics of self-improvement & self enrichment. Let’s talk fees  GR K – 8 (age 14 and under): R700 p/m  GR 9 -12 & GED: R800 p/m  Let us know if this piques your interest!  For more queries and information feel free to email us at [email protected].  Warmest of regards, Educ8 SA+ Team 

December 6, 2022

KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES’ CAN LAND YOU IN A FINANCIAL FIX

Peer pressure does not only affect impressionable teenagers – we all have an innate urge to evaluate our progress against those around us. As parents, we also want the best for our children, often going beyond our means to make this happen. Sending your child to one of the best public schools in the country can set you back R63 000 per year while elite private schools can cost north of R200 000. Trying to keep up with the Joneses can land you in deep financial difficulties. Adopting a few financial hacks, you can still give your children great opportunities without compromising your financial wellbeing. Ayanda Ndimande, Business Development Manager of Retail Credit at Sanlam says, “As parents, we are always on the lookout for the best ways, tools, and resources to raise our children. For first-time parents, this may mean feeling that you need to have the most expensive pram, the latest toys, must-have gadgets and clothes, only for the child to outgrow them in a few months. By reorientating that desire toward your child’s long-term prospects, you can help build a strong financial foundation that your children can use as a launchpad for their lives.” Taking advantage of these three simple tips can help you avoid debt traps, achieve your goals, if you feel as though you need to keep up with the Joneses.   Build a Healthy Relationship With Your Credit Score: If you’ve ever taken out a loan, registered a bond, applied for a credit card or even a cell phone contract, you’ll most likely have a credit score. Your score tells prospective lenders how much of a ‘risk’ you are in terms of your past debt repayment behaviour. It looks at your transactional records and gives you a score, ranking you as low, medium, or high risk. Your credit score is a living number that fluctuates depending on your debt repayment behaviour. The Sanlam Credit Dashboard allows you to do a free credit score check and credit coaches can help you to better understand and manage or improve your credit score. The pressure to keep up appearances can often lead people to take out loans or dip into their credit. Not all debt is bad but going into debt should be carefully considered and geared toward useful long-term benefits. Ndimande says, “Whilst trying to do the best for our kids, it helps to also have a longer-term view. Think about the financial position you want to be in in the future. Knowing your credit score will help you do this.”  Talk to Your Kids About Money: When we try to keep up with our peers, friends or colleagues we often end up spending without thinking and going deeper into unplanned debt. Your children learn life-long financial habits – both good and bad – by watching the way you manage your money. By speaking to your children about money, helping them track their spending and open savings accounts, you can equip them with the tools to be able to buy their toys and be more considerate when they do. The Sanlam Savings Jar app is a great way to do this.  Remember That Social Media isn’t Real Life: While it is entertaining, remember that social media is often a sanitised and curated view of people’s lives. Through the power of angles and filters, it is very easy to make things seem grander than they are. We often know little about people’s finances when we look at their posts. It is also important to be kind to yourself, we all have different goals and will take different financial paths to reach them. Ndimande concludes, “Not owning the latest gadget or sending your child to a school that costs a quarter of a million rand a year is not a reflection of your success. We all have different lives and needs and comparing ourselves to others can negatively affect our mental health. Shift your focus towards long-term goals and put the necessary plans in place to make them a reality.”

December 6, 2022

Traveling and Surviving the Festive Season

It is the season to be jolly but for many parents the idea of family or travel can be daunting with young ones in tow. There are many factors to consider and anything could go wrong…. Here are some tips and notes to help you get through it and hopefully, you’ll get some much-needed rest: Packing This is an art, especially when flying. Remember, that unless you are traveling to the middle of nowhere most things can be bought or replaced. So, don’t break out in a sweat if you forget something. However, don’t leave packing for the last minute. Save yourself unnecessary stress by starting early. Some things cannot be packed in advance though. Make a list of all the last-minute things that you need to pack…. These include things like a baby monitor, your baby’s lovey or favourite toy, pillow or blanket and night light. Remember to take with all the things you need for your bedtime routine (books, lovey, white noise). You can also download white noise apps on your tablet of spare phone. Most hotels and guest houses have cots, you just need to ask for one. Your carry-on bag will be one of the most important things to pack. I find that a backpack works best, it might not look as great, but it makes a big difference especially when flying as you always have your hands free to either carry baby or catch a running toddler. There is a lot of walking and waiting involved at the airport so have snacks and water on hand. Make sure to pack extra clothes for your children but also for you. Have their favourite toy/lovey with you as well as diapers, wipes (packets and packets of wipes), dummies and formula. If you use cloth nappies, I would suggest leaving those for when you arrive at your destination, and refrain from using them when you are on the go. Getting there Have realistic expectations. Know that whether you travel by car, plane or boat your child will miss some sleep. They might go to sleep only later when flying abroad or they might miss a nap. In the car, their naps or sleep often can be short. You will survive and remember that you will eventually get to your destination. With toddlers and older children also remember to prepare them and set their expectations for the journey. Plan, plan and plan some more. We often think of only the car ride and the plane ride but forget the bits in-between. Charge all the necessary toys, iPads, and portable televisions the day before.  Power banks are handy when traveling. At airports you will go through security and passport control. Plan enough time for all of this and ask to skip the line. Most airports will allow you to go to the front with small children.  You are also allowed to take a stroller and car seat with you. Most of the time, you can push the stroller all the way till you board the plane. Try to book long flights overnight and shorter flights that will fall over nap time. When traveling in a car you will have to plan regular stops that might take a while. If your child sleeps well in the car it can be helpful to travel during the night. Keep your children safe in a car seat. If they are crying rather stop and pull over; don’t take them out of their safety seat while driving. Have activities, water and snacks galore. Once you there Try to keep to normal routines, especially bedtime routines as far as possible. The younger your kids are, the more you need to stick to them. Of course, you’ll be out and about some days but try not to overschedule and over plan every day. Try to give your child the opportunity to have at least one nap a day in the cot, and remember that one nap on the go (in a sling, stroller or car) will not throw everything out. It’s your holiday and you need to try and enjoy it. Try to recreate their sleep space so that is it like home. Bring with their sheets, bedding and pillow. If your toddler sleeps with a night light or white noise take it with to your destination. Most often we must share rooms with our children on holiday. If you normally share a room of course this is not a problem but if not, you should not stress too much about it. They can sleep just as well with you in the room. Try to keep their sleep space separate though by putting the cot or bed as far away from your bed as possible. White noise can also be helpful when you need to go in the room later, or if you need to wake-up early the next day. If only your kids share a room, try to split their bedtime. Put the younger one to bed first and about 20 to 30 minutes later, explain to the older one that it is a privilege to stay awake later and they should sneak into the room like a ninja and not wake the younger one up. A common cause for concern is when you travel to somewhere, where the sun goes down later. Always remember that small children and babies have no concept of time so unless you make it an issue they won’t mind going to bed at their normal time. It can be helpful to travel with a dark sheet which you can hang over the window to help darken the room. Sweets are part of holiday but try to limit sugar and TV time before bed. Travel safe and try to get some rest and remember that even if things go completely pear-shaped while you’re away, you should be able to get right back on track once you are home. By Jolandi Becker – Good Night MD

December 6, 2022

ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS: TIME TO RETHINK YOUR CHOICES?

Affinity Health, a leading provider of high-quality healthcare, explores the ongoing debate regarding whether the consumption of artificial sweeteners poses health hazards. If you’re trying to limit the amount of sugar and calories in your diet, you may resort to artificial sweeteners or other sugar replacements. Various foods and beverages labelled as “sugar-free” or “diet” contain artificial sweeteners and other sugar replacements, including soft drinks and baked goods. What are all these sugar substitutes? And what role do they play in your diet? Understanding artificial sweeteners and alternative sugars Sugar substitutes are sweeteners used in place of traditional sugar (sucrose). Artificial sweeteners are only one sort of sugar replacement. There are several sweeteners on the South African market, with Sorbitol, Xylitol, Acesulfame, Potassium, Aspartame, Saccharine, Stevia, and Sucralose being the most common. Mannitol and Maltitol are utilised in producing goods and are not sold separately as sweeteners. The pros and cons of artificial sweeteners Artificial sweeteners are chosen as an alternative to sugar because: They can be used in baking or cooking Artificial sweeteners have almost no calories and don’t cause weight gain They are not associated with tooth decay or cavities. They aren’t carbohydrates and generally don’t raise blood sugar levels. “For decades, artificial sweeteners have been the subject of intensive scrutiny,” says Murray Hewlett, CEO of Affinity Health. “Critics of artificial sweeteners assert that they contribute to numerous health issues, including cancer. However, according to the National Cancer Institute and other health agencies, no solid scientific evidence exists that any of the permitted artificial sweeteners cause cancer or other major health problems. Numerous studies demonstrate that, in moderation, artificial sweeteners are generally safe.” The Food and Drug Administration has defined an acceptable daily intake (ADI) for each artificial sweetener. The ADI is the maximum amount of a substance considered safe for daily consumption throughout a lifetime. It’s essential for consumers not to exceed the recommended ADI. Different Artificial Sweeteners  Aspartame Aspartame, a low-calorie sweetener created in 1965, tastes similar to sugar but is 200 times sweeter. It is unique among low-calorie sweeteners in that the body metabolises it to amino acids, aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and a minor quantity of ethanol. In 1981, aspartame was authorised by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in various foods. It has been hypothesised that aspartame’s interference with the function of rheumatoid factor can decrease joint pain and immobility caused by chronic inflammation. It has also been argued that aspartame’s components can cause various health issues, including increased susceptibility to seizures, behaviour, mood, or cognitive function. However, there are no solid indications that aspartame can cause these problems. Saccharin Saccharin was discovered more than a century ago. It is typically used to enhance the flavour of toothpaste, diet foods and beverages, as it is 300 to 500 times sweeter than sugar. According to limited studies, consuming saccharin-containing items may cause weight gain and obesity by interfering with core homeostatic and physiological processes. However, on the whole, sucralose is deemed safe for all population segments, including those with chronic health conditions such as diabetes. Acesulfame Potassium Acesulfame Potassium is a non-caloric sweetener found in numerous products. The US FDA approved acesulfame K for non-alcoholic beverages in 1998 and awarded permission for general use in 2003. The Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), a scientific advisory council for the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, assessed the evidence and found that acesulfame K is safe. Neotame Neotame is a no-calorie sweetener derived from the dipeptide composed of aspartic acid and phenylalanine amino acids. The components of neotame are combined to create a distinct sweetener. Neotame is approximately 8000 times sweeter than table sugar and 40 times sweeter than aspartame. Neotame is chemically similar to aspartame but more chemically stable, making it suitable for usage in baked goods. However, it may also be employed as a flavouring agent in other types of food. It was approved by the U.S. FDA in 2002, although its use is still uncommon. Stevia Stevia is produced from the South American herb Stevia Rebaudiana, which has been used to sweeten liquids and create tea in Paraguay for generations. Rebaudioside A is one sweetening chemical found in the stevia plant. The steviol glycosides meet the JECFA’s purity requirements (WHO). The clinical investigations demonstrate that stevia sweeteners do not influence blood pressure or blood glucose response, indicating they are safe for people with diabetes to consume. Recent studies, including human intake, metabolism, and toxicity studies, support the safety of stevia sweeteners. Based on published research, independent scientific experts from the United States and worldwide have agreed that stevia sweeteners are safe for persons of all ages. Stevia has an extremely low acute toxicity and no known adverse responses. Conclusion Several scientific studies are conducted to determine the safety of artificial sweeteners, which regulatory agencies subsequently approve. Some substances are also approved with warning labels. “If you’re concerned about whether an artificial sweetener is safe and its potential side effects, always read the warnings and recommended daily allowance on the product. Consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns,” concludes Hewlett.

December 2, 2022

Top 5 health tips for a holiday that won’t cramp your style

Candice Chirwa is an author, gender activist, and thought leader affectionately known as the Minister of Menstruation due to the incredible work she has done around period poverty and educating girls about period hygiene. Since 2021 she has helped the Salome range by participating in their campaigns aimed at removing the stigma attached to menstruation. Together with Salome, Candice shares her top tips to get you ready for a stress-free holiday that won’t cramp your style.    Period fatigue is real – so rest  I would highly recommend that you get your rest in. Year-end fatigue is real and so is period fatigue, and it is important to not skip out on any form of rest especially during the holiday season. Make it your goal to get eight to nine hours of sleep throughout the holiday season. Heavy menstrual bleeders, we’ve got you too! Everyone has different methods of handling period pain. For some, it’s using hot water bottles and applying it directly to their abdomen, for others it’s exercising that helps reduce menstrual cramping. I do suggest that menstruators opt for comfort during this season. Avoid wearing tight clothing and instead choose to wear loose clothes during the summer. For heavy menstrual bleeders, I’d also recommend using period products that last for 12 hours such as night time pads, menstrual cups, period underwear and tampons. Busting a holiday myth – period One myth that some people still believe in is that you shouldn’t swim when having your period. I believe in the exact opposite and would highly recommend going for a gentle exercise, like swimming, to keep you cool and to release endorphins which is nature’s own pain reliever. If you’d like something more intense and a cardio burner to help manage period pain, a hike is a sure way to manage the pain and keep your PMS mood swings away. Any low-stress exercise such as dancing and yoga stretches can make you and your body feel happier. Be careful of what you are eating Stay away from foods that can cause bloating such as dairy and foods that contain a lot of sodium. It can be difficult to make healthy choices when braai food and sugar treats are in readily available during the festive season. However, when it comes to your period it is a good time to remain hydrated.  Go for herbal extract solutions There are definitely benefits to using herbal based medicine that relieves menstrual cramps. A particular pro, is that ranges like the Salome range have minimal side effects that can impede on your daily holiday activities. I also find using natural treatment options to be a healthier route that is unlikely to lead to gastric issues. The Salome range, launched in 2020 by South African pharmaceutical company 3Sixty Biomedicine, addresses common women’s health issues. In 2022 Salome expanded its herbal extract based range to include products that assist with managing symptoms commonly associated with menopause and for the relief of minor symptoms in the days before menstruation (premenstrual syndrome). Now the current product range based on herbal extracts offers over the counter treatment options that help manage heavy menstrual bleeding, menstrual pain, premenstrual syndrome, menopause, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and infertility linked to PCOS.  The full Salome range that contains natural ingredients is available online at Takealot.com and www.salome-range.co.za, as well as over the counter at most pharmacies nationwide. For more information about the Salome range, go to www.salome-range.co.za or connect on social media: Facebook: Salome Range Twitter: SalomeRange Instagram: SalomeRange 

December 2, 2022

WHY IS PROSTATE CANCER SO COMMON IN MALES?

According to Affinity Health, a leading provider of high-quality healthcare, while prostate cancer primarily affects men over the age of 65, it can strike earlier, especially if you have a family history of prostate cancer. What Is Prostate Cancer? Prostate cancer is cancer that occurs in the prostate. In males, the prostate is a small walnut-shaped gland that produces seminal fluid, which nourishes and transports sperm. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. Many prostate cancers are slow-growing and limited to the prostate gland, where they may not cause significant harm. While some prostate cancers grow slowly and require little or no treatment, others are aggressive and spread rapidly. Early detection of prostate cancer, while still confined to the prostate gland, gives the best chance of successful treatment. Who Is Predisposed to Prostate Cancer? Every man is at risk of prostate cancer, but some factors contribute to the risk. Age: The most critical risk factor for prostate cancer is age. Men aged 65 and older account for roughly two-thirds of all prostate cancer diagnoses. However, as you age, the disease becomes less aggressive, especially after age 70. Family History: Men with a history of prostate cancer are at a higher risk. Having a father or brother with the disease doubles your chances of getting it. When multiple family members are affected, your chances increase. Race: Black men are about 60% more likely than white men to develop prostate cancer. When cancer is diagnosed, it is more likely to be advanced. Doctors aren’t sure why different races have different rates of prostate cancer, but they believe environmental factors are to blame. Diets High In Fat: Dietary fat may also be linked to prostate cancer. Men in high-fat diet countries eat fewer fruits and vegetables. The disease is much more prevalent in countries where meat and dairy products dominate the diet, as opposed to those where rice, soybean products, and vegetables are the primary staples. Obesity: Extra weight does not appear to increase your chances of developing prostate cancer. However, it may reduce your chances of getting a lower-grade type and increase your chances of getting an aggressive form. Although not all study findings agree, some evidence suggests that obese men are more likely to have advanced prostate cancer and die from it. Sedentary Way of Life: Although there haven’t been many studies to determine how closely a lack of physical activity is linked to prostate cancer, it has been shown to play a role in other types of cancer, including colon and endometrial cancer. However, because a lack of physical activity is frequently associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome, there may also be a link between it and prostate cancer. Changes in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 Gene: These are what your doctor may refer to as mutations. Because you are born with them, they are risk factors over which you have no control. They run in families, but only a few people are affected. They increase the likelihood of breast and ovarian cancer in women, as well as prostate cancer in some men. Lynch Syndrome: Lynch syndrome, also known as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), is caused by a gene change that occurs at birth. It can increase your chances of getting a variety of cancers, including prostate cancer. Signs and Symptoms While most prostate cancers are asymptomatic, the following symptoms and signs of prostate cancer may occur: Urine flow that is weak or interrupted, or the need to strain to empty the bladder Urge to urinate frequently during the night Urine with blood Erectile dysfunction Urinary pain or burning An enlarged prostate (that causes discomfort or pain when sitting) Back, hip, thigh, shoulder, or other bone pain Leg or foot swelling or fluid buildup Unknown cause of weight loss Fatigue Alteration in bowel habits If you are concerned about any changes you are experiencing, please consult your doctor. Your doctor will ask you how long and frequently you have been experiencing the symptom, among other things (s). Diagnosis is made to assist in determining the cause of the problem. Screening For Prostate Cancer  A digital rectal examination or finger test is the only way for a doctor to examine your prostate. To check the size of the prostate and for lumps, a doctor must insert a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum and press the bowel wall, this is unpleasant, but a minute of discomfort can save your life. The prostate exam is the most effective screening test for prostate cancer. Screening should begin at the age of 40 if you have a family history of prostate cancer. If you are not at high risk, you should start screening at the age of 50, unless you have any of the warning signs, in which case you should begin screening right away,” says Murray Hewlett, CEO of Affinity Health. Treatment Of Prostate Cancer  Prostate cancer treatment options include surgery, radiation, and hormone therapy, which can be used alone or in combination. “Treatment is highly individualised and is planned according to clinical findings. The earlier prostate cancer is detected, the better the prognosis,” concludes Hewlett.

December 2, 2022
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