WHAT THE COLLAGEN?? THE TRUTH ABOUT COLLAGEN SUPPLEMENTS

Everywhere you look there’s another advert for a collagen supplement. No-one likes wrinkles, so this really looks good! But is collagen something we should all be taking as we get older?  

Collagen is a major structural protein that is produced in the body. Collagen is needed to make cartilage, ligaments, tendons, bone, and teeth and it is what gives skin elasticity and strength. 

Collagen is found in meat, chicken, fish, eggs, and bone broth. You can also take collagen as a supplement in the form of tablets or powders. However, increasing your intake of collagen or foods high in collagen does not automatically translate to increased collagen levels in the body. As with every other protein, once collagen is consumed it is broken down into amino acids for absorption into the body. These amino acids are then used to make whatever protein is needed in the body. There is no research available to prove that the amino acids that come from dietary collagen will then be formed back into collagen in the body. 

So what does this mean?

Spending money on collagen supplements to increase collagen levels in the body is unnecessary. What this means is that to make collagen in the body the amino acids do not have to come from collagen itself. As long as you are eating enough protein in general (examples include meat, chicken, fish, dairy, eggs, beans, tofu, soya, and even wholegrains) so that your body has enough amino acids, as well as the other nutrients that the body needs to make collagen (vitamin C, zinc and copper) your body will be able to make collagen.

Taking collagen supplements will not harm, although there has been some concern of contaminants and heavy metals. But you could also improve your diet to include good sources of protein and enough vegetables, fruit and whole-grains for good vitamin and mineral intake so that the body can do what it is able to do. Supplements have their place, but always think food first.

Kim Hofmann RD(SA)

Cell: 084 206 2715

E-mail: kimh.rd@mweb.co.za

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IS YOUR HOME SECURITY LACKING A SPRING IN ITS STEP?

 

People are getting out and about more as the weather warms up. It is also the time of year when many of us move into that all-too-familiar spring cleaning mode. 

Charnel Hattingh, Head of Marketing and Communications for Fidelity ADT, says it is important to adapt our security habits seasonally to fit our routines. 

In winter, for example, there is less daylight, so it could be dark when you leave for work, and people also tend to spend more time indoors – and keep their dogs indoors. In summer, we entertain more outdoors, have more doors open and make use of parks and other open spaces more often.

Hattingh says, however, the quality of your security systems and protocols should stay constant throughout the year.

“The best way of being sure your security systems are working optimally all year round is to regularly test and check them. Fidelity ADT recommends monthly or more if required, and at least twice a year to do a full re-evaluation of your security systems.

“Regular testing is of the utmost importance. If the system is not functioning properly the alarm activation signal may not reach your security company to alert them to an emergency and that help is needed,” she says.

People should be aware that adverse weather affects security systems, like alarm panels, electric fences and outdoor beams. 

Storms with high winds and lightning can cause power outages that may affect the alarm system itself and electric fences could be damaged by broken tree branches and other foliage during a storm. 

Anything from insects in the passives to overgrown vegetation, birds and poor battery maintenance can cause false activations in outdoor beams. 

“It is vital to check the battery back-up power for as part of your security spring clean. Switch the electricity off to see if the alarm battery is working and make sure you have back-up batteries for fences and gates. Panic buttons and passives must also be tested after bad weather,” Hattingh says. 

6 spring cleaning tips for better home security:

1. Walk your perimeter to check for weaknesses. Take note of overgrown foliage which may be interfering with your electric fence or creating a hiding place for criminals.

2. Make sure that your gate and gate motor are secure and cannot be tampered with. Ask a consultant from your security company for expert advice.

3. Check all window latches tighten properly and replace those which are worn. Windows should have burglar proofing.

4. Check door locks and handles for weaknesses and ensure your doors are protected with a strong security door. 

5. Test all outdoor lighting and consider what other areas of your property could benefit from lighting as a deterrent and early warning system.

6. Put your security system on test with your security company to ensure everything is working as it should and schedule a technical service call if there are any problems. 

7. Consider enhancements to your current security systems, like smoke detectors, sensor lighting, CCTV or additional remote panic buttons.

Hattingh concludes that security is part and parcel of home maintenance. 

“Just as you wouldn’t ignore a leaking roof or faulty electrics, don’t neglect your home security systems. They need regular testing and maintenance to keep providing your family with peace of mind that help is on the way when you need it most. Happy security spring cleaning!” 

Fidelity-ADT

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CAN LOW INTEREST RATES CONTINUE TO BOOST THE HOUSING MARKET?

 

It’s been a year of paradoxes. “No one expected a pandemic would send shockwaves through most sectors of the economy, or that the housing market would emerge as one of the surprise success stories,” says Carl Coetzee, CEO

of BetterBond. And then last week, parts of the country came to a standstill as looters ran rampant through KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng. “The question now is whether the property market will be able to rebound from the unrest and a potential dip in consumer confidence?”

While it is too soon to gauge the full impact of recent events, Coetzee says one needs to reflect on the significant impact which record-low interest rates have had on market performance in the past year. “Instead of the downward spiral in house prices and slowdown in buyer activity many anticipated; the opposite happened. Five consecutive repo rate cuts during the year resulted in more people buying homes than before the pandemic,” says Coetzee. First-home buyers particularly made the most of improved affordability and lower bond repayments, accounting for 70% of BetterBond’s applications for the latter part of 2020.

“If the past year has shown us anything, it’s that lower interest rates and shifts in homeownership behaviour have done enough to build the resilience the market will need to withstand this latest challenge,” says Coetzee. Economic forecasts suggest that the South African Reserve Bank is likely to hold the repo rate steady at 3.5% when it meets on Thursday. This would be the sixth time the repo rate has held steady in a bid to stimulate the economy. “An accommodative approach to the repo rate is even more likely, given the unfortunate events of the past week.

However, even if there is a nominal increase, the prime lending rate will still be well below the 10% it was in January 2020,” says Coetzee.

“The first-home buyer uptick we saw in the second half of 2020 has tempered, and much of the activity we are observing now is from repeat buyers looking to relocate as they can now work from home, or those wanting to make the most of the record-low interest rate,” explains Coetzee. “These buyers may, after last week’s events, consider semigrating to regions usually considered to be holiday destinations. It won’t damper overall buyer activity, but may see some provinces and metropolitan areas outperforming others.”

House prices, always a good indicator of the state of the market, look set to increase by an average of almost 3% over the next six months, says the SARB Repo Rate Forecast. The latest Lightstone report (June) puts the annual house price inflation, as of May 2021, at 4.9%, with price growth increasing across all provinces. Also encouraging is that the time properties are staying on the market remains at about eight weeks, way better than the long-term average of 13 weeks. New semigration trends may add impetus to house price growth in some provinces, adds Coetzee.

“We believe that record-low interest rates, and the forecast that they will remain below 10% for a good few months yet, bodes well for the property market. While the unrest is likely to dent consumer confidence, BetterBond takes comfort in the fact that the Absa Homeowner Sentiment Index (June) showed a fourth consecutive quarter of positive sentiment towards buying property, and its highest since the Index was launched in 2015,” says Coetzee. More than a year of single-digit interest rates has gone a long way to consolidating South Africa’s residential property market. “While we are mindful that they will not remain this low indefinitely, there has still never been a better time to apply for a bond,” concludes Coetzee.

Anne-Marie Bamber is Norgarb Properties dedicated Home Loans Consultant. She has over 15 years’ experience in assisting clients with their Home Loan needs and has placed many happy families in their dream homes.

Contact her today for no cost stress-free home-buying.
Anne-Marie Bamber
Home Loans consultant
Tel: +27 (0)21 851 3568 | Fax: +27 (0)21 441 1494 | Cell: +27 (0)82 071 1665
E-mail: anne-marie.bamber@betterlife.co.za

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SEPTEMBER IN THE GARDEN

 

Spring has sprung! While many will flock up the West Coast to see the flowers, it's also International Ozone Protection Day on the 16th of September. 

Here are a few simple and easy things you can do to protect the ozone that will benefit you too, and generations to come:

1. Walk or cycle to the shops or a friend's house rather than drive whenever that's possible. It minimises unnecessary fumes that can harm the ozone layer, and it's good for our health too.

2. Grow your own fruit and veggies. This can be as simple as starting with one plant. 

3. If you can't grow your own, try to buy local fruit and vegetables wherever possible. This begins with asking where they're grown. You'll have better luck with this at local spots in Harfield like The Deli on 2nd Avenue, or markets. How does this help protect the ozone layer? When we buy fruit and vegetables from the shops, most of the time we don't know where they come from. They could have travelled from other provinces or even other countries to get here, clocking up unnecessary carbon miles.

And on that note, as temperatures rise slowly, it's a great time to get planting! 

September's plant list: 

Amaranth, Bush and climbing beans, Broadbeans, Beetroot, Butternut, Cauliflower, Carrot, Chard, Cape Gooseberry, Celery, Chives, Chili, Cucumber, Eggplant, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leek, Leaf Mustard, Lettuce, Ginger, Globe artichokes, Jerusalem artichokes, Onion, Parsnip, Parsley, Peas, Potato, Pumpkin, Radish, Rhubarb, Sweetcorn, Sweet pepper, Sweet potato, Turnip, Tomato, Watercress, Watermelon, Zucchini 

Enjoy Spring, everyone!

Patchwork Group
Gabriella Garnett
076 2199 849 | gabriella.garnett@gmail.com

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HOMEOWNER'S OR HOUSEHOLD INSURANCE?

 

Homeowners’ insurance, also sometimes referred to as ‘building insurance’, provides cover in the event of damage to your home’s physical structure. This insurance is in respect of the bricks and mortar, roof, windows and the like of your home.  Homeowners’ insurance, as the name implies, is available to an owner of the property and would generally not be available to a tenant. The insurance is obtained to provide cover for the owner should the building be damaged as a result of certain types of unforeseeable events, such as fires, floods, torrential rain and malicious damage to the property, amongst others.

So why is your bondholder (usually a bank) interested in the insurance details? If a property has been bonded, it means that the bank’s security for the loan it made to the owner lies with the property and the buildings thereon. Therefore, in many instances, it is a bond requirement that the property must at all times be sufficiently insured to protect the security of the bondholder.

In sectional title schemes, it is the body corporate that is responsible to ensure that the buildings in the scheme are sufficiently insured.  Owners of units in the scheme will note that the insurance premium is included in their monthly levy contribution.

Household insurance, or contents insurance, on the other hand, covers the household goods that are not covered by homeowners’ insurance. This includes furniture, electronics, clothing and even valuables such as art and jewellery. Due to the myriad of contents in a home, household insurance usually requires that a detailed inventory and value of items to be included in the cover, is provided. Certain high value items may have to be itemised and insured separately.  This type of insurance is not a legal requirement, but highly recommended to tenants and owners alike.

Contact STBB should you have any enquiries or require assistance with a legal matter. 

STBB Claremont



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