Plant List for July:
Broad Beans, Beetroot, Chard/Spinach, Cape Gooseberry, Celery, Chives, Chili Peppers, Lettuce, Onion, Parsley, Peas, Potato, Radish, Tomato
July in the Garden
Plant List for July:
Broad Beans, Beetroot, Chard/Spinach, Cape Gooseberry, Celery, Chives, Chili Peppers, Lettuce, Onion, Parsley, Peas, Potato, Radish, Tomato
CHOCOLATE MACAROONS
These Macaroons are delicious and easy to make. I have
made them gluten free by adding cornflour instead of flour. They last for
weeks in an airtight container. In fact I found a few I had forgotten
about months later and they were super.
INGREDIENTS:
3 egg whites
200gms castor sugar
1 ½ tbls plain flour
25g ( ¼) cup cocoa
150gms ground almonds
METHOD:
Whisk egg whites until soft peaks form, then gradually add
sugar, whisking well after each addition to dissolve sugar, until mixture
smooth and glossy.
Sift flour and cocoa together, then stir in ground
almonds. Gently stir flour mixture into egg white mixture until just
combined. Spoon tablespoonsfuls of mixture onto a baking paper-lined oven
tray and bake at 180C for 10 – 15 mins or until crisp on the outside but still
soft in the centre. Stand macaroons for 10 mins, then transfer to a wire
rack to cool.
Makes about 24
Watch your Winter Alcohol Habits
What is better than sitting in front of a blazing fire
drinking a glass of red wine or whiskey? These seem to be common habits
that start as the nights get colder. But are you aware of what you are
doing to your body? Are you paying attention to how much you are drinking
and how you are feeling in the morning? Let’s take a look at how we can
enjoy some alcohol but not undo our health and wellness goals.
Alcohol and health
Alcohol can be detrimental to your health if it is
regularly consumed in large amounts. It can have a negative effect on
your nutritional status as it reduces the absorption and use of certain
vitamins and minerals. Studies have shown that an excessive alcohol
intake contributes to an increased risk of the development of cancer and
alcoholic liver disease. Excessive alcohol can also contribute to the
development of osteoporosis and worsen the symptoms of gout because of an
increase of uric acid production. Three or more alcohol containing drinks
a day can also increase blood pressure.
Alcohol and weight
Alcohol consumption can also lead to weight problems
because of its high calorie value (7kcal per 1g alcohol). Often high
calorie mixers are also added to the alcohol (such as soft drinks, fruit
juices). During alcohol consumption our control is often decreased
leading to overeating and drinking more. And the foods that are eaten
together with the consumption of alcohol (e.g. crisps) are often high in
fat. Alcohol also slows down fat metabolism. All of these factors
can lead to an increase of weight.
What can you do to enjoy a drink and keep it healthy?
You can enjoy a drink AND be healthy and lose weight, but
it means making some trade-offs. An alcohol unit is defined in terms of a
‘standard drink’, which has the equivalent of about 10g alcohol. Alcohol
isn’t the only component of a drink that determines its calorie content.
Some drinks are also rich in sugar (carbohydrates) and therefore contain more
calories. Beer contains more carbohydrate than spirits, but spirits are
often consumed with mixers increasing the calorie content. When alcohol
is consumed as part of a healthy eating plan, the guideline is no more than two
drinks every day for women and no more than three drinks every day for
men.
An
alcohol unit:
125ml
of dry white or red wine or champagne
25ml
of spirits
1
can of beer or cider
If you need to control your calorie intake, you can
exchange one carbohydrate serving/unit for one alcoholic unit. Beer,
cider and caloric rich mixers need an extra carbohydrate serving/unit for their
carbohydrates.
Tips for cutting down on your alcohol intake
•
Make
a decision about what you will be drinking before you go out – when you have a
plan, it is easier not to get carried away!
•
When
you arrive at a function or restaurant ask for water first (make it sparkling
for variation) and only start with the alcohol at a later stage
•
Make
a wise decision about WHAT you will be drinking – sometimes it is better to
have a spirit with a ‘free’ cooldrink (e.g. vodka and coke light or whiskey and
water) instead of wine – if bottles of wine are being ordered, your glass will
be constantly topped up and you easily lose track of how much you are drinking!
•
If
you do want to drink wine, ‘dilute’ it with (sparkling or soda) water, ice
cubes or sprite zero, and rather order your wine by the glass than ordering a
bottle – make the excuse that you feel like a different wine
•
Similarly
with beer or cider rather have a shandy
•
Get
into the mind-set that you are going out to socialize with your friends, not to
drink! You do not need alcohol to have a good time
•
Have
an event planned for the following day – book a session with your trainer at
the gym or organize a run with friends – you will WANT to drink less as doing
these activities without a hangover is so much more pleasant
•
Be
the designated driver!
Kim Hofmann RD(SA)
Phone: 021 674 4666
Cell: 084 206 2715
E-mail: mailto:kimh.rd@mweb.co.za
Website: http://www.nourishdieticians.co.za
Aging Pets
It seems that these days people are living to a ripe old age, we are healthier and more active for longer and, because of the advances in veterinary medicine our pets are too! So here are some tips on how you can help your pet get the most out of the golden years!
HOW OLD IS OLD?
We generally divide a pet’s life into four stages:
paediatric, adult, senior and geriatric. Depending on the breed of animal the
time the pet experiences these stages will vary. For example, large breed dogs
tend to live a shorter life and are considered ‘senior’ at around 5-6 years of
age, whereas smaller breeds are considered ‘senior ’between the ages of
7-8yres. For cats its around 7-11 years.
It is at this senior stage that the body begins to show the
subtle signs of aging that often go undetected by the owner.
CHRONIC DISEASE AND THE HEALTH CHECK
At this senior stage of your pet’s life there are many
underlying health issues, such as the kidney disease, heart disease and
arthritis, that can be picked up by screening at a general health check. If
your pet seems to be ‘slowing down’ or isn’t eating as well as he used to don’t
just accept this as normal as it may be suffering from early arthritis or just
need a good teeth clean!
Getting your senior dog or cat checked allows us to help
your pet have the healthiest happiest old age possible.
WE ARE WHAT WE EAT!
Good nutrition is just as important for your senior pet as
it is for your puppy.
As your pet ages you may find that it is no longer as active
as it used to be. Studies have shown that the energy requirements of your pet
decreases from 7 years onwards and it is often at this stage in your pet’s life
that weight gain becomes a concern. Obesity is detrimental to your pet’s
wellbeing at any life stage but as your pet ages, being overweight adds further
stress to heart, lungs and arthritic joints. In its geriatric years (from about
13 years onwards) your pet may become underweight due to muscle loss and
reduced digestibility of nutrients such as protein and fats.
Therefore, it is
important to feed a diet that has been scientifically formulated to take into
consideration the nutritional needs of your aging pet. Many diets are available
that aid in the control of diabetes, arthritis, kidney disease, thyroid
deficiency and cognitive disorder to name but a few.
GIVE ME A SMILE!
One of the saddest things we see in practice is pets that
are extremely loved but neglected because they are OLD! They no longer get
groomed or bathed but …..
One of the worst areas of neglect that we see is your pets
teeth!
Not all dogs and cats have dental problems but by the time
they reach the senior years many do need a good tooth clean. Your dog or cat’s
breath should not smell bad all the time! When the teeth are bad (such as in
the picture above) and covered in tartar the mouth is full of bacteria which
your pet’s immune system must try to combat on a daily basis. This does affect
the wellbeing of your pet!
So next time your aging dog decides he doesn’t want to go
for that run or your cat no longer wants to jump onto the kitchen counter book
an appointment with your vet!
47 Kenilworth Road, Cape Town
kenvet@telkomsa.net
Telephone: 021-671-5018
47 Kenilworth Road, Cape Town
kenvet@telkomsa.net
Telephone: 021-671-5018
Bipolar disorder
Psychiatric disorder is more common than we may think. One such common disorder, which could be linked to our increasingly busy, isolated and stressful lives, is bipolar disorder. What is bipolar disorder, what happens in the brain, and how do friends and loved ones help a person who may suffer with it?
By Dr Samantha J. Brooks Ph.D.
Bipolar disorder – a mood disorder characterised by polar
extremes of mood – was once known as “manic-depressive disorder”, which sheds light on the symptoms of this often debilating psychiatric condition.While it is normal to experience fluctuating periods of happiness and sadness associated with usual life circumstances, a
person diagnosed with bipolar disorder will have triggered swings from extreme
happiness and high levels of energy, to extreme sadness and hopelessness,
within a matter of hours or days. Extreme happiness presents as mania, such
that a person becomes excessively active in behaviour and speech, finds it
difficult to sleep or sit still without fidgeting, and may have racing thoughts
and ideas that fly quickly through the mind in illogical succession. A person in the manic phase may take more
risks, such as being more sexually active, taking drugs or spending more
money. Compare the manic phase to
extreme sadness, where a person may experience debilitating depression and
limited energy. During the depressive
phase a person may sleep all day and feel as if everything in their world is
hopeless, with no motivation to change things. Both extremes are like a see-saw
for the individual with bipolar disorder, who will likely experience no sense
of organisation or control over their life. The extremes of bipolar disorder
are associated with fluctuating neurotransmitter levels in the brain – a
significant rise in dopamine levels for mania and a significant drop in
serotonin and opioid levels for depression.
Less extreme versions of this debilitating condition – that often see
people eventually losing their jobs, becoming withdrawn and not engaging in
everyday activities – are known as hypomanic states.
It is important to remember that victims of domestic and
emotional abuse may appear – or are led to believe that they are – behaving in
a manner akin to bipolar disorder, and if this is happening to you it is vital
to seek urgent support. A correct diagnosis of bipolar disorder does not stem
from a disgruntled partner, an ex or a psychopathic boss, who may gain pleasure
in causing upset and confusion – a manipulative tactic known in modern parlance
as gaslighting – but rather stems from meeting strict criteria in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Version 5 (DSM-5). The DSM-5 can be relied
upon – as the bible of psychiatrists – to determine real cases of psychiatric
disorder, so that the individual sufferer can receive vital treatment (such as
pharmacotherapy or counselling) to improve their quality of life. The DSM-5 recognises four main types of
bipolar disorder. The first is Bipolar I
Disorder, where manic episodes last for at least 7 days and severely consume
the energy resources of the individual, to the point where they may need
hospitalisation. Depressive symptoms usually co-occur for around 2 weeks and
may also be present during episodes of mania.
The second is Bipolar II Disorder, which is defined as a successive
pattern of unprovoked depressive symptoms and hypomanic states that cycle for
at least 7 days, and might even surprisingly occur at the same time. The third is Cyclothymic Disorder (also
called cyclothymia), defined by numerous periods of hypomanic and depressive
episodes lasting consecutively for at least 2 years (1 year in children and
adolescents). Finally, Unspecified Bipolar Disorder is a catch-all category,
where a person may exhibit episodes of mania or depression, but not usually
within the same timescales as the main diagnoses.
What then, are the neuroscientific bases of a DSM-5
diagnosis of bipolar disorder – in other words, which brain regions are more
activated in the MRI scanner? Recent studies of bipolar disorder have
demonstrated, particularly in response to emotional stimuli like faces, that an
over-active connectivity occurs between the amygdalae and prefrontal cortex –
brain regions associated with arousal/fear and goal-directed behaviours
respectively. This suggests that people with bipolar disorder may not be able
to effectively self-regulate their emotional responses to their
environment. Such hyperactivity in the
brain may also be associated with learned responses that began during
significant past trauma, or may even be due to the increasingly stressful, busy
and socially-isolated lives we lead today.
For example, chronic trauma, stress and social isolation (e.g. due to
long working hours and parental separation) may cause a downregulation
(reduction) of opioid receptors in the brain – the locks to the pain-relieving
brain hormone keys. Opioids are the brain’s natural defense to pain – including
emotional pain – and so if chronic emotional pain is experienced, opioids may
become less potent over time. We also
release opioids and other hormones, such as oxytocin, during intimate
pair-bonding. If emotional and/or
physical abuse is chronically experienced, a person may begin to exhibit more
and more signs akin to emotional dysregulation and bipolar disorder.
And so, if you are a friend or family of a person who may be
exhibiting manic or depressive coupled with periods of low
energy and hopelessness, in a cyclical pattern over long periods, with no
obvious cause, it might be useful to do the following. First, gently communicate with the person, to
try to establish if there are serious, underlying causes for this behaviour,
such as physical or emotional abuse (don’t simply assume that they are suffering
from bipolar disorder). Be prepared that
the person may not wish to open up immediately, but be supportive and
accepting. If no obvious cause for the
behaviour is established, then the second step might be to suggest the person
visit a psychotherapist, to talk through with a trained professional who can
establish the cause. Finally, with the
help of the therapist, a formal diagnosis for the behaviour can be established
and treated, usually with a combination of suitable medication and further
psychotherapy.
The ultimate take-home message is this: don’t be quick to
give a layman’s diagnosis to a person who may exhibit symptoms akin to bipolar
disorder, as there may be other reasons for their behaviour. However, if a formal diagnosis by a trained professional
is established, a person suffering with bipolar disorder has a wealth of
treatment options available to him or her, that can enable them to continue
living a fullfilling, enjoyable life! We
must always remember: life is too short and too precious to cause - or
exacerbate - human suffering!
Dr Samantha Brooks is a neuroscientist at the UCT Department
of Psychiatry and Mental Health, specialising in the neural correlates of
impulse control from eating disorders to addiction. For more information on neuroscience at UCT
and to contact Samantha, see www.drsamanthabrooks.com. Note: Images royalty
free, courtesy of https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki.
The future is homes that are smaller, smarter and greener
Affordability, convenience and security are the key factors
driving a distinct buyer preference at the moment for smaller homes packed with
“green” features and “smart” technologies.
That’s the word from, SA’s
biggest bond originator, who says that affordability remains a serious concern
for most buyers because they are still labouring under relatively heavy debt
loads and worried about rising taxes and the increasing cost of food, fuel and
utilities. “SA consumers are much more conservative spenders than they used to
be and really careful now about getting in over their heads.
“Consequently, while the banks are keen to lend to
homebuyers and our bond approval rate is at 80%, the highest level since the
2008/ 09 financial crash, the latest statistics from Absa show that the total
of outstanding household mortgage balances is currently growing more slowly
than it did last year. The year-on-year growth rate is down from 3,6% in
November 2017 to 3,1% currently.”
This does not mean, he says, that South Africans are buying
fewer homes – only that they are buying less expensive homes. “This is
confirmed by our own statistics*, which show that more than three-quarters
(78%) of the bonds granted in the past 12 months have been for less than R1,5m
– and that 60% were actually for less than R1m.
“In general terms, these cheaper homes are also smaller, as
indicated by recent FNB research showing that the average size of new homes
being built in SA has shrunk from a peak of 203sqm in 1974 to around 162sqm now
– and that accounts in large measure for the current slow growth in home prices
(2,9% year-on-year) in spite of a drop in the prime interest rate and increased
sales volumes.”
However, Botha says, affordability is not the only reason
for the increased popularity of smaller, cheaper homes. “Changing lifestyles
also play a big role. Household sizes are shrinking, for example, so buyers
generally need fewer bedrooms. Many homeowners now are also short of time so
don’t want a large garden or home to maintain. Traffic congestion is also
driving a significant shift from the large homes of the suburbs to smaller
homes in urban centres.
“In the SA context it must be said that smaller properties
are usually also easier and less expensive to secure, and the effect of this
concern can clearly be seen not only in the increasing number of estate
developments, but also in the steady growth of Sectional Title in SA over the past
30 years. In the late 1980s, secure sectional title developments accounted for
only 6% of new builds in the country, but today they account for 27% of all new
homes.”
The quest for greater security and personal safety, he says,
is also one of the main factors driving the current rapid uptake of “smart”
home technologies in SA. “Using these technologies, owners can monitor their
alarm systems and security cameras via their smart-phones even when they are
not at home, photograph any intruders, open or close garage doors and gates,
and turn lights on and off to make it seem as though there is someone at
home.
“This is definitely appealing to SA homeowners and according
to Statista, the overall value of the smart home automation market in SA is
expected to top US$60m by 2020. Meanwhile, there is already sufficient demand
for local security companies such as Fidelity ADT to have introduced
security-focused smart home packages.”
And finally, says Botha, the trend towards smaller homes is
being driven by a growing awareness among SA homebuyers of what it costs in
environmental terms to run a larger home. “Cape Town residents have seen, for
example, how much water can be saved just through more conscious usage, while
the threat of renewed rolling blackouts this winter is causing many others to
revisit the drawbacks of electricity derived from fossil fuels.
“As a result there is rising demand for smaller homes that
use less energy and water and are already fitted with ‘green’ equipment such as
heat pumps, solar panels and rainwater tanks. And some of the banks now even
have special home loan options for owners who want to retrofit such ‘green’
systems, because doing so definitely adds value to their properties.”
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
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
Permission to Braai
One day you wake up and think that you're finally going to
build that built in braai you've wanted for years. It should be easy, choose a
spot, grab the bricks, cement it all together...
However, there is more to a built-in braai than just
throwing bricks together. There are all sorts of things you need to consider -
the height of the flue, spark inhibitors, the proximity to roofing timbers,
wind, rain, heat, planning permission, and so on.
One of the most frequently asked questions is: "Do I
need planning permission for a built in braai?"
Well, yes and no. A built in braai is normally classified as
"minor building work" and whilst you do not need to submit plans, The
National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act (No. 103 of 1977)
states that no person may erect, alter, add to, or convert any building without
prior approval by the local authority. So as long as you comply with the
"minor building work" regulations and have received permission from
the local authority's building control officer, you do not need to submit any
plans.
If your braai does not fall under "minor building
work" then you will need to submit plans for approval before building
commences. If you are not sure which category your built-in braai will fall
under, it is probably best to check with your council just to be sure. If your
braai is being built against a boundary wall, in most parts of SA, your
neighbours' consent will be required. This can be done by informing them in
writing. Keep in mind that they might object if the smoke will interfere with
their own property and the enjoyment thereof.
Because the regulations can be a bit of a minefield and no
case is the same, it is probably best to contact your local building inspectors
for advice on where and how to begin. From there you can go to the planning
department of your local municipality. If plans are needed, by law, only
building plans from professionals registered with the South African Council for
the Architectural Profession will be accepted. This may seem like a complicated
task, but you won't regret the fees when you have peace of mind that the person
you've hired has sound knowledge of the regulations and you can get everything
right the first-time round.
Happy braai building!
Norgarb Properties Agent Andre Ter Moshuizen who specialises in the Claremont area, shares some household tips and handy home hints with you every month. Read more of his articles here. [https://harfield-village.blogspot.co.za/search?q=andre]
Andre Ter Moshuizen: 082 602 1367 | andre@norgarb.co.za | www.norgarbproperties.co.za [http://www.norgarbproperties.co.za/]
www.harfield-village.co.za
www.facebook.com/harfield.village.community
Andre Ter Moshuizen: 082 602 1367 | andre@norgarb.co.za | www.norgarbproperties.co.za [http://www.norgarbproperties.co.za/]
www.harfield-village.co.za
www.facebook.com/harfield.village.community
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