Innehållsförteckning för November 2015 från Longevity Magazine

Where to start? This is the question. There are so many excellent, inspiring stories in this month’s edition, I know you’re going to love reading. Meet Anastacia Tomson, a young doctor who has shared her personal, touching transgender story exclusively with us on page 64. It’s an important read, because she provides a genuine and sensitive insight into her journey as a woman born in a man’s body. I hope that, by sharing her experience, Anastacia will contribute to a better understanding and empathy in society, and lessen sensationalisation of this issue. Due to our glorious South African climate, we’re more often exposed to the rays of the sun, and therefore at risk of skin cancer. South Africa has the second-highest incidence of skin cancer in the world, after Australia.…

SEXY ADS FOR FRUIT & VEG TO TAKE ON FAST FOOD “Fruits & Veggies is officially a brand now. That’s why we’ve got a shiny new logo, commercials, and even living, breathing celebrity endorsers,” says the FNV home page. FNV is a multimedia campaign that is enlisting celebrities, such as Jessica Alba and Kristen Bell, to provide competitive advertising for fruit and vegetables. CONVERSATIONS ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK @SGTCREATIONS: @longevitymag Thanks for a fantastic read. Haven’t bought a magazine in years. Was pleasantly surprised by your content. No fluff. Great! @MATZKE003: @longevitymag Lovely website! Happy to see the Alzheimer’s/ diabetes. Three articles on it. @KHOKELA: Here’s to an excellent training week, which did my entire week the world of good! Physical strength = overall strength! @PSYHOLOGISTSSA: What do you need…

CHECKING FOR TESTICULAR CANCER Comedian Tom Green wasn’t laughing when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2000, according to his autobiography, Hollywood Causes Cancer. And ice-skater-extraordinaire Scott Hamilton went into a spin in 1997 when he was diagnosed at the age of 38. Thankfully, they survived and have worked to raise awareness of this disease that affects about 8 500 men a year. Most guys are around 33 when diagnosed, but about 7% of cases occur in children and teens; only 7% occur in men older than 55. Because it’s rare – and over 90% of all newly diagnosed cases of testicular cancer will be cured – the US Preventive Services Task Force does NOT recommend regular testicular self-exams. But Dr James McKiernan, urologist in chief at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia…

The recent furore began over a New York Times article, Coca-Cola funds scientists who shift blame for obesity away from bad diets. The damage control begins with Coke’s CEO’s op-ed in the Wall Street Journal: “Our company has been accused of shifting the debate to suggest that physical activity is the only solution to the obesity crisis. There also have been reports accusing us of deceiving the public about our support of scientific research… I am disappointed that some actions we have taken to fund scientific research and health and wellbeing programmes have served only to create more confusion and mistrust. I know our company can do a better job engaging both the public-health and scientific communities – and we will. “By supporting research and non-profit organisations, we seek to…

CHRIS WALSH Chris Walsh is the owner of 360 Specialized Training, everything fitness. My greatest health asset is my body. I get to wake up in a 4x4 powered by a Ferrari engine every day and this allows me to do any fitness activity that I crave for the day. The piece of life-changing health advice I can give is to take responsibility for your health, and ultimately your life. A strong self-image is the key to happiness, and this will allow you to live life to the full. The health lesson I have learned that personally changed my life is that discipline, hard work and consistency will always get you rewards. I learnt this through sports and training. I have also learnt that if you enjoy every second of…

One of the themes I feel I have not elaborated on enough is the impact of agriculture on both our health and our environment. Agriculture, in the words of regenerative farming pioneer Alan Savory, is the worst thing we have. We lose 20 times more topsoil, which is the single most important thing in this world, than kilograms of food we produce. We have equal amounts of people dying of obesity and starvation, and women today have a one-in-eight chance of breast cancer, whereas two generations ago, it was one in 50. The easiest change to make is to eat organic food. It is nutritionally superior and is produced in a manner that heals the earth. You don’t ingest a smorgasbord of chemicals with your food. Conventionally produced food that…

The story of Dr Joseph began 40 years ago. Following a sporting accident, he sought out natural remedies as alternatives to surgery. Not only did this pathway heal him, but today his family-run company combines nature and knowledge of naturopathy with the latest research to create this high-tech natural cosmetic range. At the foundation is a carrier system into your skin with protective micro-emulsions based on liposomes, nanosomes, vegetable lipoproteins, stabilising vitamins, natural fragrances and preservatives. Free from alcohol, animal testing, artificial fragrances and colours, paraffin, paraben and silicone, this is a certified organic range that promotes the skin’s antioxidant processes and cell-regeneration functions, providing long-term improvement to metabolic processes deep in your skin. WE LOVE: • Daily Cleansing Milk with blueberry, for a refreshing, invigorating and protective effect – part…

If the first half of 2015 proved anything, it’s that the global anti-aging market shows no signs of slowing down. In 2013, the market was estimated at US$35 billion, and is likely to augment at a CAGR of around 7% during 2013-2018. The key factors driving this growth are the aging global population and the explosion of non-invasive anti-aging treatments that have a low risk profile, require little to no downtime, and are becoming increasingly affordable. The South African cosmetic industry has seen rapid strides being made over the past few years. There has also been an influx of international brands into the local market, a result of growing demand for branded products due to aggressive advertising strategies, coupled with immense influence from Hollywood in the media. Cosmeceuticals – cosmetic…

I have been working with the Slender Wonder weight-loss programme for over eight years, and can honestly say that, of all the treatments that I offer, this has to be one of the most rewarding. I often see patients who are feeling desperate, have tried almost every diet available, and yet seem to forever be yo-yoing with their weight. Slender Wonder is a medical weight-loss programme run by doctors that treats the cause of weight gain or inability to lose weight by restoring depleted leptin levels in the body. Leptin is a hormone that is directly involved with weight gain and loss, and normalising leptin levels helps patients to lose weight and maintain their weight loss over time. The Slender Wonder programme helps to get one’s metabolism working properly again.…

LASER HAIR REMOVAL According to Van Staden, gold-standard technology is the Alexandrite-755nm or Neodymium Yag-1064nm (Nd:YAG) laser. “The Alexandrite is best suited to fair skin types with dark hair, and the Nd:YAG is best suited to darker skin types. “ However, she explains that they are not only treating the typical aesthetic areas, such as a smooth back, silky bikini area or glossy underarms. “We are also treating medical conditions such as polycystic ovaries and/or hirsutism. The causes, as well as the treatments, for unwanted hair are numerous. “Although there are many lasers that are currently used, I believe the Candela Alexandrite and Nd:YAG system is the best for treating hirsutism and other medical conditions.” Van Staden says what is often overlooked is the vast difference these treatments can make…

CITRUS SALAD This delightful salad contains all of the goodness that oranges and grapefruit provide, and is perfect for keeping those summer sneezes away. The citrus segments add just the right note of sweet and sour, while the avocado adds the creaminess. The oranges actually alkalise our bodies, even though they’re acidic when we eat them. In mythology they were known as the fruit of the gods, and were probably the “golden apples” that Hercules stole. 2-3 cups mixed salad leaves1 cup mangetout1 avocado10cm cucumber, sliced into roundsSegments of 2 orangesSegments of 1 red grapefruit¼ cup chopped walnuts DRESSING: ¼ cup olive oil1 tsp preparedwholegrain mustard2 tsp lemon juice Salt and pepper totaste Scatter the salad leaves over a platter and place the mangetout on top. Peel and chop the…

HALF MOON POSE (ARDHA CHANDRASANA) This pose helps to improve balance, strengthens your abs, thighs and glutes, and tones your lower-back muscles. This is beneficial for anxiety, fatigue, menstrual pain, backache, fertility, osteoporosis, sciatica, indigestion and constipation. Start in the triangle pose. Look down towards the ground, and bend your right knee as you lower your right fingertips to the floor. Your left hand may rest on your left hip as you firm your right heel and right fingertips on the floor. As you straighten your right leg, raise your left leg so that it is parallel to the floor. Stack your hips on top of each other, to keep your hips open as you extend your left arm up. Open your chest to the ceiling as much as you…

LISTEN TO... FOR THE KIDS: The official motion picture soundtrack DESCENDANTS features original songs performed by the cast. Rotten to the Core and Evil Like Me are bound to echo in your head throughout the day. A great way to keep you young at heart. FOR NOSTALGIA: Not to be missed on this re-issue of Paul McCartney’s PIPES OF PEACE album is the special revamped track Say Say Say, featuring previously unheard vocals by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson. Considered to be one of the greatest music collaborations of all time. DVD PICK ... HOT PURSUIT  uptight and by-the-book cop (Reese Witherspoon) tries to protect the sexy widow (Sofia Vergara) of a drug boss as they race through Texas pursued by crooked cops and murderous gunmen. Hilarity and chaos ensue.…

As a family we enjoy skiing holidays, but in the past few years we have not wanted to give up our warm December holiday to spend time in freezing conditions on a ski slope in the Northern Hemisphere, with a declining rand value. We decided to look for an alternative in the Southern . While New Zealand offers skiing potential, Argentina seemed the more interesting destination. Ever since Id read about the beautiful, feisty Evita Peron as a teenager, and then seen a few polo internationals between Argentina and South Africa, I have had the on bucket list. Armed with little more than some anecdotal information on ski resorts in Argentina, we started looking online at what to do and where to go. Our research led us to the town…

I’m sitting here in my hometown of Glasgow, Scotland. It’s a Monday morning, and in spite of the fact that I’m four days away from turning 41, I’ve not felt as young for a very long time. My parents are visiting Glasgow too, so last night we had a bit of a party with all of the friends from their youth. For three hours I was transported back to a world where I was “Wee Richard”. Every person in the place treated me as if I was still a boy – and it was awesome. However, there’s more to my new-found youth than one nostalgic evening. You see, the reason why I’m in Europe at all is that my wife and I just spent the last five days at an…

Q I HAVE JUST STARTED A NEW JOB AND I’M TRYING TO BALANCE MY HOME LIFE, AS I’M A MOTHER OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHT. ALTHOUGH MY HUSBAND DOES ASSIST, HE ALSO HAS A STRESSFUL WORK LIFE. SINCE I STARTED AT MY NEW JOB, I’VE FOUND THAT I’M PUTTING ON WEIGHT. WHAT IS IT THAT CAUSES PEOPLE LIKE ME TO STRESS-EAT, AND HOW CAN I CURB IT? A When you are living in accordance with your highest values, you have greater resilience and a lower probability of distress, because you’re willing to embrace challenge and support more equally, and live with more objectivity (even-mindedness). Distress is a result of your perceptions. There’s no such thing as a stressful life; it’s imbalanced perceptions that lead you to…

The lack of awareness surrounding men’s health especially, and the indifference men typically have towards their health, has created the need to educate men on the health risks they face. November, most commonly known as Movember, is the month in which we raise awareness about the issue of men’s health. “Men often do not consider the impact of a severe illness on their financial position and their ability to provide for their families. Surprisingly, research shows that one in six men will contract cancer in their lifetimes compared to one in eight women, with testicular and prostate cancers the most common illnesses.” This is why the right life insurance policy is so important. It has to be structured around a lump-sum benefit that gets paid out in the case of…

Obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and Type-2 diabetes have reached epidemic proportions. Since it became clear that, not only do these conditions share the same underlying causes, and thus require the same treatment, but they are also 100% preventable, and in some cases entirely reversible, the term diabesity was coined. According to Dr Arien van der Merwe, author of Managing Diabetes and Related Health Challenges, more than 3,5 million South Africans are suffering from diabetes alone, and more than 150 million worldwide suffer from diabetes in conjunction with metabolic syndrome. Diabesity can be defined as a metabolic dysfunction that ranges from mild blood sugar imbalance to fully fledged Type-2 diabetes. It includes the following signs and symptoms: • Abdominal obesity (expanded waist circumference); • Dyslipidemia (high fat level in the…

I rifled slowly through the racks of dresses, feeling the different fabrics between my fingers. It had been months since I had last been in the men’s section, long enough that the memories had started to fade, but I was sure that those textiles had never felt quite as soft as these. “Good day, ma’am,” the shop assistant chimed. “Anything I can help you with?” After 29 years of being called “sir”, one might have expected that this new epithet would feel alien or foreign. The truth is, it felt anything but. For nearly three decades I had kept up the pretence, and I became quite the skilled actor. But “sir” had always jarred me, even before I was able to understand why. My upbringing, by all accounts, had been…

SMASHBOX BESTSELLERS Smashbox has taken the guesswork out of gifting. The beauty brand has partnered with artist Yago Hortal to create gorgeously packaged gift sets. The Bestsellers range is perfect for your handbag make-up kit, containing a 15ml Photo Finish Foundation Primer, mini Photo Op Eye Shadow Trio in Filter, 4ml Full Exposure Mascara in Jet Black and a mini Be Legendary Lip Gloss in Pink Lady. SKIN REPUBLIC NAIL + CUTICLE REPAIR This 20-minute treatment product consists of 10 slip-on nail masks. Containing keratin, argan oil and eight plant extracts, it promotes longer, stronger and healthier nails. The ceramides, shea butter and coconut condition and repair dry and damaged cuticles. The best part is that you can slip these little mask tips onto your fingers and continue to work,…

I have been running an aesthetic and anti-aging clinic for a number of years. Recently, I have noticed that the number of young people seeking preventive anti-aging has increased significantly. In addition to this, patients who were previously only interested in aesthetic procedures are now searching for more integrative anti-aging approaches and lifestyle changes that will deliver a better quality of life. With further research into my patients’ complaints and problems, I have concluded that one of the major and often underrated factors is environmental toxicity. This deduction explains why one of the most popular genetic tests used in my practice is Detoxigen; it identifies our individual capacity to detoxify environmental toxins, drugs used in conventional medicine, and even our own hormones. The majority of patients, whether they are young…

The world of cosmetic and aesthetic medicine is consistently striving towards better results without the need for invasive surgery. While surgery still offers the most significant results to some, its cost and extended downtime make it easier for patients to opt for non-invasive alternatives. Latest-technology thread lifts close the facelift results gap even further, making it an obvious treatment choice for patients interested in turning back the hands of time. Maximum patient benefit is achieved using the latest thread technology, comprising bidirectional and reabsorbable cones on a base of polylactic acid. This stimulates both collagen and fibrous tissue production, producing ongoing and improved results, as your skin continues to regenerate and rejuvenate while the threads dissolve, further improving the result over time. Thread lifts offer a minimally invasive application of…

8 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD BE EATING KALE Studies suggest that even spinach can’t come close to the number of nutrients that kale provides. Nutritionists from the MNT Knowledge Centre reviewed kale’s nutritional value. Based on their findings, here is an overview of the top eight health benefits of kale. ONE Kale is a great anti-inflammatory food. One cup of kale offers 10% of the RDA of omega-3 fatty acids, which help to protect against arthritis, asthma and autoimmune disorders. TWO Kale is high in iron. Per calorie, kale has more iron than beef. Iron is essential for good health, the formation of haemoglobin and enzymes, transporting oxygen to various parts of the body, cell growth, proper liver function and more. THREE Kale is high in vitamin A. Vitamin A…

With summer here, it’s time to press the reset button. A few simple changes to your diet can increase energy levels, release bloated bellies and clear water retention, in addition to nourishing glowing skin. THE POINT OF DETOXING The body has a fantastic self-cleansing system, so why is detoxification even necessary? “Detoxes can give the body a break from our sometimes unhealthy diet and lifestyle choices,” says Cape Town nutritional therapist Adri Geyser. “Our body naturally detoxifies on a daily basis; however, we want to support the process by doing a little detox about two to four times a year,” adds holistic health coach Gail Wicht. “We put a lot of stress on our system with the food we eat, what we drink, the skin products we use, the toxins…

Sarah Wilson is a New York Times best-selling author and entrepreneur. Her career as a former journalist spanned 20 years across television, radio, magazines, newspapers and online. The author of international bestsellers I Quit Sugar and I Quit Sugar For Life, she is the director and founder of IQuitSugar.com, an online wellness programme and series of bestselling ebooks. The most important thing I learnt growing up on a subsistence-living farm was to be more mindful about where our food comes from. This is where my awareness for sustainability is rooted. Living this way has made me passionate about coming up with lots of kooky tricks to prevent food from going to waste. It’s something I talk a lot about in my new book, Simplicious, which includes a stack of…

The old rule “eat less, move more” is failing to shed the extra weight in many people. Experts are debating different diets, while the media is cluttered with tips and fad diets that “weight-loss warriors” adopt without understanding the health consequences. From something as simple as a grapefruit and cabbage diet to Slender Wonder, DASH, Paleo and raw food diets, and the Tim Noakes/Banting diet (which has taken SA by storm) – the list is endless. However, the number of patients who are not able to control their weight is greater. Moreover, the confusion associated with choosing which diet to adopt is prodigious. A diet should be backed by extensive and conclusive research, if it is to be considered a viable one. For example, the research behind the HCG diet…

Cindy Crawford has proven that being a supermodel can be a life vocation. In a recent interview with Etonline.com, she expressed: “When I started modelling, I thought of it as a five-year career. And I kept tacking on five more years.” Last year, a photo was leaked of Crawford in lingerie, displaying a flawed, “real” body. The image, said to be unretouched, went viral after being leaked on Twitter from a 2013 Marie Claire Mexico cover story. Twitter blew up with comments about how amazing it was that a supermodel, someone as prolific as Crawford, a mother of two, was, well, normal. Crawford, herself, kept quiet. That is, until an interview with Elle Canada, where she disclosed that she had felt blindsided. “I was very conflicted, to be honest.” In…

A word from Graham Hill, founder of TreeHugger and TED speaker, with the goal of making sustainability mainstream (www.ted.com/talks/graham_hill_weekday_vegetarian/) About a year ago, I asked myself: ”Knowing what I know, why am I not a vegetarian?” After all, I’m one of the green guys – I care about this stuff. I knew that eating a hamburger a day can increase my risk of dying by a third. Cruelty: I knew that the 10 billion animals we raise each year for meat are raised in factory-farm conditions. Environmentally, meat, causes more emissions than all of transportation combined. And beef production uses 100 times the water that most vegetables do. Any of these angles should have been enough to convince me to go vegetarian. Yet, there I was tucking into a big…

DR HAUSCHKA’S REGENERATING SKIN CARE KIT Mature skin needs targeted care. This regenerating line of products encourages your skin’s renewal processes for a firmer, smoother, more radiant appearance. The kit is perfect for holiday travel, containing mini sizes of the Regenerating Eye Cream, Regenerating Serum, Regenerating Day Cream, Regenerating Neck and Décolleté Cream, and Regenerating Body Cream. AGE SMART OVERNIGHT RETINOL REPAIR Dermalogica’s Dr Diana Howard, vice-president of global education and research and development, recently shared her latest breakthrough, Overnight Retinol Repair, which contains the 0,5% of encapsulated retinol (pure vitamin A) that has proven to target both intrinsic (genetic) and extrinsic (environmental) aging. This is considered to be the only product of its type available in South Africa, and comes with a buffer cream so that you can customise…

Thanks to scientists, cosmetics and cosmetic treatments are getting better every year (or even every month). Research and development in the cosmetic industry has grown to such an extent that we are seeing more rapid results and deeper penetration of topically applied products, which are becoming comparable with treatments. What we are seeing is that cosmetics are not only targeting wrinkles, but will also repair your skin and focus on prevention – a concept not always well understood, but known to be the best for anti-aging. PHYSICIAN-DISPENSED COSMETICS: This industry is growing each year, with specialised skincare products being sold at doctors’ offices worldwide. Many brands have invested in a specialised range, with high-dosage active ingredients that are “prescribed” and sold by the doctor according to your skin. A panel…

ACNE SCARS The Fraxel laser was invented to deal with fine wrinkles and acne scars, and has been available in South Africa since 2006. During a treatment, it makes hundreds of tiny, invisible holes in the skin to a depth of over 1mm. This promotes new collagen production by cells called fibroblasts. The process takes about four weeks to start up, but then runs for up to six months. The treatment is fractional, meaning it treats about 25% of the skin, leaving about 75% of normal skin in between to heal the area. It is carried out using strong anaesthetic gel. Several treatments are planned at intervals of four to six weeks. Men can shave afterwards and women can apply their makeup. It is the optimum treatment for acne scarring…

PLUS THREE LUCKY READERS CAN WIN THIS ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE CLARINS RESTORATIVE REMODELLING SERUM: meets the needs of skin weakened by aging hormonal changes. Skin is lifted, facial contours redefined and the appearance of age spots reduced. FEEDBACK FROM THE TEAM: FAY GRAHAM-PARKER SALES AND ADMIN MANAGER I am amazed at how far a tiny amount goes. It feels great on my skin and have noticed a definite “lift”, and my wrinkles are less prominent. PRISCILLA MORGAN ACCOUNTS Amazing product – within days I could see an improvement in texture and appearance. I feel like I have a new face. Well done, Clarins! SUSAN GRAY ART DIRECTOR The simple facial massage steps make it easy to apply and it feels exceptionally good around the eyes. I feel rejuvenated. TRICHOTIN – HAIR…

LES NOUVELLES ESTHETIQUES SPA AWARDS The 11th annual Les Nouvelles Esthetiques Spa Awards hosted by Les Nouvelles Esthetiques South Africa in association with Les Nouvelles Esthetiques Paris, was held recentl. “Spas offer a precious refuge from a frenzied lifestyle. A time and place to relax and disconnect from the world as you recharge your mind, body and spirit, and an opportunity to bring your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual selves back into alignment. In whatever amount of time one can afford, spas provide peace, relaxation and guidance to help create a healthier lifestyle,“ says Dr Nadine de Freitas, Managing Editor, Les Nouvelles Esthetiques, South Africa. The 2015 Spa Awards winners: Best Day Spa: Aronia Day Spa, Houghton, Johannesburg. Best Hotel Spa: Touch Spa @ Seasons Sport and Spa, Magaliesberg mountains,…