Blog Layout
Let Food Be Your Cold Medicine
Jun 26, 2019
THE LATEST NEWS FROM OUR INSURERS
Let Food Be Your Cold Medicine
As we head towards July here in New Zealand, we are heading into our coldest month of the year and an expected increase in winter illnesses.
The wisdom 'let food be thy medicine' dates back almost 3000 years, and the importance of this statement is no less important now than it was then. Food has the ability to help support us through these times when common winter illnesses such as colds and flu's, sniffles, coughs, chapped skin and the winter blues abound for too many.
While there are many over-the-counter medications that try to band-aid these conditions, there are many more food-based options available to help strengthen the body. These can help treat the basis of the problem rather than just the symptoms. Preserving and improving your nutritional status is vital for a strong immune system. It is the best defence against winter illnesses. Eating food that is rich in nutrients is the best way to do this. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient when it comes to an immune system that is firing on all cylinders. Vitamin C is used by the body to signal the production of white blood cells to protect us when foreign bacteria or viruses enter the body. It is also present in the fluid lining in our lungs and mucous membranes, where the antioxidant activity helps prevent inflammation and damage by bacteria and viruses. It is also crucial for collagen production in the skin, something we also want to support over the winter months.
Boost Your Vitamin C
Vitamin C cannot be stored in the body so we need to consume it every day. Eat a piece of fruit or add lemon, orange or grapefruit to your morning juice. Incorporate leafy greens and broccoli into stir fries to help boost your daily intake of vitamin C. Heat and light and the length of time from a food being harvested decreases vitamin C, so grab what you can from your local farmers’ market. Supplementing vitamin C can also be highly beneficial.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an important nutrient for bone health, immunity, cancer prevention and mood regulation. Its role in bone health is to support the uptake of calcium and phosphate, which are bone-strengthening minerals. Over the winter months we often find ourselves wrapped up warm with less exposure to the sun, except for our hands and faces. As the sun’s action on the cholesterol in our skin is our major source of vitamin D it is important to spend a little time each day exposed to the sun and to increase our food sources of vitamin D. These include some oily fish, organic butter and eggs (the vitamin D is found in the yolks).
Superstar Zinc
Zinc is a superstar nutrient when it comes to immunity. This mineral is critical for a large number of processes in the body including wound healing, sex hormone balance, appetite, appropriate immune responses, and great digestion, just to name a few. Too many people today don’t consume adequate dietary zinc while others consume a diet that is too high in substances that interfere with the absorption of this vital mineral. Poor zinc status can lead to poor blood glucose management, sugar cravings, loss of appetite, poor resistance to infection and lowered fertility. Oysters, beef and lamb are good sources of zinc. In the plant family, seeds contain zinc however a much smaller amount is present. If you take a zinc supplement, it is best taken before bed to support great absorption.
Bone Broths
Your grandma was right about chicken soup. Bone broths contain calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, and amino acids, all nutrients that support adrenal health, the nervous system, bones, teeth and nails, as well as the immune system. They are budget friendly and are a nourishing way to support people who feel depleted in nutrients or energy. Try making a broth from organic, grass-fed beef or lamb, or organic chicken bones with root vegetables and herbs and spices. Use the broth as a base for a vegetable soup or drink it on its own.
You can find the article here
At Ask we focus on what you need and help you understand what your insurance will do for you.
If you need help with arranging insurance cover in Christchurch then give us a call or get in touch.
Just Ask
A study co-authored by Dr Caroline Shaw from the University of Otago and Professor Alistair Woodward at the University of Auckland has found that Wellington is New Zealand’s ‘fittest city'.
Wellingtonians, it was found, walk more and take more trips by public transport than other New Zealanders.
The ‘Fittest City’ study has been released as part of the New Zealand launch of the world’s largest health and wellbeing programme, AIA Vitality.
“New Zealand cities vary widely, not only in geography, but also in urban planning and transport decision-making. There are consequences for population health, greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution,” says Professor Alistair Woodward.
Levels of walking, cycling and public transport were used to estimate the effects on health and the environment in the six largest New Zealand cities.
Wellingtonians, it was found, walk more and take more trips by public transport than other New Zealanders.
The ‘Fittest City’ study has been released as part of the New Zealand launch of the world’s largest health and wellbeing programme, AIA Vitality.
“New Zealand cities vary widely, not only in geography, but also in urban planning and transport decision-making. There are consequences for population health, greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution,” says Professor Alistair Woodward.
Levels of walking, cycling and public transport were used to estimate the effects on health and the environment in the six largest New Zealand cities.
The simplest answer is that you have a greater chance of injury or death from unnatural causes and the higher that chance the more expensive your premium could be. But don't panic we can help!
As insurance brokers it is our job to find the policy that is best for you and your circumstances and we do our best to make your health insurance journey simple and clear for you, in a language you understand.
With that in mind we have put together a list of the common terms you will find in your insurance policy documents that you might want to understand a little better.
With that in mind we have put together a list of the common terms you will find in your insurance policy documents that you might want to understand a little better.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in New Zealand women and The Breast Cancer Foundation New Zealand’s mission is to stop women dying of it.
Fidelity Life, New Zealand’s largest locally owned and operated life insurer and two-time ANZIIF New Zealand Life Insurance Company of the Year, has been awarded the Accessibility Tick.
Having Cancer Cover can help assist you in recovering both physically & financially!!!
Although it remains one of the most common and devastating diseases – cancer isn’t a death sentence by any means. In New Zealand, two-thirds of all serious illness claims are for cancer. Cancer insurance can pay you a lump sum of money if you’re diagnosed with cancer to help you recover physically and financially.
The ASK Team provide advice about Life Insurance, Trauma Insurance, Income Protection, Mortgage Repayment Protection, Health Insurance, Total & Permanent Disablement.
To safeguard your family in the event your unable to work, it's important to protect your income.
Apart from our health our income is our largest asset, something we can't do without!
Easy and quick access to mental health diagnosis and support has been added to the range of services that Kiwis can call on from Accuro Health Insurance.
About 47% of New Zealanders will experience a mental illness and/or addiction at some time in their lives, with one in five people affected in any one year.
An insurance broker is a professional adviser, an expert in understanding insurance and risk management. Our job is to find you the right insurance with the right Insurer and help you with any claims. But responsibility for the risk associated with your policy sits with the insurer.
In practice this means that while we work to pair you with the Insurer who’s right for you and work with you if you have to claim, we’re not the ones who pay out when a claim is made.
Life insurance is one of those topics which can seem pretty daunting! There are so many different types of cover out there and it can feel like a never ending list of things to consider. That's why it’s always a good idea to talk to an adviser for help understanding your options - but more about that later! For now, here is a breakdown of what you need to know.
