Staying Healthy: Weight Loss Tips

Trying to lose weight? Here are some info and resources that can help.

- Take Vitamin D. Obesity has been linked by research to low levels of Vitamin D, which acts as a support for metabolism and insulin secretion. It also promotes healthy absorption of calcium and phosphorous and improves the communications of cells throughout your body. Vitamin D is different from other vitamins as it is the only one the human body can manufacture itself with the aid of exposure to sunlight. Sources other than supplements include milk and fish such as salmon or sardines.

- Replace refined sugars. More natural alternatives include honey, which helps your body digest fats more effectively. If possible, change from consuming white bread, white rice and white pasta to brown bread with grains, whole grain pastas and brown rice.

- Ensure you aren't potassium deficient. Potassium deficiency produces fatigue and muscle weakness, which can prevent you from burning the calories you need to start dropping the kgs. Potassium also has numerous other benefits to your body including brain function, bone health and maintaining healthy blood pressure.

Citrus fruits are an important source of potassium, as well as avocados, bananas, grains, salmon and chicken.

- Tracking the amount of calories consumed versus the amount burned is surprisingly fun and motivating. Aim to burn 500 more than your intake for the day to produce effective results. A great source of information on most foods and their calorie count is here, and a handy tool for calculating the amount you've burned is this calorie burn calculator. I've used both in the past and they definitely help. Weight loss for me just doesn't have enough numbers to it beyond the scale. Knowing for sure what you've taken in and what you've burned gives you a sense of progress and accomplishment even when you can't see the results visually straight away.

- Become an '80/20' eater. If you can make 80% of the foods you consume beneficial healthy foods and keep 20% reserved for the fun stuff you're craving, you can achieve a good balance which will promote weight loss if maintained.

- Sleep a lot. No, seriously. Sleep has a massive impact on your body, weight loss, storing fat and your general weight maintenance. Do your best to get at least 8 hours a night.

Don't set that alarm too early. Good sleep is imperative for weight loss programs.

- Do your level best to snack on low calorie foods. Packets of chips and the like can be tempting, but even the small ones have 200+ calories. This is a cool and handy list of foods only have 40 calories or less. Try some of them out.

Other Entries in the Staying Healthy Series:

How to Lose that troublesome belly fat.

The awesome health benefits of honey.

Can chocolate reduce the risk of diabetes?

Insurance MythBusters: "You have to be critically ill to claim on your Trauma Insurance"

I hope everyone out there had a fantastic Christmas and New Year. The weather was disappointingly a little iffy, but the spirit of the occasion endures beyond surface level things like that, so I hope you valued your time with family and friends.

Mythbusters is one of my favorite shows. Science, interesting facts, big explosions and old wives tales being put to the test. What's not to love? I brought it up in the office and asked our team what they thought the biggest myths are regarding insurance that are out there, and this one was among the first they mentioned (stay tuned for more!).

Busting insurance myths may not involve as many cool explosions, but they could result in an explosion of cash in your wallet!

A lot of people think that Trauma insurance cover means just that. 'Only for significant trauma'. Significant trauma as in, life threatening or critical ailments and conditions. Certainly these conditions are usually covered, but there are often far more that you can claim for that most people are completely unaware of.

Conditions such as deafness and procedures such as an angioplasty are mostly not critical conditions, and yet you can sometimes make a claim for them just as readily as the others. The actual conditions that you can claim for may differ depending on the insurance provider, but we've had many people we're connected to surprised when they've brought up a condition, and we ask them if they've claimed for it. One in particular had a cancerous mole removed from their arm. He didn't think much of it and during our annual review with them, he just brought it up to us in casual conversation. He was more than happy when we consulted and found it met the conditions on their policy for a claim they didn't even know he was entitled to!

So if you do have a Trauma Policy, take a close look at the policy wordings so that you'll know exactly what's covered and what's not (it can differ between insurers and between plans). OR, if the confusing technical language is a bit too much for you, good news. We have a user friendly, easy to understand brochures that can help. Just let us know and we can send you one out free of charge. If you have any other questions, let our expert admin staff know.

Conclusion: Squarely busted. There are literally all sorts of conditions and procedures that are not critical or life threatening that may be covered under your Trauma Insurance. So if you don't have a policy and this belief was holding you back, don't let it any longer. If you do have a policy, take a look at precisely what's covered. You might have a pleasant surprise in your future.

Merry Xmas to All

It's that time of year again, and everyone at Spratt Financial Services would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Our office phone line will be closed between the 23rd December and the 6th January, but still feel free to email anytime at enquiry@sprattfinancial.co.nz. It should be another big year in the world of insurance and investment and we look forward to keeping you posted with what you need to know.

When Insurance Works - Our Recent Claims

Insurance is sometimes regarded as protecting against something that's never really going to happen to us. We can however assure you that couldn't be further from the truth. We help manage our clients' claims all the time and we see that critical illness is a real and ever present danger. We've in the past had 16 claims in a single month, and we manage several dozen long term claims, some that have been running for as long as nine years.

Here is a section of our processed claims during 2013. 

Trauma/Critical Illness Claims

1. Bowel Cancer.
2. Loss of Hearing
3. Breast Cancer
4. Leukaemia
5. Cancer (Undefined)
6. Cancer (Undefined)
7. Cancer (Undefined)
8. Parkinson's Disease 

Income Protection Claims

1. Mental Health
2. Severe back Injury
3. Chemical Sensitivity
4. Automobile Accident
5. Stroke
6. Post concussion syndrome.
7. Back Injury
8. Heart failure/Cardiomyopathy
9. Lung Cancer
10. Prostate Cancer
11. Stroke
12. Hand Injury/Surgery
13. Wrist Injury/Surgery
14. Mental Health
 

Life Insurance Claims

1. Cardiac Condition
2. Cancer (Undefined)
3. Cardiac Arrest
4. Cancer (Undefined)
5. Bowel Cancer
6. Cardiac Arrest
7. Cancer (Undefined)
 

Permanent Disability Cover (TPD) Claims

1. Pneumococcal Meningitis
2. Post Concussive Epilepsy
3. Severe Hip Injury

Other Claims

1. Business Overheads Cover: Hand Injury/Diverticulities
2. Waiver of Premium: Back/Neck Injury

Sometimes, clients are unaware of the conditions of their cover and don't make a claim when they in fact, could. We're here anytime to take a look for you and answer all your claims questions as well as manage your claims and take the stress out of your hands. If you need help with any claims issues, don't hesitate to get in contact with us anytime. 

Have any claims or insurance questions you have answered anytime.

Special Offer for Teachers (APPA).

We at Spratt Financial are more than proud to announce our new Insurance, Investment and Saving deal for teachers and educators, in association with the APPA (Auckland Primary Principals Association).

Take a look at more information on our official website here.

All the aspects that our specialised Teachers Insurance Scheme (TIS) can give to you. Pick and choose as many or as few as you need.

We value New Zealand's great teachers and school faculty members highly, and we're glad to give them the best possible deals on their insurance and investment needs. If this sounds like you, don't hesitate to make an enquiry today.

Contact us for more information.

Visit the official website of the APPA.

Sovereign's New Trauma Insurance

Sovereign Insurance, one of New Zealand's foremost insurance providers, is launching a new Trauma Insurance policy called Progressive Care.

It differs from traditional Trauma Insurance policies in that it is introducing a new severity based payout system, intended to mitigate costs and allow the insurance to be offered at a lower cost to customers. With Progressive Care, an impressive number of medical conditions are covered (62 in total), however, based on the severity of the illness suffered the payout can range from between 10% of the agreed sum assured all the way to the full amount.

Sovereign's New Progressive Care is aiming to be a more affordable trauma product.

The Progressive Care product would payout less overall, but would be more accessible to people who cannot afford current Trauma Insurance premiums, which tend to be higher than other forms of insurance such as Life or Total Permanent Disablement. If people don't like the idea of having insurance that could result in only a partial payout, the traditional forms of Trauma and Critical Illness cover will remain available from numerous sources on the marketplace.

Any questions? Contact us for more information.

Visit the official website of Sovereign Insurance.

Kiwisaver Advice

Kiwisaver has been a hot button topic around the internet lately. Here are a collection of articles designed to keep you up to date and give advice on Kiwisaver and how to get the most out of it.

1. What is Kiwisaver? - An A-Z guide. - Sorted

2. Helen Twose answers Kiwisaver Questions - NZ Herald

3. Diane Clement reflects on Poor Kiwisaver Decisions - NZ Herald

4. Buying your first home with Kiwisaver - Housing New Zealand

5. More Kiwisaver Questions Answered - NZ Herald

6. One Third of Kiwisavers Don't Know Balance - NZ Herald

If you feel you need more personalized advice relating to Kiwisaver or other investments, our Authorized Financial Adviser is standing by to help anytime. Give us a call on 09 307 8200 or email at enquiry@sprattfinancial.co.nz.

The Importance of Reviews

The New Year is a time of change and a time for resolutions. Each year, if possible, we like to take a look at our clients' insurance to see if there's anything that can be improved and we urge them to do the same thing. Here's why.

In the insurance business, things are in flux regularly. New products, new conditions and new regulations come and go in the marketplace, meaning that often we can find you are now paying too much for your insurance or can improve your cover. This year for instance, a number of new Southern Cross health insurance plans are in the works and Tower Life and Health Insurance has changed hands, with the Life branch now owned by Fidelity Life and the Health branch now owned by Newcastle Industrial Benefits. (NIB).

People’s lives are in flux as well.  Perhaps you have a new job, are acquiring your first home or are thinking of having children? Your insurance needs will thus change, and there may be better and more effective options out there for you to cover your new needs. We urge you to make sure your cover is up to date, and that you have the best current deals the marketplace has to offer.

Whether you need to expand or simplify your insurance, whether you're an existing client or not, we can review your insurances free of charge with no obligation.

Visit our official website for more information.

Meet our team.

Staying Healthy: The Health Benefits of Honey

One thing that insurance brokers often do not focus on (and perhaps should) is how to keep their clients and their potential clients healthy. The healthier you are, the less loading you will have on your life and medical insurance policies and the cheaper your insurance will be. More importantly, staying healthy is just as important in all your other areas of life; work, play and achieving your goals. So we're putting together a series that will keep you updated on the latest medical discoveries and advice on how to keep yourself in tip top shape.

First off, since everyone usually kicks up up a stink about unrealistic and untasty diets that health professionals sometimes demand, here's something we all like. Honey!

Honey has been around thousands of years, with even ancient cultures apparently aware of its health benefits.

The use of honey in medicine and treatment goes back a long way. Four thousands years plus actually, when honey was used in ayurvedic medicine by early societies to balance material impurities in the body. In Ancient Egypt, honey was applied to treat wounds, there is mention of it in the Quran and in the records of the Ancient Greeks as a food which could improve longevity. Now, modern science is coming to the same conclusion.

Here is a typical honey profile, according to BeeSource:

• Fructose: 38.2%
• Glucose: 31.3%
• Maltose: 7.1%
• Sucrose: 1.3%
• Water: 17.2%
• Higher sugars: 1.5%
• Ash: 0.2%
• Other/undetermined: 3.2%

The slightly acidic pH level of honey (between 3.2 and 4.5) is what helps prevent the growth of bacteria, while its antioxidants get rid of free radicals.

So how can honey help?

- There is anecdotal evidence of its efficacy in treating burns and wounds.

- Alleviating allergies - one conducted study showed that it was significantly more effective than a placebo at alleviating ocular allergy.

- A study published in the journal Microbiology revealed that Manuka honey is effective at treating chronic wound infections and may even prevent them from developing in the first place.

- A study published in the journal Pediatrics, which compared honey to placebo in helping children with cough during night time, found that honey was superior.

- Honey is great for your skin and can be used to smooth and remove skin impurities.

- Honey is all natural and a healthier dietary option than synthesised, artificial spreads.

Other articles in our Staying Healthy series:

How to lose that troublesome belly fat.

Can chocolate help prevent obesity and diabetes?

Weight loss tips from the experts.

Health Insurance Top Claims 2013

In the past week, Southern Cross has released the statistics for the top five claim areas for men and women in each age band between 20 and 70.

Southern Cross Chief Executive Peter Tynan explains that the results show that people who are taking out health insurance need to check to ensure their policies cover what they need. Each age band was highly different in the type of surgeries or medical procedures that were most common, and knowing this information should inform your health insurance decisions.

Males between the ages of 20-30, whom Peter remarked often felt invincible and in our experience are the group that neglects health cover the most, nonetheless required claims most often for hernia repair, colonoscopy and excision of skin lesions. Women of the same age range claimed most often for freeing abdominal adhesions or ovarian cyst surgeries. These costly procedures required by people so young demonstrate the costs of being un-insured or underinsured, and we urge everyone to bear this in mind. I myself thank my lucky stars I got health insurance when I was young (or more accurately, my conscientious mother insisted on signing me up) because I've actually had to claim for a colonoscopy and a surgery, as well as many specialist visits after the age of 20 which I could never have foreseen.

It is also crucial that you think about medical insurance while you're healthy, as the presence of pre-existing conditions makes things very awkward, complicated and expensive, whilst it is clear sailing if you don't have any at the time of taking out your insurance.

Top 5 procedures, 20-29 age band

Women: Removal of teeth, endometriosis surgery, freeing abdominal adhesions, ovarian cystectomy, excision skin lesion.

Men: Removal of teeth, excision skin lesion, septoplasty, hernia repair, colonoscopy.

Top 5 procedures, 30-39

Women: Endometriosis surgery, hysterectomy, excision skin lesion, cholecystectomy, removal of teeth.

Men: Removal of teeth, colonoscopy, excision skin lesion, hernia repair, septoplasty.

Top 5 procedures, 40-49

Women: Hysterectomy, hysteroscopy, excision skin lesion, colonoscopy, endometriosis surgery.

Men: Colonoscopy, excision skin lesion, hip replacement, hernia repair, coronary angioplasty.

Top 5 procedures, 50-59

Women: Colonoscopy, hysterectomy, hip replacement, excision skin lesion, knee replacement.

Men: Hip replacement, colonoscopy, excision skin lesion, coronary angioplasty, hernia repair.

Top 5 procedures, 60-69

Women: Knee replacement, hip replacement, colonoscopy, cataract, excision skin lesion.

Men: Knee replacement, hip replacement, excision skin lesion, coronary angioplasty, colonoscopy.

Top 5 procedures, 70 plus

Women: Cataract, hip replacement, knee replacement, excision skin lesion, colonoscopy.

Men: Knee replacement, cataract, hip replacement, excision skin lesion, coronary angioplasty.

Contact us for information and the best deals on your health insurance.

Visit our official website for more information.

Read how health insurance helped me out when diagnosed with Crohn's Disease.