Table of contents for Issue 2 2019 in Longevity Magazine

DR DEBBIE NORVAL, AAMSSA PRESIDENT One of the only things certain in life is change, and this is especially relevant in the rapidly evolving aesthetics industry. The stigma that was once associated with aesthetic treatments is disappearing fast. Celebrities and influencers promoting the latest trends on social media have hugely increased awareness of aesthetic treatments. Millennials are now approaching 40 and have no qualms about sharing their procedures online. Anyone not having treatments is perceived to be missing out. “Prejuvenation” is the new buzzword as attitudes change and more people seek preventive aesthetic procedures at earlier ages. HOLISTIC AESTHETIC MEDICINE Wellness-driven beauty with a focus on full-body health is transforming aesthetic medicine. Modern doctors evaluate the patient as a whole unit, and include anti-aging treatments, hormone and vitamin replacement, hair…

FARMER ANGUS, BIODYNAMIC FARMER The passionate opposition of the vegan movement to caged animal farming is to be supported and encouraged, as there is no place for these concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), which produce almost all of the animal protein consumed in this country. There is not a single reason for confining animals, having them stand in their own manure and having them grow fast with hormones. This is cheap food at a high cost. Let us look at beef as an example of how true cost accounting would make this much more expensive than it currently is. Had honest pricing been applied to this beef, the following would be included: inflammatory diseases, antibiotic resistance, environmental destruction from both the way the animal is fed and how the animal…

DR ISA-BELLA VAN NIEKERK, IRIDOLOGIST AT RUBICON PERSONA CLINICS Your eyes are like a TV or video screen that is connected to your body by the optic nerve. Your nervous system projects important information onto it about what is happening all over your body. Changes in your iris patterns can be signals of stress, diabetes, high blood pressure, potential stroke, thyroid disorders, cancer or arthritis. As your health changes, so do your iris patterns and sclera. THE HIDDEN WORLD OF IRIDOLOGY Iridology is an alternative medicine technique whose practitioners advocate that colour, patterns and other characteristics of your iris (the coloured portion of your eye) can be examined to determine information about your inner systemic health. It was invented as a diagnostic modality by Ignatz Peczely, a Hungarian physician, who…

This is Longevity’s Best in Aging Survey: Personalised Beauty and Aesthetics Edition. The comprehensive and digitally driven assessment was completed voluntarily by a number of local general practitioners, dermatologists, medical-industry professionals and experienced beauty-industry experts, who identified what they consider to be the best products, treatments and services available in healthy aging and aesthetic personalisation. This is not an awards project, but a review of what the industry experts who participated deem to be most innovative, cost-effective and results-driven in their respective categories. The survey is divided into six main Best in Aging categories: Products, Supplements, Non-Invasive Treatments, Cosmetic Surgeries, Dental Health and Health Spas. Each category has been evaluated according to these criteria: Longevity received over 350 reviews from around 32 industry professionals. Not all of the comments are…

1 DIGESTIVE HEALTH PROBIFLORA 9 This 9-strain probiotic, taken on an empty stomach, provides you with all the elements for good gut health. – Dr Nooren-Nisa Moti PRICE: R257 WHERE TO BUY: www.clicks.co.za 2 DETOX AND CLEANSING A.VOGEL NEPHROSOLID Cleanses the liver, gallbladder and kidney. – Dr Kesiree Naidoo PRICE: R315 WHERE TO BUY: za.carethy.net 3 PROBIOTICS VIVOMIXX 112BN Vivomixx is a superior, high-potency probiotic medical food. – Dr Janine Olivier PRICE: R550 WHERE TO BUY: www.dischem.co.za 1 ENERGY AND VITALITY TURBOVITE EXCEL Fast-acting energy boost, without the crash. – Dr Raʼeesah Essop PRICE: R85 WHERE TO BUY: www.dischem.co.za 2 ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS THE REAL THING MEGA OMEGA FISH OIL LIQUID This omega-rich fish oil is ultra-pure and maximally concentrated. It’s packed with heart-helping, brain-building omega-3 fatty acids. This supplement…

1 BREAST AUGMENTATION The biggest news with regard to breast augmentation, still the No 1-requested cosmetic surgery in the world, has been the concerns surrounding BIA-ALCL (breast-implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma), a rare sub-type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma linked to breast implants, with some textured implants recently being removed from the market. BIA-ALCL is very rare, with a one in 40 000 risk of developing BIA-ALCL with textured implants, but it is treatable if diagnosed early. While breast augmentation is still a relatively safe procedure, it’s important for women who are looking to have breast-augmentation surgery to ensure that they educate themselves, as well as discuss their preferences and concerns with an APRASSA-member plastic surgeon. Women with implants should follow up with their plastic surgeon if they notice any changes.…

Collagen has a major role to play in skincare, helping to maintain the suppleness, as well as the elasticity, of our skin. But as we age, the amount of collagen in our body decreases, and this soon becomes evident in the appearance of our skin. Luckily, there are treatments that aim to stimulate the production of collagen, promoting smooth and supple skin. One of these is the Collagen Induction Therapy Treatment, courtesy of Beauté Pacifique, which Longevity’s general publishing manager, Sally Hudson, tried out at the For Beautiful Life Medical Aesthetic Centre in Dunkeld. How does it work? On arrival, Sally was required to fill out a questionnaire and have her skin digitally analysed by a PreScan with DermaScan4LiFE Ultrasound. This was done to better determine the true medical condition…

We’re reading increasingly about the potentially significant threat to our health of toxins, but what exactly are they? How will they impact on our longevity and what can we do to reduce our exposure to them? Dr Duncan Carmichael is a functional medicine specialist and author of the book Younger for Longer. He says: “A toxin is simply something that damages the body. It could be an obvious toxin, like alcohol, that the body needs to clear in order to feel normal again. Or it could be largely invisible, like the car exhaust we inhale while going about our daily lives, or the fumes that leach from certain cleaning products or carpets.” Your body and toxins There’s still much denial around the level of toxins in our environment. This, coupled…

CONSUMER CHECKLIST: ▪ Always consult your GP before you begin to use cannabis for medical reasons, especially if you are on any kind of medication, but particularly heart medication. ▪ Use a trusted source. ▪ Store all cannabis products in a locked area (a lockbox, a locked room), out of sight and reach of children and pets. ▪ Start low and go slow when using any cannabis product for the first time. ▪ If you’re experiencing overly intense effects, don’t panic; inhale deeply through your nose and exhale through your mouth, hydrate, and get into a cold shower. ▪ Choose only organic cannabis products. Never consume cannabis that has been treated with pesticides. ▪ Regardless of its medicinal properties, minors should never take cannabis, unless their guardians have been given…

Gisèle Wertheim Aymés speaks to Dr Simon Whitesman (MBChB), practitioner of medical psychotherapy at Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital in Cape Town. Whitesman is the coordinator of the postgraduate certificate training in Mindfulness-Based Interventions at Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, director and chairperson of the Institute for Mindfulness South Africa (IMISA), and co-director of the first Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programme in South Africa. He has received certification as a teacher in MBSR from the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness, and in psychoanalytic psychotherapy from the South African Institute for Psychotherapy. Q How did a medical doctor become chairman of the Institute of Mindfulness? A I always wanted to be a doctor. However, when I became one, the experience was nothing that I had imagined. There was…

GET ME TO 21 Gabi Lowe presents her daughter with the ultimate gift of love It takes an extraordinary person to tell the life story of Jenna Lowe, and surely no one was better equipped to do so than her mother. In Get Me to 21, Gabi Lowe presents her daughter with the ultimate gift of love – a beautiful memoir of a young woman whose life and death had gripped the hearts of our nation. More than that, it serves to continue Jenna’s legacy in raising awareness for pulmonary hypertension (PH), as well as the need for more organ donors in South Africa. In the book, the reader is granted access to the family’s battle to save Jenna from the debilitating lung disease. Gabi also generously shares with the…

▪ Dr Aniali Aucamp-Nel Dr Aniali Aucamp-Nel graduated as a medical practitioner from Stellenbosch University, and went on to obtain aesthetic certifications in Advanced Botulinum Toxin and Filler Techniques, Microsclerotherapy and Lipolysis in the UK, where she worked for 10 years. She has a keen interest in non-surgical aesthetic interventions and natural skin rejuvenation. She is the owner of the Transform Medical Aesthetic Institute in Centurion, a medical clinic that offers non-surgical aesthetic treatments, beauty treatments and laser. www.transformmedical.co.za ▪ Dr Nadia Dannhauser Dr Nadia Dannhauser is the owner, director and full-time in-house doctor of For Beautiful Life Medical Aesthetics. She has a specialised and conservative approach to anti-aging, and believes in beautiful, natural results by enhancing the beauty you already have, instead of trying to create it. www.forbeautifullife.co.za ▪…

DR DUNCAN CARMICHAEL, MEDICAL DOCTOR AND FOUNDER OF THE INSTITUTE OF HEALTHY AGING (IHASA) In the last few years we have begun learning how to optimise our health. We have had breakthroughs in our understanding of the massive benefits of sleep. We are realising that daily exercise switches on at least 10 healthy pathways. We understand that we used to eat far too much sugar, in our mistaken efforts to cut fat from our diet. This is great news for the individual, and we are confident that we now have the tools to help people live healthily into their 90s. However, since 2015 in places such as the USA and the UK, population trends of increasing longevity have stuttered, and life expectancy has disturbingly shortened. The most logical reason for…

GARY JACKSON, FOUNDER OF JACKSON’S REAL FOOD MARKET The trends and new bits of health advice bombarding us daily can be quite daunting, even for the most well-read. For example, the awareness of pesticides – more specifically, glyphosate – has increased over the last two years. But a South African staple, maize, is a GMO crop, and the use of pesticides is not monitored or prevented at all. Going pesticide-free and GMO-free is the way forward, but the traceability of the food back to farm will always be the question. How will customers really ever know what they are eating? It’s all about mitigating our risk by knowing as much about the food we eat as we can. Regenerative farming is critical to our future, and needs to be understood.…

DR VIVIEN JANDERA, PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGEON, AND CURRENT AND FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGEONS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA (APRASSA) Plastic-surgery procedures have continued to increase in number worldwide, with 250 000 more procedures having been performed in the US in 2018 than the year before. The most common surgical procedures being performed worldwide are: The top three non-surgical procedures of 2018 were: Trending We see surgical and non-surgical treatments working together to give patients optimum results. In spite of living in a visual age, where people want to look good in photos and IRL, the trend in beauty is to go more natural – to do subtle treatments that are not obvious, enhancing natural features without looking artificially “done”. It’s no longer about looking…

MOISTURISER SKINCEUTICALS METACELL RENEWAL B3 SkinCeuticals Metacell Renewal B3 is designed to target, repair and prevent the visible signs of photo-aging. A 5% concentration of niacinamide diminishes hyperpigmentation, while peptides and glycerine firm skin and smooth expression lines and deep wrinkles. – Dr Kamlen Pillay PRICE: R1 890 WHERE TO BUY: www.onlineskinshop.co.za SHEER HYDRATION FROM NEOSTRATA An oil-free daily hydrator that helps to control and reduce oiliness, while providing broad-spectrum sunscreen protection. Excellent for hydration of the skin. – Dr Nicole Kanaris PRICE: R620 WHERE TO BUY: www.sandtonaesthetics.co.za BEAUTÉ PACIFIQUE SUPER 3 BOOSTER VITAMIN A ANTIWRINKLE BOOSTER The skin reacts to it within a week, and it also helps with acne, without drying out the skin, helping to effectively moisturise the skin and control the sebaceous glands. – Dr Nadia…

FAIRLAWNS BOUTIQUE HOTEL SPA, MORNINGSIDE, JOHANNESBURG DE-STRESS TIME OUT Situated in the heart of Jozi, the tranquillity and fabulous setting of this Balinese-style spa are a real treat. The staff are great and it’s the perfect escape from the hustle of Jozi. The De-Stress Time Out package is one of my favourites; you leave feeling totally pampered and rejuvenated. A great blend of therapy, from exfoliation to massage, and choice of foot or head massage. – Shelene Shaer LIFE DAY SPA ROSEBANK, JOHANNESBURG BACK, NECK AND SHOULDER MASSAGE, AND SIGNATURE PEDICURE The facilities are great and the staff are fantastic. I have problems with my back and I found the strength of the massage perfect, not to mention that the pedicure is by far the best I have ever had.…

Whether we opt for them bare, perfectly manicured or adorned in acrylics, everybody wants to have beautiful, healthy nails. But, as with our hair and skin, our nails can take a beating, and it’s not always easy to keep them in tip-top shape. The first thing to understand about our nails is their current state of health. Healthy nails have healthy cuticles, and the nail plates are a pinkish-white colour. Unfortunately, many women have weak nails that tend to break before they reach a certain length. Besides biting and chewing on our nails, other factors that may hinder the health and growth of our nails include genetics, stress and the weather, as well as nutrient deficiencies, medication, lifestyle diseases and exposure to harsh chemicals. Signs of unhealthy nails: • Peeling,…

I recently had the privilege of experiencing a DF facial treatment at the Environ Skin Care Institute in Cape Town. Although I have always attempted to protect my skin against the sun, my skin has still suffered sun damage over the years and was feeling dry, with fine lines and signs of aging, especially around my eyes and mouth. I What makes this facial so effective is that the technology used allows for better product penetration, which helps to achieve better and faster results. According to my therapist, Brigitte, the scientifically proven technology used allows for up to 40 times better product penetration of the active serums specifically chosen for your treatment. HOW DOES IT WORK? The DF machine uses two modalities, Sonophoresis and Iontophoresis, both scientifically proven to enhance…

The Constitutional Court has ruled unambiguously that adults may, for their personal use, use, possess, cultivate and use cannabis in private. The purchase and sale of cannabis remains illegal, unless done in accordance with the Medicines Act. To be clear, there is currently no permit, licence or other legal mechanism which allows one to buy or sell cannabis for recreational purposes. Cannabis (including seeds) can only be shared freely. This means no quid pro quo. Furthermore, to all those who believe they have cleverly “beaten the law” by selling something like a T-shirt that “comes with free cannabis”, our law caters for such scenarios and such a defence would do little more than bring a smile to a conservative prosecutor’s face. When it comes to the growth and sale of…

De Hoek Country Hotel is an enchanting property set amid the grandeur of the Magaliesberg. The gardens create an atmosphere of tranquillity, with an invitation to celebrate life. Fresh green vines climb the stairway to the five-star haven, with sculptures proudly representing the hotel’s appreciation of South African artists. De Hoek Country Hotel is the proud recipient of a number of hospitality awards, including Trip Advisor’s Top 25 Hotels in South Africa – 2018. De Hoek Country Hotel caters for corporate breakaways, pampering getaways, weddings, birthdays, picnics, and any other event you may require. The newest addition to the property is Spa @Rest, where you can indulge yourself in serene surroundings. De Hoek’s dedicated team is always on hand to advise you and to make your event a special occasion.…

DR CHRIS GIEZING, AESTHETIC MEDICINE SPECIALIST AND FOUNDER OF AESTHETIC LAB While a desire to look good is ingrained in the female DNA, historically men have been less inclined to focus on their appearance. But times are changing. The male aesthetics market might still be in its infancy, but it’s booming. More and more men are standing in line for minimally invasive procedures that require no downtime, and men are spending more time and money on their appearance than ever before. Some of the reasons cited for this are social media, the competitive job market and the celebrity effect. The best starting point for men (as for women) is a good skincare regime. We usually pair high-quality homecare products with in-clinic treatments such as resurfacing peels, skin boosters and PRP…

KIM POTGIETER, CFP® REGISTERED FINANCIAL LIFE PLANNER AND PROFESSIONAL CERTIFIED COACH. If you, like me, were born between 1965 and 1980, or thereabouts, you’re a Generation Xer, and the first of our generation will soon reach the early retirement age of 55. Graeme Codrington, a recognised world expert on generational theory, describes us as the “sandwich generation”. Some of us are children of divorce, born and raised in an era of change, used the first cellular phones and were the first generation to surf the Net. Many of us are now home-owners with children, also looking after elderly parents, and in influential positions in the workplace. We are juggling retirement savings with bond repayments, creditcard debt, school fees and frailcare. If you’re GenX, technically you have 25 years or less…

DR ANUSHKA REDDY, MEDICAL DOCTOR, AND ANTI-AGING AND AESTHETIC TREATMENT SPECIALIST The global aesthetic medicine market is set to exceed $18,5 billion by 2024, according to a research report by Global Market Insights. Driving the industry are new developments in surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures, as well as the wide availability of advanced aesthetic devices that offer effective, time-saving and minimally invasive treatments. Non-invasive aesthetic procedures are expected to witness tremendous demand in the next few years. Consumers have a growing inclination for quick and effective non-surgical procedures they can have during their lunch break, such as Botox or dermal filler injections. The demand for non-surgical vaginal rejuvenation and non-invasive visible fat reduction will also see significant growth. Moreover, Allergan estimates that body contouring is a significant $4 billion market,…

Reece Witherspoon is an extraordinary mix of a modern-day Hollywood role model and the girl next door. “My grandmother Dorothea always said that it was a combination of beauty and strength that made Southern women ‘whiskey in a teacup’. We may be delicate and ornamental on the outside, but inside we’re strong and fiery. We all have a lot to learn from Southern culture,” she writes in her debut book, Whiskey in a Teacup. The book has been met with mixed reviews, given the difficult history of the South, but also the respect many have for Reece’s outspoken views and work to have women’s rights in the entertainment industry recognised. Most would agree, though, that she has a knack for finding joy in and appreciation of the simpler things in…

1 CROOKED TEETH INVISALIGN Straightens teeth using an aligner system, without the traditional brackets on the teeth. – Dr Firdaus Ismail and Dr Riaz Hoosen PRICE: R65 000 to R75 000, depending on severity 2 CHIPPED OR BROKEN TEETH FILLINGS OR VENEERS Depending on the size of the chip, they can replace the missing portion or get full coverage, with the aim being to protect and strengthen the remaining tooth, restore form and function, which results in overall longevity and aesthetics. – Dr Deepti Naranbhai PRICE: R18 000 to R38 000, depending on the size of the chip 3 TOOTH STAINS AND DISCOLOURATION ULTRASONIC CLEANING TO REMOVE OUTER STAINS, COMBINED WITH OPALESCENCE HOME KIT TO ALLOW A WHITER SMILE FROM WITHIN When it comes to stains and discolouration, a combined treatment approach is…

Not only are your eyes one of your primary sensory gateways to the outside world, they are also one of the first things people notice about you. But while we know that our eyes give us signals to many areas of our health (read Dr Isa-Bella van Niekerk’s column on iridology on pg 18 to find out more about this), they also tend to be a part of our body we easily neglect. Dr Dirk J Booysen, clinical optometrist and contact-lens specialist, explains that our current lifestyle is one of the biggest dangers to eye health. “People spend more time indoors, doing mostly near-work on digital devices,” he says. “This leads to near-point strain, and can be linked to the development of myopia and astigmatism, which have taken on epidemic…

SPAS JOHANNESBURG AND SURROUNDS Experience the ultimate rejuvenation The Saxon Spa, Johannesburg The Saxon Spa is very discerning when it comes to the products it uses for its treatments and therapies, and its new London-born, globally renowned Molton Brown Signature Journey meets this benchmark. The aim of the Molton Brown Signature Journey is to provide a highly therapeutic treatment that offers ultimate physical and mental rejuvenation, with a healing combination of exfoliation, steam and massage techniques that boost circulation, detoxification, skin renewal and overall relaxation. I was invited to experience this unique journey for myself. My 90-minute rejuvenation began in the candlelit Hammam Signature Suite with a soothing foot ritual, while enjoying a warm cup of detoxifying Turkish Rize Tea. Health benefits of the tea include easing of tension and…

With every new year, for many, comes the resolution to lead a more active lifestyle, and for good reason. Exercising offer a range of benefits – both physical and mental. So, if you’re hoping for a good year, staying active would be a wise thing to do. The World Health Organization recommends that adults between the ages of 18 and 64 engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week (which can equate to 30 minutes, five days a week) or perform at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week. They may also do an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous-intensity activity. However, we’ve all been guilty of starting a healthy routine, only for it to fizzle out within a few…

Cannabis is the fastest-growing industry in the world, so one may say that the September 2018 South African Constitutional Court ruling that effectively decriminalised the possession, use and cultivation of cannabis in private dwellings came as no surprise. The court even gave parliament 24 months from the date of the judgment to bring South African law in line with the ruling. With the many therapeutic and health benefits associated with the plant, it should also come as no surprise that, following the ruling, the number of products on the local market that contain the plant has risen sharply. Cannabis was once considered a Schedule 7 drug (this group also includes heroin). However, as of 24 May 2019, the Department of Health reclassified one component of cannabis, known as CBD, to…

Oysters & Ponzu Naked oysters are sadly the version that most people are familiar with. Very basic, I Know, but it neednʼt be so mundane. You can spice them up with the perfect dressing. PREPARATION TIME: 10 minutes YIELDS 4 Ingredients: 24 oysters, shucked½ red onion, finely brunoised½ cucumber, deseeded and finely brunoised5g mint, chiffonadeFresh coriander and apple blossoms, for garnish For the ponzu: 100ml soy sauce200ml rice vinegar50ml lemon fresh juice1 inch piece of nori Method: 1. Ensure that when you shuck the oysters, if you haven’t bought them shucked already, you reserve the juices that the oyster releases when you open them. You will add these juices into your ponzu dressing. It amplifies the experience! 2. In a bowl, mix together the red onion, cucumber and mint chiffonade;…

DR JOHN DEMARTINI, SPECIALIST IN HUMAN BEHAVIOUR AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT To achieve your goals in 2020, there are a few crucial questions you need to ask yourself throughout the year. Take your time with these. Be honest and remain curious about what comes up. QUESTION 1: What are my highest values and am I prioritising them? What are the most important aspects of your life, the things that mean the most to you? Your family? Your work? Your health? Your spirituality? These represent your highest values – the top-priority items that are as unique to you as your own fingerprints. But do you always put them first? If you are not living congruently with what you value most, symptoms of discomfort are the inevitable result. QUESTION 2: What is stopping me from doing what…