Everyone’s talking about…the ‘Sunshine’ Drug

Scientists have known for years that deficiency in vitamin D can cause bone problems such as rickets and osteoporosis. But recently, experts say that vitamin D can protect against a whole host of diseases including bowel and breast cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, dementia, birth difficulties and autism.

Can’t I just take supplements?

You can get vitamin D from meat, eggs, oily fish and some cereals but the sun’s rays are really the major source. Scientists say that the best way to boost vitamin D levels is to expose your body without sunscreen at noon and early afternoon in spring and summer. The problem is that if you don’t protect yourself from the sun then you could end up with skin cancer.

So what should I do?

Cancer Research UK agrees that it’s important not to cover up all the time but says that most people in the UK only need to spend a short amount of time in the sun to make enough vitamin D – always less than for tanning or burning. The World Health Organisation says that 5-15 minutes of casual sun exposure of hands, face and arms two to three times a week during the summer is enough to keep vitamin D levels high. Ask your doctor for more advice.

From the June 2009 My Nametags newsletter

Make private school affordable

You may be in the lucky position of having fantastic state schools on your doorstep but if you don’t and think you may want to send your child to a private school at some stage then read on. There are ways you can cut the cost…

Save up

If you’ve got time to save up then get some advice from an Independent Financial Adviser to start an investment that suits your needs and your pocket. ISA’s (cash or stocks and shares) are the “best vehicle for most parents as the growth within the plan is tax free and so are the proceeds,” says Kevin Tooze, director of Equity Partners.

Ask Granny and Grandpa

Grandparents can often invest more tax efficiently than parents and help cut their potential inheritance tax (IHT) liability. Individuals can give away up to £3,000/year IHT free plus numerous small gifts of £250 can be made.

Scholarships

If you thought your child had to be a budding genius before he or she would be considered for a scholarship then think again. Scholarships nowadays range from music and art to sport and technology. Most schools offer scholarships of between 10-50% off the fees.

Bursaries

Bursaries are means tested and, in general are given to children with high academic or other promise although some are awarded on social need alone (contact the Joint Educational Trust (JET)). This academic year more than 31,000 pupils received bursaries totalling some £210 million, according to the Independent Schools Council. Bursaries are also given to military personnel (HM forces bursaries), clergy, and siblings of pupils already in the school, as well as teachers who have children in the school itself.

Pay up front

If you’ve got some spare cash then consider paying a year or more of your child’s school fees in advance in exchange for a discount. Just make sure you can get your investment back though if your child changes schools, gets sick or the school goes closes down, warns IFA Kevin Tooze.

Sibling discounts

Many schools give discounts if more than one child from the same family goes to the same school. Some operate a sliding scale depending on how many children you have at the school. Discounts generally range between 5- 20% so don’t be afraid to ask.

Payment schemes

Most schools ask for payment at the start of each term but some offer monthly instalments, which can make it easier to spread the cost. Ask the bursar what payments methods the school has.

Compare fees

Check you are getting value for money by comparing the fees of a number of schools in your area. For example the Girls Day School Trust high schools, such as Wimbledon and Portsmouth not only have an excellent reputation but they are also are well known for charging a lot less than other private schools.

Home Educate

Join the growing numbers of families that educate their children at home. You have the legal right to do so and don’t have to be a qualified teacher. For more information visit www.direct.gov.uk, www.heas.org.uk and www.education-otherwise.org.uk.

From the June 2009 My Nametags newsletter

Get in shape in 15 minutes

Summer holidays looming but haven’t got time to get in shape? There’s no excuse with this nifty 5-a-day 15-minute work out that can be done at home, in the garden or even in your lunch break. Rob Beale, Group Health & Fitness Manager at David Lloyd Leisure, says that a 15 minute burst of exercise once or twice a day can really burn fat, shape and tone. Want to find out more?

Do 15 repetitions of each exercise and make sure you do them in the following order. Keep an even tempo of 2 seconds up and 2 seconds down remembering to breathe out on exertion and breathe in during the lowering phase. If you’re feeling good after the first set then do a second. Aim to build up to three sets of the five exercises. “If you did 3 sets of these exercises three times a week for three weeks you’d definitely begin to feel stronger and more energetic and you’d also start to see some change in tone and shape,” says Beale.

Number 1- Lunges

Target areas – Fronts and backs of thighs, buttocks, raises heart rate and burns calories.

How to do it –

Step 1: Take a fairly long stride.

Step 2: keeping your body upright, bend your front knee and lower your rear knee towards the floor then push back to the start.

Step 3: keep your front knee over your front foot and try not to let it go too far in front.

Want to go for it? – Add weight. Hold something heavy – cans of beans or a bag of rice will do – across your chest while you exercise. Or even twist at the bottom.

Number 2 – Squats

Target areas - Fronts of thighs, buttocks, calves, raises heart rate and burns calories.

How to do it -

Step 1: Stand with feet hip width apart, toes pointing straight forward. Step 2: Bend your knees until your thighs are parallel to the ground.

Step 3: keep your back straight and shoulders back.

Step 4: Push through your heels.

Want to go for it? - Hold something heavy – handbag or baby (if you have one!) – in front of you as you squat up and down.

Number 3 – Lying leg raises

Target areas – Inside and outside leg muscles.

How to do it –

Step 1: Lie down with 1 leg on top of the other resting on your elbow.

Step 2: Slowly raise your top leg until you feel the strain.

Step 3: Lower the leg to the start position.

Want to go for it? – Add ankle weights if you have them or alternatively try to raise the leg a little higher and more slowly.

Number 4 – Press ups

Target areas – Shoulders, chest and triceps.

How to do it – Either do full press ups with feet on the floor (hard), half press ups (medium) with knees on the floor, or box press ups (easiest) with both feet and knees on the floor. Slowly lower yourself down until arms are parallel with the floor then push back up.

Want to go for it? – Aim to do full press ups as they are much harder.

Number 5 – Tricep dips

Target areas – Triceps – back of arms (think bingo wings).

How to do it – Place your arms behind you on a chair or sofa and your feet out in front of you on the floor. Start with your elbows locked out then slowly lower until your arms are parallel with the floor. Then push up slowly to the top.

Want to go for it? - The further your feet are away from the chair/sofa the harder it gets…

From the June 2009 My Nametags newsletter