Archive for December 31, 2015
Does Poor Nutrition Cause Hairloss
December 31, 2015When you lose your hair, most frequently it occurs due to surplus of overabundance of testosterone in your organism – this beneficient male hormone has an hideous inclination to become dihydrotestosterone once it reaches hair follicles. Once created, DHT starts to limit the blood flow in the scalp and tighten skin round the follicles, effectively destroying hair. The good thing is that proper nutrition can stop this process before it actually starts, or even turn back all the negative changes.
Women are sometimes safe from DHT-related issues, as their levels of testosterone are lower. However, before you start considering sex change an option, you might as well try something much less extreme – a hair care system directed at reducing the damage done by DHT. The system is predicated on nutrients and vitamins and is 100% safe, so you do not risk anything, right?
Things That Stop Hair Loss
Probably the strongest nutritive supplement that will forestall hair loss hair loss is zinc. While it can not be taken in giant amounts (too much zinc stop the absorption of iron and may result in anemia ), its role in keeping your hair safe is tough to overrate. Its main role is relaxing skin and muscles on your scalp, immediately countering the influence of DHT.
Next, there’s Vitamin H, an element of the B-complex vitamin group. It helps hair growth and is explicitly in charge of their strength, as it is in charge of the greasy acid metabolism and fueling the growth speed of hair as well as the rate the damages are being mended. The only problem is that most natural sources of Vitamin H (or biotin, as it is infrequently called ) are also incredibly loaded in fat.
Another crucial nutrient which will help you heal your hair is proteins. They are the hair construction material, so it’s required to keep them strong and thick, making them less vulnerable to damages done by DHT. Proteins are probably the most ordinarily used nutrient to stop thinning of hair. On the downside, they don’t seem to be not dream solution to all your issues : proteins can not help you regrow your hair on bald patches.
Carotene, carotenoid and retinol – all those names really mean the same chemical compound: Vitamin A. While the majority associate carotene to improving our vision, this vitamin is also a way to reduce the amount of DHT. Carotene takes control over sebum production, keeping it on the ideal level – enough to moisturize the strands, but not enough to dam the skin pores. With the normalized sebum production, DHT has much less opportunities to cause any lasting damages. The vitamin can be supplied thru a well-planned diet, if only it’s abundant with yellow and orange plants and fish oil. Just make sure that you do not stray too far from the recommended daily intake ( 2500 IU ), carotene may get toxic if it is overabundant in the body.
The next critical nutritive component is a well known anti aging amino-acid, Vitamin E. It fosters the blood circulation, and makes certain that all hair will be well-fed. As a side effect, Vitamin E is also in charge of reducing the quantity of gray hair – another effect of DHT. Vegetable oils are probably the top source of Vitamin E, as long as they have been cold-processed, so creating the right diet should not be a problem. On the other hand, you can simply go overboard – in big amounts Vitamin E is in charge of increased blood pressure and abusing it could light the way to hypertension.
Theoretically, a good diet should be adequate to keep you from balding. Sadly , following such diet could be very difficult, especially that many of its ingredients may get deadly if overdosed. That’s why another solution is much more logical: using a nutritional supplement that would be specifically created to stop balding. One of the finest additions in that category is a supplement part of the ProFollica system. The leading producer of hair-loss prevention products has additionally introduced the nutritional supplement to make certain that you’re going to receive all obligatory nutrients at the right amounts. Take a look and try the details – it may be just something you are looking for.
Diet & Nutrition Myths Debunked
December 31, 2015Diet & Nutrition Myths Debunked
1. Sugar Causes Diabetes
The most common nutrition myth is probably that sugar causes diabetes. If you have diabetes, you do need to watch your sugar and carbohydrate intake, with the help of your Registered Dietitian, to properly manage your blood sugar level. However, if you do not have diabetes, sugar intake will not cause you to develop the disease. The main risk factors for Type 2 diabetes are a diet high in calories, being overweight, and an inactive lifestyle.
2. All Fats are bad
It’s a long-held nutrition myth that all fats are bad. But the fact is, we all need fat. Fats aid nutrient absorption and nerve transmission, and they help to maintain cell membrane integrity – to name just a few of their useful purposes. However, when consumed in excessive amounts, fats contribute to weight gain, heart disease and certain types of cancers.
3.Brown Sugar is better than White Sugar
The brown sugar sold at grocery stores is actually white granulated sugar with added molasses. Yes, brown sugar contains minute amounts of minerals. But unless you eat a gigantic portion of brown sugar every day, the mineral content difference between brown sugar and white sugar is absolutely insignificant. The idea that brown and white sugar have big differences is another common nutrition myth.
4.Brown Eggs are more nutritious than White Eggs
Contrary to a widely believed nutrition myth, eggshell color has nothing to do with the quality, flavor, nutritive value, cooking characteristics, or shell thickness of an egg. The eggshell color only depends upon the breed of the hen.
5. Avoid seafood to lower blood cholesterol
I still can’t believe it, but I heard this nutrition myth from my own doctor! In fact, the dietary cholesterol found in seafood and other meats has little effect on blood cholesterol in most people. Saturated fats and trans fatty acids are the most important factors that raise blood cholesterol.
6.Avoid carbohydrate to lose weight
The key message that many low-carb diets convey is that carbohydrates promote insulin production, which in turn results in weight gain. Therefore by reducing carbohydrate intake, you can lose weight. Unfortunately, this is just another nutrition myth.
7. Avoid nuts as they are fattening
Yes, it’s true that nuts are quite calorically dense. Fifteen cashews, for instance, deliver 180 kilocaleries! On top of that, it is very tough not to overeat these tasty snacks. But if you can restrain yourself from overeating them, nuts can be a part of a healthy diet.
8. Eating for 2 is necessary during pregnancy
Energy requirements vary among individuals. Unfortunately, the idea that pregnancy is an ice cream free-for-all is a nutrition myth. It is generally recommended that pregnant women increase their daily intake by 100 kcal in the first trimester and 300 kcal in the second and third trimesters. An extra snack before bedtime consisting of a fruit, a serving of milk or yogurt, and a few biscuits is often enough.
9. Skipping meals can help lose weight
Many people think that by skipping a meal, they will be eating less food and therefore lose weight. As we now know, this is a nutrition myth. People who think skipping meals means weight loss do not understand how our bodies work.
If you skip a meal, your body will think that you are in starvation mode and therefore slow down the metabolism to compensate. You then tend to overeat at the next meal. Often, skipping a meal and then eating too much at the next one means that you have a higher total caloric intake than if you just ate more frequently throughout the day. A better approach is to eat smaller frequent healthy meals and snacks to keep your blood sugar balanced.
10. Red meat is bad for health
I often hear people saying that they do not eat red meat. When I ask why they don’t, or even what they consider to be red meat, the answers vary dramatically.
It is a nutrition myth, however, that red meat is altogether bad for your health. Instead of excluding red meats, choose leaner cuts of beef and pork. For beef, choose eye of round, top round roast, top sirloin and flank; for pork, choose tenderloin and loin chops.
Cancer And Nutrition, There Is a Connection
December 28, 2015It has long been known that all cancers are related to the food we choose to eat and the food we don’t eat. Cancer is a disease in which lifestyle factors; especially nutrition plays a crucial role. Modern science has not solved the problem because they don’t address the nutritional requirements that are necessary to permanently remove the growths. Wrong nutrition will cause cancer but the right nutrition will cure it.
One of the major problems with doctors who are treating cancer patients today are, they know virtually nothing about nutrition and the reason being they are not taught nutrition. In a recent study doctors were asked how much tuition they received on the subject of nutrition and most answered that it was less than 3 hours over their entire training. Any doctor that’s knowledgeable on the subject is likely to be self taught.
While cancer has other causes the main one is the wrong food we choose to eat. Our diets have changed over the last 50 years and people in developed societies are mostly consuming food that’s no longer fresh but has been processed by man for profit. While this food may be appealing, most of the information on the container is clever marketing and is there to help it sell.
Another problem is we are obsessed with cooking our food and what does cooked food lack, its enzymes. While we may buy good food but if most of it is cooked on high heat then it is void of these enzymes it once contained which are necessary to keep us free of health problems. The benefits of eating raw food are amazing so if you are cooking most of it, you are not gaining these benefits. When you add up your total food intake from baked, boiled, grilled, barbecued and fried foods, you may find that the majority of what you have been eating is dead food.
The correct nutrition is a powerful healer and since all cancers are a result of an immune system that’s been weakened and didn’t destroy cancer cells as they appeared in the body, your focus has to be to strengthen the immune system. The foundation to a strong immune system is a plant based diet of food that is freshly grown and has minimal interference by man.
That most people realise that a cure for cancer is never going to be found. For instance if a person got cancer back in the 19:50s and if you got cancer today the outcome would be the same, nothing has changed. Our current cancer treatments are appallingly ineffective and they are only having success with 2 to 3 percent of patients and that’s with unusual cancers which are usually not serious anyway. So why not turn to nutrition which is a proven way to help.
Diet is the most important piece of the cancer puzzle and if your diet is not fighting cancer it is fuelling it. There is no in between. There are cases of people reversing their cancers by just making changes to their diet. Our mainstream treatments for cancer may give a patient a short term relief but a change to your diet will provide a long term solution to the problem because you are correcting the reasons why it first appeared.
You need to focus on the factors that have caused the problem instead of just the obvious symptoms of the disease because if you don’t, it will only return and in a much more sinister form. It is not primary cancer that kills, its secondary cancer that has spread or returned which is fatal.
Acai Berry Taste – Discover Taste Of Acai Berry
December 28, 2015We hear a lot of good things about Acai Berry. In fact, it is recommended so much, that most of the people seriously consider trying Acai. However there is one concern that many have, how does Acai Berry taste?
While we know how healthy it is and that it allows us to fight numerous diseases, truth about Acai’s taste is brutal… It is incredibly bitter. Acai isn’t something you would take on a lonely island because of its taste. In fact it is so awful majority of people have trouble getting past it’s taste.
Of course, because of the high demand for this fruit, manufacturers of Acai Berry products try to improve its flavour. You can accomplish it either by adding some other fruits that will “disguise” Acai’s taste or by adding sugar or artificial sweeteners.
The result of this process is quite obvious, Acai alone is very beneficial for our health but when you try to make it meet taste standards of average consumer, the nutritional values of Acai are put on the second place. In many tasty Acai products, there is a little of Acai or the amount of sugar in one portion, that you shouldn’t consume throughout the entire day.
If we will add to that, that this is processed food. What I mean by processed is, that it is boiled or cooked in some way to make it taste better. Most of the people are aware that the rawer the food the better it is for our health. Actually we deal with obesity problems mainly because of the products advertised as made from healthy fruits, but in reality having little to do with their natural equivalents.
Acai product that has the biggest taste issues is Acai juice. When it comes to juice from Brazilian berry, the more bitter it is the purer and healthier it is for you. That is why Acai juices from Brazilian rain forests are worst tasting, but also the healthiest ones on the market.
Just to give you an idea how bitter the taste of Acai juice is, most of the producers recommend to take only 2 tablespoons of Acai juice at a time. It is because some people experience nausea, because of the bitterness of Acai juice.
As you can see, Acai Berry taste is a big issue. While many manufacturers are trying to address this problem, it is obvious they can’t resolve it without messing up the goodness of Acai. Thankfully there is a lot of Acai Berry products that are in pill form and thus make this problem go away.
About Sports Fitness
December 27, 2015Whenever you talk about sports fitness, what comes very first inside your mind? It’s in reality different sports activities, right? This really is because sports fitness has often been called the sport itself.
Generally, sports entail physical activities which are commonly made for certain “recreational” functions for example self-satisfaction, entertainment, competition, etc. It uses physical activity, so most Fitness experts regard sports as being a way to stay fit and healthy. It is also noticed as a means of fitness, the only difference is that sports fitness is far more most likely to develop skills or abilities.
But as fitness, sports training can also be in a position to soften the fat system of a person. As a result of its health procedure rigid and strict, a sports enthusiast is able to retain a balanced lifestyle to cope on the demands of intense sport.
Athletes must find out to importance their health. Otherwise, they will never eat any energy that may be required once playing sport.
Therefore, individuals who are sports, fitness, right here are some tips you possibly can use so that you can stay healthy and be active in sport what you would like to continue:
1. Drinks plenty of water
Humans can survive days or even months without the need of food, but they are able to by no means pass a day without water.
Water is genuinely probably the most significant element needed by the body. Excessive sweating, without way to replenish lost fluids will cause serious wellness problems or death.
Therefore, for those who are in intense activity and training, it’s finest to usually drink plenty of water.
However, for sports enthusiasts, water might not be sufficient to replace the lost fluid type. Therefore, it would be better if there had been sports drinks instead. As well as the fluid, sports drinks have tow a lot more crucial ingredients you need 1 person in the gym of sports: carbohydrates and electrolytes.
Electrolytes are normally lost during strenuous physical activity, and it really is replaced by sports drinks. Carbohydrates, over a other side can also be needed if the human body during rigid drive to provide additional energy, so the body can clear up to the requirements of the activity.
2. More veggies!
People who are in require of much more sports fitness intake of fruits and vegetables. This is due to the fact the system is far more like vitamin supplements and minerals. It makes your system stronger and healthier helps to cope with the desires with the activity.
3. Calcium intake
People who are fitness sport need to be the calcium in their diet. In this way the human body more bones.
Since the entire body is a lot more exposed to greater physical exercising is essential to acquire strong bones to prevent fractures or certain bone diseases like “osteoporosis”.
Calcium is discovered in vitamin and minerals. They are also abundant in foods like sardines, tofu, dairy products, etc.
4. Exercises are always crucial prior to any physical activity.
This action just isn’t required to strain the body. Thus, before a good sport that you often love, it is greatest to do some warm-up activity before.
In fact, involvement in sport is a excellent way to be in very good physical shape. Probably the most part is that in sports, it is possible to appreciate the best of both worlds.
What is there in nidora weight loss product
December 25, 2015You might have head about the fabulous weight loss program reveled by Dr. Stephen Hill to achieve effective and quick result in reduction of obesity. Nidora is a harmless product to remove excess of stored fat from the body which is well designed with useful ingredients. The inventor of this product has made many testing and his best effort for a continuous 20 years has finalized the product for launching in the market. Nidora is well made by its investor without making any use of harmful chemicals hence there in no issue of any side effect generation to its user body or health. Effective ingredients are used in Nidora The ingredients used for making nidora product for weight loss are highly effective which can suit well to give a desirable result to an obese person belonging to any age group. It functioning is somehow similar to a placebo and can lose weight faster than any other product available in the market. The realization of weight loss don’t even notified by its user during the time of its usage however finalized result on the overweight removal can be notified by its user within 2-4 weeks of its regular usage. Since, there is no usage of chemicals to nidora diet supplement therefore there is no possibility of arising any kind of allergies or diseases to its user health. Ingredients of Nidora This product for weight loss is well made with gluten free ingredients like maltodextrin tri-calcium phosphate, artificial flavors, natural silica and soylecithin. These ingredients are the mild harmless chemicals which all mixed well together for reducing the hunger pangs of the body to some extent. The ingredients are enough to develop a fuller feeling very fast and will create some extra time limit for the next meal plan as hungry do not arise like usual day eating plan. These ingredients are basically weight loss herbs that control your appetite, your sensory system, your blood pressure, and your hunger so that you eat less or have small quantities of everything.
So, use Nidora natural and safe weight loss product now. Check out other articles for everything you need to know about – Nidora. >.
Bowflex Treadclimber Reviews 2011
December 23, 2015The Bowflex Treadclimber series of workout machines provide a distinctive approach to cardio training. This article will go over the 3 from models currently provided by Bowflex.
The new “G.O.’ coach from Bowflex is a pretty cool new addition to their Treadclimber series. It’s only available on the new Bowflex Treadclimber TC5500 that adds pretty cool customizable aspect to your workout and training. Goal oriented technology is basically an interactive program that interacts with the user to establish goals and monitor your progress and compare your outcomes with your prior week’s results. It also offers customized challenges for you to keep yourself on the edge. How does it do this? That she utilizes landmarks from around North America to tailor make workouts. For example you can climb up the space needle or try taking a jaunt up the Statue of Liberty. You are able to fight for trophies in order to unlock particular metals. This will help keep you motivated and addicted to your workouts. You are able to even unlock special small objectives as you go along. All BC the big draw of the Treadclimber general is the extremely low impact workout that combines 3 various styles of cardio fitness equipment.
The Bowflex Treadclimber TC5000 will be the mid-level model from Bowflex and is their bestseller.the Bowflex Treadclimber TC 5000 will still cost you around $2500 and it is not even the highest end model! This version of the Treadclimber has an LED display with eight different functions. Most interesting of which will be the climb indicator. The climb indicator allows you to maintain track of your progress by letting you know each and every time he climbed 100 feet. Is really a fantastic way to get your motivation flowing and maintain you on track. You will feel like you’re on a steep alpine climb. This version Treadclimber also comes with the polar tress strap which permits you to keep track of your heart rate accurately. In contrast to normal hand-held models of heart rate monitoring chess traps are much much more accurate. Clearly the large draw of the Treadclimber will be the fat burning style that combines three different exercises. For more information make sure to take a look at the consumer reviews of the product.
The Bowflex Treadclimber TC1000 will be the entry-level model in Bowflex is Treadclimber range of cardio workout machines. While it provides the fundamental bare-bones Bowflex approach to cardio training that combines the 3 different styles of fitness equipment, it does not offer much in terms of bells and whistles. It’s a fairly stripped-down version of the Treadclimber however it still does provide the patented technology to provide you with an incredible workout burn. Keep in mind though that this entry-level model does have extremely little in terms of warranties. You only get a year on all the parts and also the motor which is pretty weak. The problem is if you don’t have a great deal of money to invest it’s tough to upgrade to the much more valuable TC 5000 since it expenses an additional thousand dollars. An additional option would be to go for a more traditional treadmill like the Yowza Juno. This kind treadmill will run you the exact same cost as the Treadclimber TC 1000 will have a lot more bells and whistles permit you to track your progress and give yourself a bump in terms of motivation.
For reviews on specific Treadclimber models please visit Bowflex Treadclimber reviews.
FenFast the quickest solution for weight loss
December 22, 2015The most common problem with Phentermine is to get it from the market. It has to be prescribed by licensed doctor and they can prescribe it in case of extreme conditions of obesity and increased weight. On the other hand drugs like FenFast and FenFast375 can become an effective substitute for it. FenFast diet pills are absolutely safe and it can be very much evident from FenFast reviews. Even people suffering from high blood pressure, Diabetes and high Cholesterol can also take these pills without any fear./p>
There has been a lot of buzz regarding the effectiveness of Phentermine 37.5mg for weight loss. It is one of the most prescribed drugs and once claimed as a “wonder drug”. However, the initial fizz has been vanished and people are now realizing the side-effects and harmful impact of this medicine on the body. Reduction of weight and getting rid of obesity can be certainly possible using Phentermine, but the harmful effects can become a bigger issue. Prescribed drug Phentermine can cause serious impact on people suffering from hypertension and other problems.
Nowadays even those people who have been prescribed for Phentermine are also going for FenFast and FenFast375 tablets because of their easy availability and less harmful effects. FenFast diet pills can be ordered from the website and there is no need to produce clinical prescription because it is not a prescription drug. FenFast reviews from hundreds of satisfied people clearly show that there is a huge shift from the prescribed drugs to these tablets.
Side-effects of Phentermine have always been a matter of concern. There was no option other than going for it earlier when FenFast and FenFast375 were not available in the market. People had to live with the harmful effects on the body just for the sake of losing a few pounds. A few of the side-effects were quite mild, but a few were fatal for some patients. FenFast reviews never reveal any single case with harmful effects and all testimonials mention significant weight loss safely and effectively.
Phentermine can’t be used for longer time because of two reasons. Firstly, the side-effects will force the people to stop taking it. Secondly, the body starts developing tolerance and resistance to the drug after some time and the effects start reducing. This is extremely dangerous situation because it requires increase in the dose causing further harm to the body. FenFast and FenFast375 do not have these problems.
FenFast and FenFast375 are effective substitute for Phentermine to produce incredible results.
Acne Care-Tips for a Daily Routine
December 20, 2015There are all sorts of treatments that help to provide excellent acne care. Here are a few methods that can be incorporated into your daily routine for effective control of the condition.
Although scrubbing the skin is no longer recommended as a way to cure acne, there is an aspect of acne care that requires gentle and consistent techniques to cleanse the skin. In addition to cleansing the ravaged skin, the daily routine may require application of topical antibiotics plus creams or lotions to help to change the condition and help to gently dry the areas where the sebaceous glands are excreting too much sebum. Here are some daily activities that should help to maintain a clear and healthy skin that is free of acne symptoms.
Water
One of the simplest methods of acne care is simply to increase the amount of drinking water that you take in each day. Additional water means your cells remain hydrated. Good hydration and good circulatory system health means that your entire body functions better. The toxins released from the cells such as dead skin cells are flushed away when there is plenty of water in the system. Overall body health leads to specific health of the major organs such as the skin. A good circulatory system moves the toxins from the system out of the body through perspiration, respiration and kidney function. So drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day.
Cleansing
Your daily routine for acne care should always include morning and evening cleansing with a gentle product such as one containing salicylic acid. This substance provides a mild drying action without further damage to the skin. The acne blemishes should never be scrubbed with harsh cleansers or products that only tend to make the skin more inflamed. However, exfoliation is a part of cleansing. Warm water and gentle action help to clear the pores of built up oils and dead skin cells without cell damage.
Drying
The drying action of salicylic acid has been proven effective as part of the acne care routine, both morning and evening. By using a colorless drying agent as part of the cleansing product, it provides a base for the daily activities, including specialized makeup that is not oil based. Using the drying product at bedtime helps the skin to heal, as well. Several good products for acne contain salicylic acid, so you can read the labels or use products recommended by your health care professional for your daily routine. The products are typically over the counter, but aggressive action early in the course of the disease may help to prevent most, if not all scarring.
Healing
Of course, the daily acne care routine should include products that help the damaged skin to heal. This can be a non oil based moisturizer, a topical antibiotic, or products to reduce redness and swelling. Again, some products are over the counter while others require a prescription. Checking with the medical personnel will provide an accurate diagnosis of the type of acne that is involved. Treatment for any acne should begin with an understanding of the type of acne and then the best daily care routine can be more easily established.
Discovery Health Is The Biggest Medical Aid Scheme In South Africa
December 19, 2015Discovery Health is the biggest medical aid scheme in South Africa and tends to dominate the South Afican Medical Aid industry. Discovery Health are an extremely innovative company and introduced a number of new concepts to the industry, including introducing the new generation savings plan schemes.
All benefits are pro-rated depending on when in the year one joins the scheme.
* A member has the option of downgrading their option at any time but may only upgrade without medical underwriting once per year effective from the 1st of January the following year.
Discovery Coastal Core and Classic Core
These are their Hospital plans. Both have unlimited Hospital benefits but cover claims at different rates;
* Coastal at NHRPL (National Health Reference Price List)
* Classic at 2X NHRPL.
The Hospital bill would be paid in full because of tariff agreements they have with the Hospital groups. To have the Surgeon and Anaesthetist bill fully covered, the member would have to use a practitioner who is contracted to charge the DHR (Discovery Health Rate) or buy a gap product that will pay the difference.
They both have the same Chronic Medication benefit as well as Emergency Evacuation
Discovery Coastal Saver and Classic Saver
Both of these plans have unlimited Hospital benefits but cover claims at different rates. The Hospital bill would be paid in full because of tariff agreements they have with the Hospital groups.
To have the Surgeon and Anaesthetist bill fully covered, the member would have to use a practitioner who is contracted to charge the DHR (Discovery Health Rate) or buy a gap product that will pay the difference. All day-to-day claims e.g. doctors consultations, medicines, etc, are paid from a savings account.
The add-on benefit of the savings account is a 50% payment towards GP consultations paid by the medical aid if they are contracted in to Discovery, so only 50% would be paid from the savings. Any portion of the savings not used would be carried forward to the following year. They both have the same Chronic Medication benefit as well as Emergency Evacuation i.e. Ambulance and Helicopter, etc.
Discovery Classic Comprehensive
This plan has unlimited Hospital benefits paid at 2X NHRPL (National Health Reference Price List) rate.
The Hospital bill would be paid in full because of tariff agreements they have with the Hospital groups. To have the Surgeon and Anaesthetist bill fully covered, the member would have to use a practitioner who is contracted to charge the DHR (Discovery Health Rate) or buy a gap product that will pay the difference.
Claims submitted to the medical aid would first be paid out of savings until that is exhausted and then from the Threshold benefit. The add-on benefit of the savings account is a 50% payment towards GP consultations paid by the medical aid if they are contracted in to Discovery, so only 50% would be paid from the savings. Any portion of the savings not used would be carried forward to the following year.
There is a small gap between the savings limit and the Threshold benefit kicking in, called the self-payment gap, during which expenses must be paid by the member but the bills must still be submitted to the medical aid. Once all your accumulated day-to-day expenses (irrespective of who pays them) reach the Threshold Excess, it will pay all day-to-day expenses until the end of the year, subject to sub-limits. This plan also has an extended Chronic Medication benefit.
Discovery KeyCare Core
Discovery is the biggest medical aid in South Africa and dominates the medical aid environment. This is an inexpensive hospital plan, it has unlimited hospital cover paid at 100% NHRPL but is only available from a limited list of private hospitals. It has a Chronic Medication Benefit as well as Emergency Evacuation i.e. Ambulance and Helicopter, etc.
Discovery KeyCare Plus
Discovery is the biggest medical aid in South Africa and dominates the medical aid environment. This is an inexpensive hospital plan, it has unlimited hospital cover paid at 100% NHRPL but is only available from a limited list of private hospitals.
This is a network option, which means that you get unlimited primary care doctors consultations, medicines and basic dentistry is unlimited from a network of practitioners. It has a Chronic Medication Benefit as well as Emergency Evacuation i.e. Ambulance and Helicopter, etc. Optional Additional Benefits
Vitality
This is Discoverys Wellness Program and one of their innovations. Its designed to encourage people to live a healthier, more active lifestyle because healthy people claim less, but it doesnt form part of the medical aid. Contrary to common belief, Vitality is a separate entity that the member may choose to join at a cost.
It offers discounts on a whole range of products and services based on your Vitality status, which ranges from blue to bronze to silver to gold. Your status would improve depending on how many points you accumulate through their various avenues e.g. lifestyle questionnaires, keeping member records current, having check-ups, being a non-smoker and reaching or maintaining your goal weight.
Health Plan Protector
This policy pays back your medical aid premiums (excluding savings) less claims annually into a HealthFund, a portion of which is paid back to the member each year or every 5 years (members choice) with the full balance being paid out at the age of 65. Also, there is a 5 or 10 year medical aid premium waiver should the member die, become disabled or claim a Category A severe illness. For more information, read the Health Plan Protector document (.pdf format)
Discovery Life Members of Discovery Health and Vitality can get as much as 32.5% discount off any Discovery Life policy. For more information, read the Why Discovery Life document (.pdf format). Top-Up Cover
This is an independent product that can be used to increase your hospital cover limits to R2,000,000. Gap Cover This independent cover will pay the additional amount charged by the surgeon and anaesthetist above the NHRPL rate up to a maximum of 3 X NHRPL rate. Learn more about GAP cover.