In an analysis of Google search data, New Zealand ranked 4th in the world for diet-related searches. The data revealed that among all diet trends, Kiwis search for ketogenic diets the most. If you live in New Zealand, you may be familiar with it already. A ketogenic diet promises accelerated weight loss, but for some, sticking to a long-term diet might prove challenging. 

Keto diets require discipline. Essentially, it is a high-fat diet with very little room for carbohydrates. As such, it grants you the freedom to eat fatty foods without the burden of guilt but demands that you cut off sources of carbohydrates like pasta and bread. For most people, sugar is indispensable, but thanks to erythritol in NZ, a better choice can replace it entirely. 

What is a Ketogenic Diet?

The main feature of a ketogenic diet is the high intake of fats in tandem with low consumption of carbs. Protein intake is somewhere in the middle. The ratio would be 70-80% fat, 10-20% protein and merely 5-10% carbohydrates. For this reason, keto works well with weight reduction. 

Indeed, Kiwis take weight loss seriously. In their immigration policy alone, a person whose Body Mass Index (BMI) score exceeds 35, which is unsatisfactory, is unlikely to meet health standards. Since a keto diet curbs an entire food category, a person will therefore eat less than usual. Then your body enters into the state of ketosis, where it is forced to get energy from ketones instead of glucose. 

When your body enters a state of ketosis, the liver produces ketones, burning more fats. If you have a kidney condition or diabetes, you should first consult a doctor before drastically changing your diet. Also, keep in mind how food high in saturated fat increases the risk of heart disease. 

A keto diet is restrictive and hard to sustain. For fatty foods, you are likely to eat butter, nuts, avocado, cheese, and bacon. For foods rich in protein, you are limited to red meat, eggs, dairy and seafood. Lastly, sources of sugar will come mostly from fruits and vegetables. 

Is Keto Safe?

As always, you should proceed with caution. If you are just jumping on the bandwagon, then it’s better not to. The general intent of people who undergo keto is to lose weight. Simply put, a ketogenic diet is not for everyone. 

If, however, you do wish to continue—then be aware of the type of fats you eat. Keto demands you to eat lots of fat, but it doesn’t say whether it’s saturated or unsaturated. Besides, a strict regimen might lead to missing out on essential micronutrients, one readily available in a broader diet. If you have issues with your pancreas, gallbladder, or thyroid, keto can be harmful to your health. 

Erythritol: The Best Sugar Alternative 

Erythritol in NZ sounds too good to be true. This type of sugar alcohol is only partially digested in the intestines. Unlike regular sugar, it doesn’t cause spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels. This alternative is about 70% as sweet as table sugar and cools the mouth. 

Erythritol is a popular sugar replacement for keto diets. It comes in powder form and is suitable for baking and other recipes. The best part? There is a very small amount of carbs and calories you can ignore entirely. 

A national survey in New Zealand showed that, on average, an adult consumes around 107 grams of sugar. No wonder it’s too easy for fat to pile up. It only makes sense that the keto diet is mainstream, while sugar alcohols like erythritol make the diet easier to handle.

A time will come when you will notice your grandparents are having a hard time going up and down the stairs. Even if they say that they can still use the stairs on their own, it will be hard for them to do it as easy as before when they were still younger. It may be time to find another alternative to help them use the stairs without a problem. 

The best option you have is to install a stair chair lift that can help them go down and up the stairs with ease. You can find many elderly people that are utilising stairlifts because of how efficient they are. If it is your first time buying a stairlift system, you need to follow a few tips to help you purchase the perfect one. 

1.Ask for Advice

Before looking for a company that sells stairlifts, it would be best to talk to a healthcare professional to learn what type of stairlift your grandparents need. Healthcare professionals can give you expert advice on what type of chair or how many seats cushioning your grandparents need for the stairlift. 

Getting professional answers can help you decide which stairlift type they will need. Another method of getting advice is to talk to friends or family members that already have a stairlift in their homes. They might be able to recommend a proper stairlift, saving you more time hopping from store to store. 

2.Know the Style of Your Staircase

The next tip is to determine the shape of your staircase. Doing so can help you choose the stairlift that will work efficiently on a specific staircase design. Some examples of staircases are:

.Straight Staircases

It is the most common staircase found in most homes with a second floor. Installing a straight stairlift is the most obvious choice since the stairlift only goes in one direction. The straight stairlift is also the most cost-effective stairlift system that anyone can buy. 

.Curved Staircases

Some houses have a curved staircase, so a straight stairlift system will not work here. Curved staircases need a curved stairlift because it is specifically designed to transport the chair on a curved surface. In most cases, the curved stairlift system costs more than the straight stairlift system. 

.Outdoor Staircases

An outdoor staircase would usually refer to the porch or your backyard patio. Outdoor staircases also have fewer steps, which is why there are outdoor stairlift systems. The outdoor stairlift system also has sturdier and more durable parts because it is constantly exposed to harsh weather elements. 

3.Keep in Mind Your Budget

The most crucial part when finding the perfect stairlift system is to know if you have the budget to purchase the right one. As mentioned a while ago, a straight stairlift is the cheapest option out of the other two, so it should be no issue for you to purchase it. But if you plan on getting one of the other two, you may need to increase your budget if you want your grandparents to use a convenient and comfortable stairlift. There is nothing better than seeing them use the stairs without having difficulty or looking tired. 

Since you now know several tips on looking for a stair chair lift system, the last thing you need to do is find a reliable stairlift supplier. You need to find a company that supplies quality stairlift if you do not want them to break when your grandparents are riding them suddenly. 

Toyota was hailed as Australia’s favourite carmaker in 2020, based on the company’s strong sales in the latter part of the year. A report from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) revealed that a total of 204,801 Toyota vehicles were sold at the end of the calendar year. But those who purchased their cars must also buy aftermarket accessories like Toyota car sunshade to protect them from the harsh elements. 

Some people think that sun shades are nothing but bizarre accessories that they placed in their windshields. They believe that it is just a piece of glorified tin foil used all over Australia during the hot summer months. But in fact, there are plenty of benefits that you and your car can get by using a Toyota car sunshade. 

Real Perks Of Using Car Sun Shade

Aside from ensuring that your car interior remains at a comfortable temperature, the windshield sunshade for your Toyota car can also offer other useful advantages. It includes:

1. Letting you touch the car’s steering wheel without burning your hands. 
2. Ensuring that the expensive steering wheel cover will not fade. 
3. Letting you sit comfortably in the car while wearing shorts or mini skirts. 
4. Protecting the car sear from tears and cracks. 
5. Shielding your car stereo from excessive heat. 
6. Keeping the quality of the dashboard so it will not bend in the areas where it should be kept straight. 

All in all, car sun shades are meant to preserve the integrity of the car’s interior while ensuring your total comfort when driving during hot summer days. 

How Do Car Sun Shades Serve Its Purpose? 

The usual car sun shades look like a thin, frail sheet of foil and foam. But this simple car accessory uses science to protect the car from excessive heat. 

When the sunlight enters the car, some of its energies are reflected out as visible light. This type of light does not have any impact on the interior temperature of the vehicle. However, the remaining light that enters the vehicle gets absorbed by the different materials inside the vehicle, including the dashboard, steering wheel, and car seat. Since the energy cannot leave the car as a form of visible light, the sunshade will reflect the rays to lessen the energy absorption. 

Sunshade Styles to Choose From

There are plenty of windshield sun shades in the market today. To help narrow down your selection, here are several sun shade styles that you can match with your current needs. 

1. Foldable Custom-Fit Sun Shade – This type of car sunshade is made to protect your interior from harsh damages due to harmful UV rays. With the help of this item, you may never need to worry about the fading, cracks, and wear and tear on your vehicle’s dashboard or upholstery. It can also help keep your cockpit comfortable and cool despite the weather. 
2. Roll-Up Custom Fit – The customised roll-up sun shades are more portable and handy because you can roll them up easily when you need to store them. It is also easy to install, which is perfect for those who are always on the go. 
3. Accordion – If you want a Toyota car sunshade that will always stay in place and have more room for storage, you can get the accordion-style shade. It fits most cars, including SUVs and sedans. 
4. Universal Roll-Up – For those who want an affordable yet working car shade accessory, you can look for a universal roll-up car sunshade. Its versatile design makes it fit in most vehicles in the market. 

Buying a car sunshade for your Toyota vehicle is one of the aftermarket investments that you can make your money’s worth. With the help of this essential car accessory, you will be able to protect the car’s interior despite the hot weather.

The Australian Department of Health revealed that around 3.6 million people in the country deal with hearing loss. It could be due to age-related causes or excessive exposure to loud sounds. Those who are already dealing with ear health problems need to purchase hearing aids to help them with their condition. 

There are plenty of factors to think about when buying hearing aids. But the biggest consideration that you must think about if you need to buy one is the level of hearing loss you are experiencing. Is it something mild, or are you experiencing severe hearing loss? After this consideration, here are several questions that you must ask yourself before buying a new hearing aid. 

Question #1: What Should the Hearing Aid Look Like? 

Nowadays, hearing aid manufacturers developed different styles of hearing apparatus. It allows people to have an option when finding the best one to suit their needs. 

Some people choose hearing devices that are highly concealed. Others are more comfortable if their hearing apparatus is visible. You can choose what you want depending on the style that you intend to achieve. 

Question #2: Do I Always Spend Time Outside the House or Spend More Time Indoors? 

The lifestyle of people with hearing problems vary. Some choose to spend more time outside to meet up with friends or do outdoor activities. Others prefer to stay in and binge-watch their favourite shows. 

If you like to go out, you will be exposed to plenty of background noise. It would require you to look for hearing aids that can reduce background noises. If you want to spend more time at home, you may choose to ignore the background noise cancelling features of the device. 

Question #3: Can I Stream Music or Listen to TV Shows Directly on My Hearing Apparatus? 

Due to the advancements in technology, it is no longer impossible to find a hearing device made for connectivity. It allows you to connect the device to your smartphone using Bluetooth connectivity. 

With the help of this technology, you may connect your hearing aid to your smartphone. This solution will lessen the need to use assistive listening devices that may incur more costs. 

Question #4: What Does My Work Environment Look Like? 

Your job can also be an important factor to consider when buying hearing aids. Working in quiet and more secluded environments like theatres have fewer requirements than working at a busy construction site. 

Always think about how your usual day at work goes. It will help you gauge if your need a hearing apparatus with a stronger background noise reduction feature or something that can help you listen to softer sounds. It will also let you know if you need a device that can work well when listening inside larger venues. 

Question #5: Can I Get a Referral From a Reputable Audiologist? 

Buying a good hearing aid can be challenging. You may need to ask a specialist for help. An audiologist can provide the best assessment for your hearing and allow you to choose the best device according to your needs. 

If you have hearing loss in both ears, it would be best to ask for a recommendation from an audiologist. They will provide the best assessment to ensure that you can hear properly with two different hearing aids. 

Picking the right hearing aid can be tricky. By having the most accurate answers to these questions, you will be able to find the right one that will give you the best hearing possible. 

Broadly speaking, community is defined by sharing and interaction. To be part of a community is to share histories and opinions, flaws and triumphs. No matter how much you might consider yourself to be apart from any easily defined community, there is no escaping the vast influence that community and communities have upon your life. Here are 4 places where community is especially fundamental. 

The Soccer Stadium

No sport has seen the cultivation of community spirit quite like the game of soccer. Around the world, communities gather and organize in unbelievable cohesion around their chosen team. Some teams have developed communities based around political comradery. The German team FC St Pauli, for instance, has gathered a community of left wing supporters around it. These supporters are known for valuing the community of the club more than the results on the soccer pitch. They gang together to fight fascism, raise money for charity and create an inclusive environment. 

In a perfect world all sports would primarily revolve around community. Soccer has been inseparable from community identity since it first started spreading around the world in the late 1800’s. 

Senior Living Environments

Growing old can be a mightily scary experience. Community really helps people feel at home when they have been displaced from their ordinary lives by deteriorating health. A sense of cohesive societal interaction is absolutely crucial for people who have chosen to rehome themselves amongst people their own age. 

For example, advisors from Bel Air assisted living in Bel Air say that one of the biggest factors in choosing an assisted living community is the overall community feel and connection to other residents.

Some communities are especially reliant upon groups of likeminded peers after they retire. Veterans, for instance, will often try and retire into communities made up of other veterans. It is with their peers that they can share their experiences and form strong bonds without judgement. 

The Punk Concert

Punk music has more to do with community than it does music. It is a powerful glue that holds together groups of young people disenfranchised by the fractious and capital orientated world. The clothing, music and identifying features of almost every youth subculture over the years have served entirely as community building catalysts. Like hippies and teddy boys before them, the punks of the late 20^th Century used aesthetic cultural markers to indicate their revulsion with the status quo. 

The Streets

Almost all of our public interactions are guided by our complex understanding of the community to which we belong – or choose to reject. The streets of every city on this planet are crafted by inclusion and exclusion. The architecture of the street – with its impenetrable boundaries between private and public – is based on the limits of our community cohesion. The unspoken laws of interaction that govern the movement of people on the street are community markers. The groupings, dislocations and collisions of people are an ever-present reminder of the ways in which community guides movement and interaction.