Pack your bags and tick off your bucket list
Retirement
Life Magazine
What Is Forex Trading?
Everything You Need To Know About
GENETIC TESTING
Meet The Ordinary Vegan
Olivia Newton-John
Turns To CBD Oil r e t i r e m e n t l i fe n m a ga z i n e . c o m
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Contents
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Olivia Newton-John Turns To CBD Oil.................7 Genetic Testing: What You Need To Know.......................................... 9
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The Cannabis Co: Understanding Hemp, CBD And Cannabis......................................12 Common Mistakes Made When Investing In Crypto.......................................16 Celebrities Who Swear By CBD............................18 Nancy Montuori: The Ordinary Vegan...............21
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Retiring? Join A Travel Club!.................................26 Nomadic Retirement Living.................................30 What Is Forex Trading?............................................ 33
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Martin A. Lee: Cannabis: A Versatile Plant Medicine.............. 35
Retirement
Life
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Contributors Nancy Montuori The Ordinary Vegan Nancy Montuori is a health and wellness advocate, consultant, and certified nutrition specialist who champions a plant-based diet to help reverse and prevent chronic disease. Since 2011, Nancy Montuori’s website, Ordinary Vegan has been a beacon for those seeking a long and healthy life. Nancy shares her message of health and wellness on TV, radio, magazines, and holistic fitness retreats. She is also the host of the inspiring nutrition podcast, Ordinary Vegan, available on iTunes and Spotify. In 2017, after discovering that CBD oil was the wellness supplement that everybody could benefit from, Nancy became the founder of Ordinary Vegan CBD. She made it her mission to provide the safest, highest quality CBD available specially formulated for older adults. Nancy’s number one mission is to educate people about the health benefits of plant-based nutrition and CBD oil to help people live a long, healthy, pain-free life. ordinaryvegan.net
The Cannabis Co Launched in 2017, The Cannabis Company has swiftly become one of Australia and New Zealand’s most trusted cannabis brands. Committed to using 100% Aussie-grown and organic hemp, their clinically proven wellness products are being devoured by humans and animals alike – with some incredible results. cannabiscompany.com.au
Martin A. Lee Project CBD
projectcbd.org
Nomadic Retirement Living Nomadic Retirement Living is a website and a Facebook group focused on exploring alternative retirement lifestyles. More retirees are living lifestyles full of travel and adventure. The goal is to inspire, inform, and challenge people to think outside of the box when considering different retirement options. Ultimately, Nomadic Retirement Living is about finding ways to a simpler yet richer life. n omadicretirement living.com
Martin A. Lee is the co-founder and director of Project CBD (projectcbd. org), an educational service focusing on cannabis science and therapeutics. He is the author of several books, including most recently Smoke Signals: A Social History of Marijuana – Medical, Recreational and Scientific. The American Botanical Council gave Smoke Signals its James A. Duke Excellence in Botanical Literature Award. Named by High Times as one of the 100 most influential people in cannabis, Lee is also co-author of Acid Dreams, a social history of LSD. Lee received the Emerald Cup’s Lifetime Achievement award in 2016. projectcbd.org
Hollie Faye
Editor In Chief Welcome to our third issue of Retirement Life Magazine. We are so happy to have you on board! Retirement is a new stage of life that should be fully embraced and enjoyed. It is also a period where planning is the key to success, enjoyment and peace of mind. Our magazine is especially designed for the retiree or the soon-to-be retiree! Packed full of information and inspiration about how to plan for your retirement, how to get the most out of it and most importantly, how to really enjoy it. Sadly, Olivia Newton-John has revealed that her cancer is back. She is taking a totally new approach to treatment and turning to a powerful new foe cannabidiol (CBD) oil. Read her story on page 7. In this issue, we meet the Ordinary Vegan, Nancy Montuori, has been a beacon for those seeking a long and healthy life. Nancy became the founder of Ordinary Vegan CBD. She made it her mission to provide the safest, highest quality CBD available specially formulated for older adults.
If you think your retirement has to follow the same pattern as your parents and grandparents, let Nomadic Retirement Living’s Yvonne and Michael Bauche show you how to do it differently, on page 28. This issue is also bursting with a range of other interesting and exciting articles including: • Common Mistakes Made When Investing in Crypto • Celebrities Using CBD Oil • Personal wealth influencers to pay attention to • Retiring? Join A Travel Club! As you can see, there is plenty to get through. We hope that you enjoy our third issue of Retirement Life Magazine as much as our team enjoyed creating it. You have worked hard all your life so now it’s time to sit back, smell the roses and make the most out of your retirement. Enjoy the journey!
Hollie
Olivia NewtonJohn Turns To CBD Oil Earlier this year, English / Aussie actress Olivia Newton-John revealed she is entering into a battle with cancer for the third time. Famed for her role as Sandy in the film Grease, Olivia first fought breast cancer 25 years ago. She won that fight and has been active in raising awareness about the disease ever since the 1992 diagnosis. During a September interview on Australian 60 Minutes, she revealed that the cancer was back, and that she was taking a totally new approach to treatment. Her decision was to tackle her cancer with a powerful new foe - cannabidiol (CBD) oil. The 70-year-old’s most recent diagnosis of stage four breast cancer is incurable, but it can be managed through treatment, and NewtonJohn says she has decided to use “everything she can” to get stronger. This includes CBD oil. Olivia previously turned to cannabis to help her cope with the unbearable pain she experienced as a result of her earlier bouts of cancer.
“It has helped incredibly with pain maintenance and sleep,” Newton-John said. “It’s an amazing plant, a maligned plant, but it’s helping so many people,” she said. Her treatment regime includes plenty of selfcare in conjunction to taking CBD oil. “I pray. I meditate. I manage to find stillness just being in nature or playing with my dog or going down and playing with my little mini horses or chickens. I love animals. I find calmness in that.” Mindset has played a significant role in her success beating the first two bouts of cancer. “My cancer scare changed my life. I’m grateful for every new, healthy day I have. It has helped me prioritize my life.”
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She is approaching her cancer treatment this time around in a more natural way, relying on wellness techniques and her herbalist husbands’ plant medicine. A short statement issued on her Facebook page read: “In addition to natural wellness therapies, Olivia will complete a short course of photon radiation therapy and is confident she will be back later in the year, better than ever, to celebrate her shows.” Her second cancer originally manifested as pain in her lower back. Her doctors discovered that the old breast cancer had metastasized in her lower back. The back isn’t the most common area for cancer to spread to, yet it can be extremely dangerous and may even cause paralysis. In addition to a number of wellness techniques, the actress and singer manages her pain and the progression of the disease through a cannabis tincture made by her husband. In
In a world where millions of people are dying of opiates, it is rather ironic that we are restricting the use of cannabis, while it could perfectly take the place of these opiates and stop these people from dying.
fact, he grew the cannabis plants himself to distill the CBD herbal medicine in as natural a way as possible. Olivia was in so much pain that she was forced to postpone her world tour. At times she couldn’t walk. The pain did improve but she said in 2017, “The pain was the hardest thing. I can walk now but I can’t go long distances.” The star attributed her improvement to her healthy lifestyle, support of family and cannabis. She is planning on following the same regime with CBD for this years diagnosis. “My husband’s … always there to support me, and I believe I will win over it and that’s my goal.” In 2018, it was reported that the number of CBD consumers doubled following a rise in readilyavailable cannabis-derived products around the world, yet is still not readily available to patients in need. Newton John has advocated for better access to cancer patients in Australia. Daily Telegraph quotes her;
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‘It is not exactly fair that they are making it very hard for people to access it while I am living proof that it works.’ She then added, ‘ In a world where millions of people are dying of opiates, it is rather ironic that we are restricting the use of cannabis, while it could perfectly take the place of these opiates and stop these people from dying.’
Genetic Testing: What You Need To Know As we get older, it’s natural for our bodies to slow down and for issues such as arthritis, lack of mobility, osteoporosis, unsteadiness, and other issues to crop up. However, while these and many other health concerns are common, this doesn’t mean they’re fun. They impact our quality of life and can even shorten it. This is particularly the case when it comes to major illnesses such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and more. Whether you’ve recently retired, planning to soon, or enjoyed an early retirement years ago, it’s important to do everything you can to look after your health and stay fit and active. While this primarily revolves around regular exercise, good nutrition, and plenty of sleep, it also pays to stay educated and learn what you can about your body. One way that an increasing number of retirees are keeping ahead of sickness, is through genetic testing. It’s quicker and more affordable than ever to engage in genetic screening to find out your major risk factors. Here’s what you need to know.
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HOW DO GENETIC TESTS WORK? Typically, genetic testing is done via blood tests. Some tests may be completed by getting a sample of saliva or from a buccal smear taken from the inside of your mouth. There are thousands of different genetic tests available, and while they’re focused on different things, they all look for variations from what genes normally look like. Note, though, that there can be a wide variety of gene variations, and only some are important and cause for concern. Tests are done to identify people with higher risks of developing health problems, or to select treatments for sufferers of conditions, or sometimes to assess responses to treatments already underway. Tests can help diagnose diseases or identify changes to genes that may increase the likelihood that someone develops it or passes it on to their children. The tests also determine the severity of diseases or isolate particular gene changes responsible for an already-diagnosed disease. You cannot understand genetic tests properly by yourself. It’s necessary to speak with a 10 r e t i r e m e n t l i fe n m a ga z i n e . c o m
doctor, geneticist, or genetic counsellor about your results. They’ll explain what the information means for you and your family. Costs for genetic tests vary hugely. Some may be covered by the government, in part or in full, but not all are, so speak with a GP or specialist before you go ahead to ensure you know what you will have to cover yourself.
REASONS TO CONSIDER GENETIC TESTING As a senior, there are numerous reasons why you might decide to get some of these tests done. For example, the tests are ideal if there is a particular medical condition in your family that you’re concerned you have or may develop, or could pass on to your children. They’re also beneficial if you didn’t know your biological parents or other family members, or if they’re no longer around to ask about medical history. Getting tests done alleviates concerns or, alternatively, gives you data so you can plan better for the future. Knowing either way can be a real stress reliever. The information you receive
will help you to know what next steps to take and how to prepare, if need be, for the future and, hopefully, how to try to prevent any issues from arising.
involving a doctor, this often isn’t the best way forward. There are scammers out there taking advantage of people, and it’s possible for the quality of services to vary.
The tests are also handy when it comes to understanding a condition you’ve recently been diagnosed with. Knowledge is power, so the more data you have about an illness, the better you will understand it and be able to move forward.
You also need someone to interpret the results properly for you, something which isn’t always a part of online services. Interpreting tests takes knowledge, skill, and experience, and not all doctors, health coaches, and other practitioners are trained in this.
Sometimes, people also ask for tests to be done if they’ve been exposed at some stage during their life to harmful toxins, chemicals, radiation, drugs, that have been shown to cause genetic abnormalities.
Genetic testing is an interesting field to investigate. Research upfront, and you’ll be better placed to get what you need out of the tests you proceed with.
OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER While most genetic tests are easy, safe, and effective, and therefore low-risk when it comes to your health, keep in mind that receiving unfavourable results can impact on you mentally and emotionally. They can also sometimes be a strain financially. Be aware, too, that these tests won’t tell you everything about inherited diseases. Just because you receive a positive result for some kind of DNA arrangement, this doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily develop the disease. The tests also can’t predict how severe the symptoms will be; plus, there are plenty of times when people get a condition that they didn’t seem genetically predisposed to. Keep all of this in mind when making your decision about whether or not to move forward. Speaking with a knowledgeable genetic counsellor or another health specialist will help you to weigh up the pros and cons. Furthermore, while various genetic tests can be ordered and arranged online these days, without r e t i r e m e n t l i fe n m a ga z i n e . c o m
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The Cannabis Co.
Understanding Hemp, CBD And Cannabis
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or something so popular, it’s amazing how widely misunderstood cannabis products are. In this plant-happy world we’re currently living in, it’s not surprising to see a green wash of cannabis infused products lining the shelves of your local shops. However, CBD products can be extremely difficult to navigate. The cannabis plant touted on product labels is a sell-point, but it’s often unclear which specific ingredient is being used, and there are a number of ingredients derived from the cannabis or hemp plants—hemp oil, CBD oil or cannabis sativa seed oil. Each of these have their own unique benefits, though are often used interchangeably. Brands want to cash in on the popularity of the cannabis
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movement, but the vocabulary necessary to understand the ingredient is extensive. To clear up some of this confusion, we reached out to some cannabis pros. The Cannabis Co. “has swiftly become one of Australia and New Zealand’s most trusted cannabis brands. Committed to using 100 per cent Aussie-grown and organic hemp, their clinically proven wellness products are being devoured by humans and animals alike—with some incredible results,” says their CEO, John Heseltine. We wanted to find out the differences between hemp and CBD and which may be most beneficial to you and your overall health.
SO…WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEMP, CBD, AND MARIJUANA? A lot of people are quick to disregard talk of hemp/CBD, especially among retirement aged individuals, because they think it’s illegal or will get you high. While hemp, CBD, and marijuana are all derived from the same cannabis plant family, the main difference between Hemp and marijuana is that Hemp does not get you high and marijuana is grown primarily for this purpose. Currently in Australia, it is legal to farm Hemp as food and requires a special permit. Medical cannabis can also be accessed legally via an approved script from the government, however, possessing it outside of medicinal use is illegal. According to The Cannabis Co., hemp is permitted to be sold as food because it contains no psychoactive molecules—i.e.: it lacks the molecules that will get you high.
HEMP OIL The Cannabis Co. say that the main benefits from hemp derived products are best received in its raw form. Hemp foods are full of important nutrients like protein, fiber, and essential fatty acids like Omega 3, 6, and 9. They contain all 20 amino acids as well as antioxidants and are full of vitamins and minerals. Hemp foods are also easy to digest, which means your body can access and use all of the great nutrition, rather than simply passing it through. They advised us that it is always best to consume hemp in its raw form. Proteins r e t i r e m e n t l i fe n m a ga z i n e . c o m
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and flour derived from hemp seed oil are nutritious, but hemp as a food ingredient can be used in a wide variety of foods. The Cannabis Co. is also adding hemp to craft gins. On the flipside, a major con of hemp is that it lacks the therapeutic benefits and the concentration of cannabinoid molecules that can be used to treat disorders. The Cannabis Co. told us, “If you want to treat epilepsy at a therapeutic level, for example, then a medical cannabis product with high concentrations of the CBD molecule would be better than hemp seed oil.”
CBD OIL CBD is pretty controversial because most people think it’s a drug. The guys at The Cannabis Co. agreed that it is actually true—it’s been used as a pharmaceutical drug for many years now. Sativex, a treatment derived from cannabis used to treat MS, is approved by several countries around the world. However, CBD alone isn’t the same as marijuana. The CBD itself is a chemical molecule found inside the cannabis plant. In CBD products, this is the main active ingredient and is usually added to hemp oil, which is where the oil part comes from. According to the British Journal of Clinical Psychology, the most common uses of CBD are in the treatment of anxiety, schizophrenia, nausea, vomiting, inflammation, and epilepsy. Another benefit is that it’s not psychoactive, so it won’t get you high.
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According to The Cannabis Co., the best way to reap in the benefits of CBD is via non-smoking methods. Oils, creams, transdermal patches, and edibles are what they recommend and say they’re especially useful for the elderly or young children, to ensure they get a controlled dose. The main downside of CBD in the Australian market is the cost, with accessibility coming in a close second. You’re required to jump through a lot of hoops to receive approval from the AU government, and it’s not guaranteed to be successful.
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Common Mistakes Made When
Investing In Crypto
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f you’ve joined the new generation of investors into cryptocurrency, or are thinking of taking the plunge, here are our top 5 mistakes and how to avoid them:
Not doing research Like any way to make money, it doesn’t happen if you don’t do the work. You don’t just invest in a few coins and get rich overnight. You’ll need to learn as much as you can about the cryptocurrency technology and market,
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and then constantly update your information. Invest in some equipment and tools and learn about the coins, tokens and exchanges on offer. If you don’t like numbers, this may not be for you, as you will need to learn the basics of technical analysis and learn how to calculate your positions and make quick decisions. There’s a wealth of information out there, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the many conflicting opinions. Find a handful of sites, commentators and influencers that you like
and use them as your core team. Try not to rely on just one person’s opinion – cross check with other reliable sources.
you to manage your portfolio and maximise your returns, and save you a lot of time and stress come tax time.
Not backing up
Not sticking to an investment plan
Crypto is not like a bank – you can’t just ask for copies of statements or reset your passwords online. You’ll need to back up your passwords, transactions, time stamps, and wallets and store them somewhere secure. If you lose your information you lose it forever. As all of your transactions and personal information is held online, be super careful of online security and watch out for scams. Check the URLs of sites carefully, as some are set up to look like legitimate sites, but just take your money. Use a secure personal internet connection (not public wifi) and use strong passwords. Finally, if you are serious about trading crypto, buy a hardware wallet to store your crypto coins. This is a physical electronic device that must be connected to your computer, phone, or tablet in order to trade.
Not keeping records When you are transacting online, it’s easy to assume that your records are held electronically, but it’s a good idea to keep copies of your transactions, just in case you lose access to your accounts. Records also help you to understand the full costs of your trades. In the adrenalin rush of buying and selling, you might think you are making a profit, but amateur investors often forget the various costs that may come with each transaction – the most common being fees and currency exchange differences. In addition, make sure you understand the tax implications for your profits, and know your ‘after tax’ profit. Keeping accurate and timely records will help
It’s important to create a solid plan before you get started, and to stick with it. Cryptocurrency is a market high of risks, and going off piste will only increase that risk. Firstly, you need to think about your risk profile (and note that if you’re a fairly conservative investor, Crypto may not be for you!) and determine your budget. In a volatile market, how much are you prepared to lose? Once you have a plan that fits your lifestyle and budget, stick to it like glue. Resist the urge to follow the crowds, and diligently do your research every step of the way. If you’re nervous about starting out, start with a small amount and limit the number of transactions, then increase your position as you gain confidence.
Not diversifying When a plan is working it’s tempting to put everything you’ve got into it. But investing isn’t poker. If you go all in, you run a high risk of losing everything. Diversify within your crypto portfolio, and more importantly, make sure you have other assets in case you have a disaster trade. Remember crypto is high risk, and while that can bring high returns, it could also wipe out your life savings. Spreading your risk across a share portfolio, property, bonds and cash will let you play the crypto market with more confidence.
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Celebrities Who Swear By CBD Cannabinoid (CBD) is a natural oil derived from the hemp plant and has been receiving plenty of attention due to its health and beauty benefits. Some of the most common uses for CBD is to relieve anxiety, muscle tension and pain. And, its for this reason many celebrities have been jumping on the bandwagon and using Cannabinoid products to help them reduce anything from their stress levels to the pain caused by serious diseases and illnesses. Let’s look at some famous faces who are major advocates for CBD.
Morgan Freeman The well-known actor, director and film-narrator is a strong believer for the legalisation and use of CBD and THC products for medicinal purposes. He is believed to have been using marijuana since the early 70s but began using it medicinally to treat chronic pain and fibromyalgia which was caused by a near-fatal car accident in 2008.
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Whoopi Goldberg Whoopi is a major advocate for cannabis and cannabidiol (CBD) products for women. She uses her success as a comedian, actress, author and television host as a platform to share the benefits of medicinal marijuana to treat period pain, menopausal symptoms and nerve pain. She openly uses CBD oil to relieve stress and pain and to aid glaucoma.
Tom Hanks Fed up with taking various pills and medication to ease his anxiety, Tom Hanks decided to give CBD a try. He says that he instantly noticed the relief he felt from his anxiety and also several aches and pains in his body. Since then, he has used it to help with his type II diabetes and has even linked up with a university student to research the benefits of CBD for people who have stress-related illnesses and diabetes.
Michael J. Fox The Back to the Future star was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the young age of 29, leaving him no choice but to slow down on his acting career. He began using CBD oil to ease the pain from his disease and help him continue with his passion for acting. He founded the Michael J. Fox foundation for Parkinson’s, which focuses on the study of Cannabis, marijuana and CBD for the relief of this condition.
Montel Williams Television/radio host and actor, Montell Williams uses CBD products to reduce the symptoms of Multiple sclerosis (MS) which he was diagnosed with in 1999. Research has proven that it can help relieve pain, fatigue and spasms that are all associated with this disease. r e t i r e m e n t l i fe n m a ga z i n e . c o m
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Sam Simon Sam Simon, who is known as the man who gave us The Simpsons, was told he had terminal colon cancer in 2012 and given 3 months to live. He chose to use CBD to manage his symptoms and went on to live over 2 years longer than expected, eventually passing in 2015.
Oliver Stone Oliver Stone fought in the Vietnam war for the US Army before he began his cinema career. Not only did he return from war with PTSD and find that it helped him from going insane trying to readjust, but he recounted that many of his platoon members also smoked to relax and maintain a healthy state of mind. He’s been advocating for legalization ever since.
Olivia Newton-John The English-Australian actor who rose to fame after starring as Sandy in Grease has been diagnosed this year with Breast Cancer for her third time. Her daughter, Chloe Rose Lattanzi, has opened up about her mother’s cancer, stating that she will be opting for the use of CBD oil as well as other natural remedies to fight her battle. “She will be using medicine that I often talk about. CBD oil! Cannabis has scientifically proven properties to inhibit cancer cell growth and other natural healing remedies plus modern medicine to beat this,” Chloe said.
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NANCY MONTUORI:
The Ordinary Vegan For the past few years, CBD has sparked a shift in health and wellness care as people worldwide are turning to natural relief for the health conditions and concerns. Based on findings from numerous studies, CBD can provide natural relief for over 50 conditions, such as arthritis, epilepsy, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. With a growing number of states and territories globally legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana (medically and recreationally), plenty of new products are emerging touting the amazing health benefits of Cannabidiol or CBD. A lot of these products are being advertised and tailored to the aging population. Many seniors may not be aware of how medical cannabis can improve their quality of life, and could form judgement based on the stereotypes surrounding marijuana. However, CBD can be derived in two ways—via the marijuana plant or the hemp plant. Nancy Montuori and Ordinary
Vegan care most about CBD derived from the hemp plant and breaking the stigma surrounding it amongst retirement aged individuals. Ordinary Vegan began after an eyeopening experience. “In 2011, I went to see the documentary film Forks Over Knives.” I left that theatre convinced of the connection between animal protein and chronic disease,” explained Nancy. “I wanted to scream it from the rooftops ‘You don’t have to be sick anymore; you just have to change what you eat!” From then on, she devoted her existence to helping people live long and healthy lives through her blog and podcast, Ordinary Vegan. “Ordinary Vegan is dedicated to empowering and teaching people about nutrition and the benefits of eating more plant based meals.” Her newest venture? Introducing CBD products and the amazing health benefits they provide. We spoke to Nancy about
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why she feels they’re so important for senior aged individuals.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE CBD PRODUCTS ORDINARY VEGAN HAS LAUNCHED. Nancy Montuori: In late 2016, I discovered CBD oil made from hemp. After a year of research, attending hemp conventions and hearing testimonials, I decided that CBD oil was a natural extension of Ordinary Vegan’s goal of helping people live a long, healthy, pain-free, anxiety-free life. So in 2017, I launched my own line of organically grown, GMO-free, all natural, vegan CBD.
HOW CAN CBD BENEFIT US AS WE AGE? NM: I specialize in CBD for older adults because older adults are experiencing the most pain, anxiety, and depression. They are also living longer and deserve a high quality, active life. As we age, our endocannabinoid system needs enhancing, and it’s as simple as that. Cannabidiol (CBD) enhances and influences the receptors that cause us pain, inflammation, anxiety, and depression. And the best part is, it’s all natural. It isn’t another pharmaceutical drug, so there is no downside to taking CBD.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR MISCONCEPTIONS SURROUNDING CBD AMONG SENIORS? NM: The two biggest misconceptions is that hemp is not legal and that hemp is marijuana. In December of 2018, Donald Trump passed into law The Farm Act. The Farm Act allows farmers to grow hemp and legalizes CBD made from hemp. Hemp is not marijuana; it is a cousin plant. The biggest difference between hemp and marijuana is that the hemp plant can’t get you high like the marijuana plant. There is no THC [the psychoactive drug in marijuana] in hemp. Nancy’s CBD infused products include CBD oil capsules, CBD oil drops, and CBD cream. Ordinary Vegan’s CBD products and more information about CBD can be found at ordinaryvegan. net/shop. ordinaryvegan.net
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3 to 5 years is run by an expert in the Forex and cryptocurrency space, who thoroughly screens traders before they are added into the system. It is so easy to get mesmerized by the lofty returns experienced by some Forex traders. The sad truth is, 95% of all traders are losing money! This free portal shows how people with zero experience in Forex trading can
win by having skilled traders making the trades for them with a level of transparency not seen before. Here’s the first big benefit for you with this system: The traders are only selected after they have proven their ability to DOUBLE accounts in 3 months and sometimes, they do it in 1 month. What makes 3 to 5 years special as opposed to other free coaching programs is, it’s ideally suited if you are looking for ways to improve your financial situation. A professionally traded, managed account is, by far, your best option to leverage the Forex markets. Also, if you want to share this free portal with a few folks there is the potential to generate a huge additional monthly income. The second big benefit is something incredible: What you might not recognize at first is, aside from leveraging the skills of professional traders, you will also learn how you can partner with a Forex broker and share a portion of their profits on winning and losing trades. Yes, that’s not a misprint. The brokers make profits on every trade and you can now gain an income from the losing trades as well. This presents a huge opportunity, which was previously only available to the wealthy, and opens up additional income sources in the Forex space. This is NOT for people who are unwilling to take on more volatility than is customary in Traditional Investment Vehicles like stocks, bonds, mutual funds and ETF’s (exchange traded funds). It IS for anyone who is looking for investment strategies that help to compress time frames, particularly if they are behind on key financial targets like retirement, college fund planning or debt elimination. The thing I like most about this product is, it gives the average person a real chance to become a millionaire in 3 - 5 years, with minimal risk. You can start by just watching from the sidelines. If you feel it will work for you and you are ready to fund your trading
account, you can start with as little as $300. One thing I do want to point out is, the fact that even the most skilled trader will lose some of the time. The cash flow trading strategy 3 to 5 years adopt is more aggressive and because of this volatility, if you do not know what to expect, it is likely that when your account is in “Drawdown”, FEAR may grip you and cause you to not stay the course. In my opinion, that’s not a big deal, because all profitable trading accounts will experience Drawdowns from time to time, but they ultimately win a lot more trades than they lose. This is explained very well in the training and you will learn to shun the “Fear” of Drawdowns and instead embrace the fact that Drawdowns are a part of the journey to becoming a FX Millionaire. I plan to use it to fund my retirement and help others to attain financial freedom within 3 - 5 years. The great news for you is that the cost of the training is completely free! There is no monthly or annual subscription. Everything you need to know to get started on the path to millionaire status is available inside the free portal. So, when you compare that to traditional investment opportunities that can only offer financial freedom for those who already have a large portfolio, this is a way for everyone to win, even if they have minimal financial resources and are late getting started. Now is the time to take a hard look at this, if you are struggling financially, have fallen behind with your savings or are looking for a way to fulfill your dreams and be financially prepared to enjoy a comfortable retirement. For more information and to watch a sample of the video training
CLICK HERE r e t i r e m e n t l i fe n m a ga z i n e . c o m
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Retiring? Join A Travel Club!
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hat is a senior travel club, anyway? A scam? A great way to save on travel? A way to meet potential travel companions? Or, something else entirely? It turns out that senior travel clubs can be any of these things. Many travel clubs charge an annual membership fee, which is usually modest, and provides you with access to members-only publications, information, discounts or online travel content. A few travel clubs charge an initiation fee and annual dues. Before you decide to join a senior travel club, take a few minutes to find out which type of
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travel club you are considering and why they are such a great idea.
TRAVEL COMPANIONS Traveling can be a little daunting for some and others may prefer to have company on their adventures. A lot of seniors, especially singles, struggle to find a travel companion. For seniors who are not interested in solo travel, joining a travel club can help them find interesting trips to take with other people.
TRAVEL INFORMATION AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS Some senior travel clubs are very social in nature. Members may be invited to attend monthly or quarterly meetings, which
could involve social time and, possibly, a presentation from a member or a travel professional. This type of senior travel club would be a good fit for someone who is looking for inspiration, new friends or potential travel companions.
TRANSPORTATION OR ACTIVITY-SPECIFIC TRAVEL RV owners will be familiar with this type of travel club; in addition to clubs for owners of all types of RVs, you can also join a travel club for owners of your make or class of RV. Train enthusiasts can also join travel clubs just for them. If your interests lie elsewhere, you will probably be able to find a travel club with likeminded members, such as a travel club for seniors who enjoy outdoor adventure or arttrails.
choice. You can find women-only, high adventure and other themed tours quite easily, either through a travel agent or online. You may be able to find travel meetups and presentations in your local community, perhaps through a church or community center. If you are mainly interested in meeting people who enjoy traveling or getting travel information, you may be able to do so without paying money to join a club.
WOMEN-ONLY TRAVEL While there are many travel providers that organize women-only trips, it can be a bit more difficult to find a travel club created just for women. Thelma & Louise is one of the best-known online women-only travel clubs. Members share travel stories, plan trips and meetups and look for travel companions via Thelma & Louise’s website.
MONEY-SAVING CLUB Some travel clubs are formed to help members save money. Boondockers Welcome and The Affordable Travel Club, for example, help travelers arrange free RV parking (Boondockers Welcome) or lodging (The Affordable Travel Club) at members’ homes.
ALTERNATIVES TO SENIOR TRAVEL CLUBS If you are reluctant to pay annual dues or a membership fee to belong to a travel club, perhaps a well-organized tour is a better
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Other places to learn about vacation destinations and meet people who love to travel include colleges – look for noncredit courses – as well as libraries and travel shows.
TRAVEL CLUB SCAMS Some so-called travel clubs are scams designed to part you from your hard-earned money. In some cases, scammers offer free airfare or hotel stays, often by postcard or at a ‘travel seminar,’ but require you to pay a reservation fee in advance. When you try to book a trip, your dates are never available, and the scammer keeps your fee payment. Another version of this scam involves restrictive terms and conditions that prevent you from ever actually booking a trip. Other travel clubs run by scammers charge thousands of dollars in upfront membership fees, promising travel discounts or free travel. Instead, the scammers disappear with your money and you are left with nothing. Never give your credit card number or other financial information to a travel club representative unless you are joining the club. Pay dues, fees and travel costs by credit card so that you can dispute them if problems occur.
WHERE TO FIND SENIOR TRAVEL CLUBS Start your search for a senior travel club in your own community. Senior centers and recreation departments often sponsor senior travel clubs or organize outings for local seniors. You can also do an online search; this approach is particularly helpful if you are looking for an activity-specific travel club. 28 r e t i r e m e n t l i fe n m a ga z i n e . c o m
To protect yourself against scammers, never agree to join a travel club if a salesperson is pressuring you to do so.
IN A NUTSHELL Travel clubs for retirees offer the opportunity to share your vacation adventures with similarly aged, like-minded adults. There are some definite benefits -- friendship, safety in numbers and potential discounts for groups. Plus, you can split the planning duties and let someone else do the driving!
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Nomadic Retirement Living
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Retirement is evolving. Old-school retirement revolved around someone working for one employer for the entirety of their career, leaving with a cushiony pension, and spending their golden years playing golf and not much else. However, today’s retirees, as well as people who will retire in the next 10-20 years, are active and want to continue being productive after their retirement, according to an article from CNBC. r e t i r e m e n t l i fe n m a ga z i n e . c o m
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We also wanted to challenge people to think outside of the box and not assume that their retirement has to follow the same pattern as their parents and grandparents. Retirement means different things to different people, and NRL allows them to discover different ways to balance life, work, and travel.
Because they have worked so hard to build savings and wealth over their working years for retirement, they are now free to enjoy passions, hobbies, interests, and other activities without worrying about their paycheck. While some retirees choose to continue filling time with full or part time jobs in fields that interest them or start businesses or monetize their hobbies, others choose to travel. And we aren’t talking taking a few extra vacations every year. We’re talking about adopting a nomadic kind of lifestyle in retirement. In fact, there are so many retirees who opt for nomadic retirement that there are groups dedicated to the topic, including Nomadic Retirement Living run by Yvonne and Michael Bauche. They retired in May 2012 at the age of 44 and 53 and have been traveling full time ever since. “We primarily travel by house and pet sitting with some independent travel in between,” explains Yvonne. After continuously being asked about how they accomplished this gypsy-like lifestyle, they created Nomadic Retirement Living as a way to answer all of the questions they received about their retirement journey and as a way to share their experiences with those
who also are spending their golden years wandering. There are about as many ways to travel as there are to retire. “We were intrigued by other nomadic lifestyles,” said Yvonne, “not everyone wants to house and pet sit,” she says. “We also wanted to challenge people to think outside of the box and not assume that their retirement has to follow the same pattern as their parents and grandparents. Retirement means different things to different people, and NRL allows them to discover different ways to balance life, work, and travel.” There are two NRL components: The Nomadic Retirement Living Blog where the duo discusses the nuts and bolts of wandering retirement with comprehensive articles, and the second is the Facebook group community “The NRL Facebook group is a place where retired folks (or those preparing for retirement) can engage in honest, informative discussions about extended independent travel.” Rather than reinventing the wheel and having to figure everything out for yourself, the r e t i r e m e n t l i fe n m a ga z i n e . c o m
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premise of the group is to take advantage of those who have boldly gone before us. This is why they’ve set up the group to be primarily a question and answer forum. “The group’s mission is to foster an atmosphere of inclusion and mutual respect, where a like-minded community can share inspiration, information, encouragement and resources without being bombarded with spam,” Yvonne says. Yvonne and Michael’s vision for the group is to become the go-to place for information regarding all types of Nomadic Retirement Living. Remember how we said there are about as many ways to retire as there are ways to travel? There are just as many different types of people within the NRL group. According to Yvonne, members range from retirees in their 60s and 70s to younger digital nomads. She says most members are already nomadic or are in the planning stages. But there are also
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those who are intrigued by the idea but maybe not ready to step out of their comfort zone yet. The group also consists of different types of travelers: some are house and pet sitter while others are sailors. Some live on cruisers, narrowboats, or houseboats for at least some of the year. There are some people who have RVs and live the van life, while others travel part-time using Airbnb or long term rentals, while keeping a home base. But while their journeys are different, she notes one major constant: “Our members are, on the whole, either living or considering alternative retirement lifestyles or independent travelers looking for authentic travel experiences. They are also very warm and welcoming and willing to share their knowledge and experience with their fellow nomads.” For more information on Nomadic Retirement Living, be sure to head over to their blog. nomadicretirementliving.com
What Is
Forex
Trading? If you’ve been looking for ways to increase your income stream for your retirement, you may have heard about Forex trading as the latest trend. You may even have heard of claims that it’s easy and people are making heaps of money. Like most ‘get rich quick’ ideas, if it was that easy, everyone would be doing it, right? But, that’s not to say that money can’t be made if you invest the time and develop a strategy. Forex is the short name for Foreign Exchange, also known in economic circles as FEx. Forex trading is similar to share trading, only with foreign exchange currencies. Basically you use information about the current economic markets to predict (or you could say, bet on) movements in currencies, and make a buck from selling currencies for more than you bought them. At a simple level, you might buy currencies for an overseas vacation. Or you may have savings in another country that you have lived, worked or invested in, and want to
bring it home to spend. If time is on your side you can watch how the currency is tracking, and pounce when the rate moves in your favour. Forex trading develops this idea on a systematic level – constantly watching the markets to see where money can be made. Like with share trading, there is usually a tiny window of opportunity when one currency strengthens and weakens, and trades can be made before the market corrects itself. To get started you need a forex trading account, which you can set up with online with a bank or broker. Then you need to study and analyse the FEx markets - there is a lot of information online you can access for free, offering forecasts and predictions about currency movements, as well as past data. You can also set alerts on particular currency rates to let you know when your target rate has been reached. Trading currencies requires an understanding of economic fundamentals and indicators. A r e t i r e m e n t l i fe n m a ga z i n e . c o m
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currency trader needs to have a big-picture understanding of the economies of the various countries and their inter-connectedness to being able to understand the drivers in currency values. Factors like interest rates, trade flows, tourism, economic strength and geopolitical risk affect supply and demand for currencies, which creates daily volatility in the forex markets, sometimes more so than the share markets. And the FEx markets are open for longer - 24 hours a day, five days a week— starting each day in Australia and ending in New York. The major centers are Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Paris, London and New York. There are hundreds of currencies in the world, and each has a three letter symbol. Australian Dollars are AUD, American Dollars are USD, Euros are EUR, Swiss Francs are CHF, British Pounds are GBP. ‘Major’ currencies are derived from the eight most powerful economies around the globe – the USA, Japan, the UK, the Euro, Canada, Australia, Switzerland and New Zealand. Forex rates are quoted in pairs – major pairs will compare two major currencies (the most commonly traded is the USD:EUR). All other currencies are referred to as ‘minor’. Minor pairs compare two minor
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currencies, while an ‘exotic’ pair will compare a major currency to a minor. A forecast that one currency will weaken is essentially the same as assuming that the other currency in the pair will strengthen. With huge volumes of daily trading volume, it is easy to enter and exit a trade in any of the major currencies within a fraction of a second. Currencies will generally move by tiny amounts, which can be an advantage when they don’t follow your prediction. But it also means that in order to make money you need some significant volume. Most online brokers or dealers allow relatively high trade values with only a small account balance, meaning a small upfront investment. This is known as ‘leverage’. Traders can control large positions with relatively little money of their own, but it’s important to understand how your trading account works and the risk if your trades go wrong. If you think this is for you, take advantage of online courses (Udemy courses start at $15), seminars and reading the financial press. Then try a dummy account to practice trading before you commit real money.
Cannabis: A Versatile Plant Medicine – MARTIN A. LEE
When it comes time to discuss pain management, anxiety relief or depression medication, it is a sure bet your doctor won’t suggest purchasing cannabis. Isn’t that a dangerous drug? Isn’t it addictive and one of the leading contributors to antisocial behaviour? Not always – it’s time to take a closer look at this incredible plant and the virtues hidden within its complex chemical makeup. At last count, there are 113 unique cannabinoid compounds found in the oily resin of the cannabis plant, the most familiar of which is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. This is the one responsible for the ‘buzz’ or the ‘high’ most people associate with cannabis use, but there is another lesser-known cannabidiol with massive, yet largely untapped medicinal benefits – without the intoxication. Martin A. Lee, Director of California-based advocacy group for the medicinal use of CBD oil, Project CBD, is passionate about educating both the medical profession and
the general public about the many medicinal benefits of this time-honoured plant and how it can help a broad range of modern illnesses. “Cannabis has been an ally of humankind since before the written word. The plant itself was one of the earliest agricultural plants cultivated, as it was a valuable source of food, fuel, fibre and medicine. Cannabis also featured in the first pharmacopeia ever assembled by humankind, dating back to ancient China, where the herb was considered one of the supreme elixirs of immortality,” Martin said. “However, come the modern era, stigma has become very powerful as a phenomenon, and this one with cannabis has really stuck. It’s almost been a century that we’ve had this odd situation whereby a plant, which has worked so well for people for thousands and thousands of years, has been through this sort of historical aberration known as cannabis prohibition.” r e t i r e m e n t l i fe n m a ga z i n e . c o m
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There is very interesting evidence showing that CBD, and cannabis in general, can interact positively with your standard chemotherapies which usually are very toxic. CBD and THC both seem to interact with many chemotherapy drugs in such a way as to potentiate them, or make them stronger. If that being the case, it means that one can lower the dose of these very toxic harsh chemotherapy agents and yet still have the same effect. – MARTIN A. LEE
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In California, medical marijuana has been available legally since 1996, but the focus had very much been on the therapeutic benefits of THC. However, around 10 years ago plants with especially high levels of CBD oil were rediscovered in the state, spurring patients on and research investment to uncover the possibilities held within this lesser-known cannabinoid. As a journalist at the time, Martin had begun hearing about CBD research at science conferences, but the discussion was very academic, as intricate knowledge of the compound was still in its infancy. There was also a significant amount of pushback from law enforcement, even though medical marijuana was technically legal in the area. Project CBD was formed to help spread the word about CBD – a safe, effective, non-high-inducing compound that could potentially liberate the cannabis plant from the ‘reefer madness’ label and alleviate much pain and discomfort for people world-wide. “It was our mission to really take CBD out of the science realm and put it into the practical realm, where people could experiment with it and possibly benefit from it. We aimed to communicate to the medical marijuana community and the general public about what the scientists were saying and learning about CBD and communicate this information in a way that would be accessible to nonscientists,” Martin said. CBD oil first gaining international attention for use in stopping catastrophic seizures in children. People began to shift their mindset around medical marijuana products from drug abuse to medical necessity, and the doors began to open. With an increasing amount of information available, both anecdotal and evidencebased, Project CBD became instrumental in forging the path to bring this ancient, powerful
- but still much-maligned - herb out of the lab and making it accessible to the general public.
WHAT CONDITIONS CAN CBD OIL HELP? Potentially a wide range of conditions– neurological, oncological, metabolic and psychological. Project CBD has received great support in the California area from older people in particular, who have become frustrated with their increasingly complex pharmaceutical regime and begun to open their minds to other options. “Cannabis, if used well, can reduce polypharmacy and seniors are interested in that. They want to be taking less drugs, if anything, and they want something that’s gentle and that’s not going to cause harmful side effects. In that sense, CBD products may be an excellent option, and it really speaks to many of the conditions that seniors suffer from or are grappling with,” Martin said. One of the main reasons people approach Project CBD is for help with chronic pain management. Unlike pharmaceutical pain killers, CBD oil is very gentle on the body and “less is more” is often the case when it comes to dosage. Another category of illness that CBD oil is gaining popularity for is mood disorders, namely depression and anxiety. Thirdly, the c-word, the scourge that directly affects one in three people worldwide; cancer. Medical marijuana has long been used for symptomatic relief for patients who were able to source it, such as alleviating nausea, increasing appetite and reducing pain and discomfort. However, new evidence has shown CBD oil not only has its own chemotherapeutic value, but may actually increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy.
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“There is very interesting evidence showing that CBD, and cannabis in general, can interact positively with your standard chemotherapies which usually are very toxic. CBD and THC both seem to interact with many chemotherapy drugs in such a way as to potentiate them, or make them stronger. If that being the case, it means that one can lower the dose of these very toxic harsh chemotherapy agents and yet still have the same effect,” Martin said. “I think it behoves people to know that these things may work well together, and we don’t have to reject one or the other.”
TIME FOR CHANGE Despite the potential benefits that CBD oil can bring to a wide range of people, there is still a long way to go to have it accepted by the general public and medical establishment. For a patient struggling with severe anxiety or chronic pain, the efforts of having to negotiate online ordering, the risks involved, managing dosage and, at the same time, trying to work 38 r e t i r e m e n t l i fe n m a ga z i n e . c o m
with potentially unsupportive doctors, it can all become too much. However, Martin believes things are changing, and hope is on the horizon. “If you’re seriously ill, well it’s one thing to experiment, but it’s going to be much, much better to be working with someone who has some experience in this area, whether it’s a doctor or somebody else, preferably a health professional. We are in the midst of change. We are in the midst of transition regarding CBD and medical cannabis,” he said. “I think doctors are understandably somewhat reluctant to prescribe or recommend that someone utilise a herb or a drug that most physicians aren’t familiar with and don’t really know how to counsel a patient. Understandably, there’s a reticence in that regard. But that will change. It’s all part of the overarching cultural change that we’re going through now. Doctors will come around. Why? Because if they care about their patients, they will want to help them in any way possible -and this can help if utilised well.” projectcbd.org
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