Weekender Alicante South Issue 106

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24 FRIDAY 30TH AUGUST 2019 www.weekender.news Slowdown in house price growth HOUSE prices in Spain rose by three per cent on average in the second quarter of 2019, new figures have revealed. That compares to four per cent in the previous quarter and an increase of 5.8 per cent in the final quarter of 2018 – figures which highlight a continuing slowdown in house price growth. The figures come from the latest local market report published by Tinsa, one of the largest independent property valuation companies in Spain. Its quarterly figures are much anticipated by market watchers and investors. According to the report, the by Alex Trelinski by Simon Russell slowdown is most noticeable in the city of Barcelona where “after years of significant rises” housing is now only 1.6 per cent more expensive than it was 12 months ago. The Spanish housing market had been in decline from 2008 to 2015 before its return to growth in the first quarter of 2016. It ended last year strongly with a 10 per cent increase in sales compared to 2017. Average prices in Spain have increased over 11 consecutive quarters, although Tinsa experts describe the latest rise as “practically insignificant.” According to the report: “Prices have accumulated a rise of 12.8 per cent since their post-crisis minimum, and now stand at 34.1 per cent below the highest reached in 2007”. Among the largest provincial capitals, only Valencia saw average price rises of more than 10 per cent in the last quarter, although Palma de Mallorca, Zaragoza and Seville saw hikes of more than eight per cent. And just three regions – Navarra, Aragon and Comunidad de Madrid – showed price rises in excess of five per cent in annual terms. The average time taken to sell a property in Spain, which relates the supply of property on the market to the rate of sales, stood at 8.2 months. Another set of figures, this time from the government’s central statistics unit, also reported a nine per cent fall in registered housing sales in June, compared to the same month in 2018. The figures follow an earlier report by international property experts Knight Frank, which looking forward to the rest of 2019, concluded: “There is expected to be a stabilisation in demand and in house prices.” Analysts at Caixabank take the same stance. They believe the Spanish housing market is now entering a “more mature phase” which is highlighted by a weakening in growth in both demand and prices. In a recent report it said: “The factors which support the expansion of the housing market continue evolving positively but are losing dynamism.” Its experts added that the supply of new housing continues to “grow vigorously”, especially in areas of Spain with the highest demand. And they added: “Moderation should not be interpreted as a sign of weakness in the sector, but rather as a normalisation towards more sustainable growth rates following the strong growth experienced during the recovery.” LIFE IN A CASTLE by Alex Trelinski Spain as a country has a magnificent selection of strange yet beautiful buildings that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. From masías in Catalunya and palaces in Andalucia to pazo mansions in Asturias, these houses also have such extraordinary features as castle towers with battlements on them, or Moorish arches and decorations. Of course you have to pay, and many such special properties tend to be on private estates with lots of land, several buildings and plenty of luxury extras, so they all cost well over a million euros. In fact you don´t have to got too far to check a castle-style property, with one of the market right now in the Marina Baixa area of <strong>Alicante</strong> Province at Relleu. This five-bedroom detached home comes in at over two point five million euros, with 430 thousand square metres of land thrown into the package. The views are great, as you can be your own king or queen of the castle.
Facebook: @The<strong>Weekender</strong>Spain Stretching more than the imagination DON’T seize up! That’s the message from fitness experts who are urging us to fit stretches into our daily routine or face increasing discomfort as we get older. The human body naturally declines in function as it ages, with ageing muscles losing mass without the right exercise, so any opportunity to reduce the speed of the process should be seized according to experts. Flexibility of joints and muscles shouldn’t be taken for granted and noticing increased difficulty bending, moving or reaching is the cue to act before it’s too late. Office workers who spend the day desk-bound are among the most vulnerable to stiffening joints and muscles as the years pass, but simple stretches can help sedentary people stay supple as they get older. But anyone can have a go at tackling increasingly poor elasticity by rotating stiff shoulders, aching ankles and a numb neck, according to research from the experts. Fitness specialists at Vivotion.com have researched some of the best activities for loosening up the body and encourage people to give them a try before they start to get aches and pains in areas they forgot they had. They also point out that is important not to overdo it, so only stretch to the point of brief and mild discomfort rather than pain and always ensure sufficient rest and recovery afterwards. A spokesman from Vivotion.com says: “As we all age, our bodies don’t seem to function as well as they used to – but that doesn’t mean a total loss of elasticity is inevitable. “The best way to steer clear of major discomfort, inconvenience or pain in older age is to get your body moving a bit more as soon as possible.” STAYING SUPPLE Here are the exercises that can help stop you seizing up: STIFF SHOULDERS Stand up or find a backless stool, bend an arm at the elbow back towards your body and raise your elbow above your eyeline; then lean your shoulder backwards, and rotate around until it has drawn a complete circle. Repeat this several times until the joint feels slightly more supple and then repeat the motion in a LOVE THE SKIN YOU’RE IN by Melanie Ratcliffe SKIN – it’s the biggest organ in the body and in the average person covers an area of two square metres. It’s a clever organ too. Renewing every 28 days! Everyone wants softer, smoother skin and a clear, youthful complexion. We would also like naturally healthy and shiny hair and strong pliable nails. Can we delay skin ageing and maintain our youthful looks? Let’s take a look. You are what you eat! The foods that we eat can have a direct effect on skin integrity, health and even beauty, with well documented studies showing that dietary changes can improve skin structure, reverse symptoms and improve appearance. Increasing our intake of fruit and vegetables is a great way to start ringing in the changes. Introduce a ‘rainbow’ of coloured foods to maximise intake of beneficial skin nutrients. Green leafy vegetables and herbs are a few good examples whilst other nutrient dense foods such as berries, rich in proanthocyanidins, support skin health and boost a youthful appearance. Avocados contain the highest fruit source of Vitamin E, a fat soluble nutrient known to protect against cell damage by neutralising free radicals which cause the skin to age. Proanthocyanidins also protect the skins collagen structure in a number of ways. Reinforcing the collagen matrix of connective tissue and inhibiting collagen damage caused by inflammation and infection. Believe it or not, onions and garlic are also items for your shopping list too! Both contain sulphur, an essential dietary component that has a critical role in maintaining the integrity of connective tissue. Be sure to add legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, especially walnuts and linseeds, rich in omega 3, along with sustainably sourced oily fish. Omega 3 fatty acids are important for cell membrane structure and fluidity, aiding the skin’s appearance. These beneficial fats have also been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. forwards direction, before following the same process with your other shoulder. BAD BACK When laid in bed, turn onto your front, place your hands flatly under the pillow and rest your forearms by your shoulders; then slowly raise your shoulders (support yourself by pushing with your arms if necessary). Hold the position for several seconds or until uncomfortable and then rest as required, before repeating the motion as many times as you can. TENDER THIGHS Stand upright, raise one leg behind yourself and hold the ankle against your bum; balance on the remaining grounded leg for as long as possible, leaning against a wall with the spare arm if necessary, to stretch out the raised thigh. KNOCKING KNEES Sit down and fully extend your legs, one at a time, with only the heel of the foot touching the floor; then, keeping heel and bum planted, raise and lower your knee (causing a slight bend) at a comfortable pace. Extra virgin olive oil is another source of beneficial dietary fat to include, but save this for salad dressings, it’s not one for frying with! Contrary to popular belief, fats are not the enemies we once thought. Not all are bad. In fact, good fats, such as omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are essential to our diets. Their role in maintaining healthy skin cannot be overstated. Our obsession with fatfree diets has left many people with chronic deficiencies in essential fatty acids. Symptoms include brittle nails, extensive wrinkling and dry, flyaway, or splitting hair. Plant seed oils are one way of topping up your omega fats and may deliver numerous health and beauty benefits. FIRM FINGERS Pop aching pockets of air in your finger joints by pushing down on your knuckles with the thumb of the same hand; playing an imaginary piano can also loosen your digits. HURTFUL HAMSTRING Slowly try to touch your toes in a standing position, making sure that at least your heel always remains grounded, until the back of your leg feels mildly uncomfortable, then do the same with the other leg. ACHING ANKLES Find a comfy seat, raise your lower leg off the ground and moving only your foot, draw some clockwise circles in the air (of several inches in diameter) with your big toe. This will rotate your ankle and can then be repeated, Oils that have been shown to aid healthy skin are golden flaxseed oil, hempseed oil and evening primrose oil. Is your skin crying out for moisture? I’m sure you are all aware of the importance of drinking water when it comes to skin health. It’s a simple, inexpensive and effective way to keep hydrated. Many beauticians and nutritionists alike recommend drinking one to two litres of water daily. Try swapping your coffee, tea, fizzy drinks and dare I say your favourite tipple for a glass of water. You’ll soon be increasing your intake and noticing a difference. Why not try a glass of warm water in the mornings with a slice of lemon? You can further support the skin’s natural moisturising mechanisms by applying topical moisturisers. A good quality body or facial oil will permeate the skin and support skin cell structure enabling them to retain moisture, cream based moisturisers on the other hand sit on the surface of the skin to create a barrier. Be savvy when selecting skincare products and make sure they are appropriate for your skin as skin types and needs will differ from person to person. Consider also the ingredi- FRIDAY 30TH AUGUST 2019 25 Health&Lifestyle with sufficient rest and recovery in between stages, in an anti-clockwise direction and before applying the same process to your other ankle. NUMB NECK Without moving your chest at all, try to touch the tip of your shoulders with your ears, to stretch the sides of your neck. To work the rear, tilt your head back to face the sky and then roll your neck several times, before repeating in the opposite direction. WEARISOME WAIST Stand upright, face ahead, place your hands on your hips and spin your waist around clockwise – imagine a hulahoop – at a comfortable pace for a minute or so, before reversing into an anticlockwise rotation. ents in skincare products. Are they naturally sourced and organic? Are they full of synthetic chemicals and artificial fragrances? Try to opt for products that contain as few ingredients as possible and that will be gentle in their action, nourishing, repairing and regenerative. Some of the best topical oils Organic Coconut Oil – a significant skin conditioner. Rich in antioxidants and fatty acids that penetrate into the underlying tissues, it can help with the appearance of stretch marks and aid in the prevention of premature ageing. It’s a fabulous lip balm too and great for applying to cold sores. Organic Rose Oil – Damascena rose is a wonderful anti- inflammatory agent and tissue regenerator. High in antioxidants with amazing hydration properties, it can also help reduce redness. Rosa Mosqueta oil has also been shown to be particularly beneficial in wound healing and scar reduction. Sea Buckthorn Oil – Protects, heals and regenerates damaged skin by its high concentration of natural carotenoids, tocopherols, sterols and fatty acids. Natural antioxidants and fatty acids aid reversal and damage caused by sun radiation while minimising long term effects of sun exposure. SQUEEZED SIDE Either seated or standing, firmly place your right forearm on top of your head and lean to the left for a moment, before swapping to your left forearm and leaning right. CRAMPED CALVES Face a wall, prop a heel on the ground and touch the wall with your toes; push your body weight towards the wall to feel your calf stretch, hold for several seconds and then swap legs and repeat. WORKED WRIST Keeping your forearm still by holding it with your other hand, clench your fist and rotate your wrist in both directions before repeating on the other side. Organic Pomegranate Oil – moisturises and nourishes skin restoring the skins PH balance, fights damage causing free radicals leaving the skin super soft and smooth Lavender Essential Oil – ideal for a natural first aid kit. Well known for its wound healing, cleansing and toning properties and removing redness and heat from the skin. There also a number of well documented nutrient and beauty supporting compounds that can be taken in supplement form too. As a fundamental building block, a supplement containing the key skin nutrients vitamin C, beta carotene, biotin, zinc, copper and selenium and MSM is a worthy addition to any skin regime. Pine Bark Extract (Pycnogenol) is one of the most researched and effective ‘insideout’ cosmetics. It’s a naturally occurring complex of several bioavailable antioxidant nutrients and has been demonstrated to protect and increase collagen and hyaluronic acid levels in the skin whilst improving blood circulation to the skin. The content of this article is for information purposes only and should not replace the advice of your healthcare professional. Always seek the advice of your GP if taking prescribed medication or undergoing medical treatment of any form.
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Weekender Alicante South Issue 106

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