POWERS OF ATTORNEY: THE BASICS YOU SHOULD KNOW
ALL ABOUT COLLAGEN THE PROTEIN THAT HOLDS US TOGETHER Even if you have heard of collagen, chances are you don’t know much about what it does for the human body. Collagen makes up a third of the body’s proteins. In some ways, it is the glue that holds our bodies together (the first part of “collagen” comes from the Greek word “ kolla ,” meaning “glue”). Getting your body to produce more collagen can have amazing health benefits, particularly for those who are aging and noticing more wrinkles. There are around 16 types of collagen proteins in the body, but type 1 collagen makes up roughly 90% of a person’s collagen count. Type 1 collagen gives structure to our tendons, bones, connective tissues, and skin. When we’re younger, our bodies produce enough collagen to keep our skin tight and strong. However, as we age, our bodies naturally produce less collagen, which contributes to thinner skin and wrinkles. Fortunately, there are certain foods and nutrients you can consume to boost your collagen production and keep your skin smoother and stronger for longer. Collagen begins in the body as procollagen, which is created when two amino acids, glycine and proline, combine. Vitamin C aids this process, so any foods with high concentrations of these nutrients help your body produce more collagen. Egg whites are a great source of proline, along with foods like asparagus, cabbage, and dairy products. Additionally, pork skin, chicken skin, and gelatin all have high levels of glycine. If you want to get your vitamin C levels up, citrus fruits, bell peppers, and strawberries are tasty choices. Watch out for foods and habits that can damage your collagen production, like eating lots of refined sugar, exposing your skin to too much sunshine, and smoking. By adopting habits and diets that enhance collagen production, you can keep yourself looking younger and feeling better, even as you get older.
Everyone knows you should at least have a last will and testament prepared before
you die. Some people even go as far as setting up a trust to avoid the probate process. Wills and trusts are not the only important elements of an estate
plan, however. Say you become incapacitated toward the end of
your life and are, therefore, unable to make decisions for yourself while still alive. That’s where powers of attorney come into play.
WHAT ARE POWERS OF ATTORNEY?
Powers of attorney are legal documents that assign the legal authority to an “attorney-in-fact,” who is usually a family member or close friend of the “principal,” the person who has become incapacitated, to act on behalf of the principal after they lose the ability to make decisions for themselves. These decisions might include carrying out the principal’s financial and medical wishes.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF POWERS OF ATTORNEY?
There are essentially two types of powers of attorney, ordinary and durable; and three types of powers of attorney, general, specific, and springing, which can modify the first two types. When it comes to estate planning, durable powers of attorney are the more relevant of the main two types. It’s what you would use if you become medically incapacitated or otherwise unable to handle your daily affairs. General and specific powers of attorney dictate whether an attorney-in-fact handles all or only part of the principal’s affairs, and springing powers of attorney only come into effect after a date the principal chooses.
WHY SHOULD I HAVE POWERS OF ATTORNEY?
Like all aspects of estate planning, having powers of attorney in place helps you better prepare yourself for the unexpected or the inevitable. If you are diagnosed with a terminal illness that might leave you unable to make your own decisions, or if you’re approaching old age and just want to be prepared, you’ll need to draft powers of attorney. Moreover, you’ll need the help of experienced estate planning attorneys like Danielle Obiorah and Teri Fields. Give them a call today at 404-476-6414.
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