Goodbye odours 

By Christina Poletto

Offensive odours tend to develop over time, such as when the scent molecules from our bodies or pets get trapped around the house. When scents build up gradually, it’s easy not to notice them, especially when you aren’t opening windows. 

The key is to remove or neutralize scents embedded in furniture, rugs, and curtains. Regularly launder, vacuum, and brush the items.  When you cook, turn on the vent fans to circulate air and filter out smells and toxins. Empty your garbage often and, between every bag change, hit the inside of the can with a disinfecting spray. Fight bathroom odors by using a combo cleaner-disinfectant to wipe around the toilet seat, lid, hinges and under the rim.  Make sure your exhaust fan is working effectively and wipe down covers regularly. Keep your drains clear of hair. Pet bedding should be laundered often with a sanitizing laundry detergent . Scoop cat litter boxes early and often (sorry). Baking soda can also help bust up musty smells in stuffy spaces. Avoid keeping dirty clothes in your closet and empty your hamper often. When you cook, turn on the vent fans to circulate air and filter out smells and toxins. Empty your garbage and recycling bin often and hit the inside of the can with a disinfecting spray.

Need antibiotics?

By Janet Currie & Johanna Trimble 

When antibiotics no longer work to kill bacteria, this is called antibiotic or antimicrobial resistance. This means that infections caused by certain types of bacteria can become difficult or impossible to treat with the antibiotics we have now. 

In Canada, over a quarter of bacterial infections are now resistant to antibiotics that once cured them. Canadians aged 60 and over are prescribed antibiotics 1.5 times more often than any other age group. Antibiotics are often prescribed to treat illnesses not caused by bacteria. Colds and flu are caused by viruses and cannot be cured by antibiotics. Another example is when a lab test shows bacteria in the urine, but there are no physical symptoms of a urinary tract infection, which is common in older adults. Giving antibiotics in this case can lead to overuse and antibiotic resistance. It is important to only use antibiotics that are prescribed for you and to take the dose as prescribed, even if the infection seems to be gone before the treatment is finished.

To help reduce antibiotic resistance do not share or use leftover antibiotics and take the whole prescription, even if you feel better before you are finished.

Eggs and cholesterol

By Cecilia Snyder

Eggs are a popular and highly nutritious food rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and protein. However, you may have heard that the cholesterol found in eggs contributes to heart disease, which has led to some people to avoid eating eggs. As we continue to learn how eggs interact with cholesterol and chronic diseases, it’s becoming clear that the risks differs based on genetics, family history, how you prepare your eggs, your overall diet, and even where you live. All of this could influence how many eggs you can safely eat per day. Eggs are high in cholesterol, but they are not the only food that affects LDL cholesterol levels. High blood cholesterol levels can also be a result of a diet that is high in saturated fat and trans fat, low in fibre and too high in calories. Thus, when you’re trying to decide how many eggs it’s safe to eat it’s important to consider your whole diet. Notably, eggs are packed with vitamins and minerals, rich in anti-oxidants. believed to improve some biomarkers of heart disease. For healthy adults, eating 1–2 eggs a day appears safe, as long as they’re consumed as part of an overall nutritious diet.