Did you know: it takes about 51,000 trees and 60 million gallons of water to supply North America’s paper towel habit, and the average family of four uses about 26 rolls of paper towels a year? Replace paper towels with Norwex’s ultra-absorbent, reusable Counter Cloths to quickly wipe up spills and messes anywhere! They’re made from 70% recycled microfiber yarn and remove up to 99% of bacteria from a surface with water alone (*when following proper care & instructions). PLUS, they offer continuous protection against microbes and odours within the cloth with Norwex’s Baclock® technology. Great for families and the environment!

Antioxidants are compounds found in foods that can help prevent cell damage, which is also known as oxidative stress. Chronic oxidative stress has been linked to a higher risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. It’s important to include antioxidant-rich fruits and other foods in your diet to help combat oxidative stress in your body. Some examples of fruits high in antioxidants include: blueberries – help with lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, delaying age-related brain conditions; strawberries – help with lowering cholesterol; raspberries – may help reduce cancer risk; and goji berries – may lower heart disease risk.

March 14-20 marks Brain Awareness Week in Canada, and an important part of maintaining brain health is ensuring your brain gets the fuel it needs. In the case of brain injuries like concussion, the only gate open for the brain to get fuel is the one that allows ketones in, which are a major brain fuel source. Studies show ketones can increase blood flow up to 39%. Ketones from outside of the body will shift the brain’s reliance from glucose to ketones, improving transport and cellular metabolism. This means your brain is being fed the necessary fuel to begin recovery.

The liver is an extremely complex organ that performs over 500 different functions in the body, including manufacturing hormones and proteins, fighting infections, and controlling blood sugar. There are over 100 forms of liver disease that have many causes, including viral infection, genetics, drugs and toxins, cancer, autoimmune disorders, and obesity. Liver disease can affect men, women, and children of any age, and can cause toxins to build up in the body, liver scarring, blood clotting issues, and even liver cancer. How healthy is your liver? It may be time to consider a liver detox!

When was the last time you replaced your toothbrush? If you’re not sure, it’s probably time to swap out the old one for a new one that will do a better job of keeping your teeth and gums clean. One sign that your toothbrush has reached its lifespan is flattened, frayed or matted bristles. When bristles are flattened or misshapen, they can’t clean your teeth and gums as effectively, which could lead to dental problems. Even if bristles aren’t noticeably worn, you should replace your toothbrush every three to four months, and after having any cold or flu.

During this global pandemic, the need for mental health support has increased fourfold. As an employee, the best thing you can do for your mental health is to be vocal. If you are struggling, speak up or use the Wellness Together Canada free resources. Waiting causes longer term damage impacting productivity and quality of life. If you are an employer, ask how you can support your team every day. Then, make or get a Mental Health First Aid kit and put it somewhere visible to demonstrate mental health is just as important as physical health. Include things like motivational cards, mindfulness colouring sheets, stress balls, breathing exercises and general resilience tips.

CardioFlex Q10™ is a proprietary collagen precursor formula designed to promote the body’s natural ability to produce collagen and repair connective tissues to support cardiovascular health. Each serving contains 2000 mg Vitamin C, amino acids and other nutrients that help build structural elastin and structural collagen, maintain cardiovascular health, reduce the recurrence of herpes simplex virus/shingles, maintain proper muscle function and generally maintain good health. Excellent for supplementing vegan diets and made in Canada by Innotech Nutrition, a family company.

When it comes to your health and safety, it’s best to choose the right personal protective equipment (PPE). Use FDA/CDC-approved, hypoallergenic masks that are ideally three layers (with one of those layers being a vapor block). They should also have very low breathing resistance, an integrated nose bridge, and high filtration capacity. A high-quality fingertip pulse oximeter is an easy and inexpensive way to check your oxygen levels at home, which can help you monitor for low levels that may be a concern. Finally, ensure you are using hand sanitizer that has been approved by Health Canada.