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Women forced to do shocking act for $100 rent reduction

<p>Two women in Queensland have claimed that they were forced to use a makeshift  "temporary shower" outdoors, while renovations are being carried out in the property's only bathroom. </p> <p>The pair, who were expecting a porta-loo style shower to use during the four-to-six weeks renovation, were horrified when they found out the makeshift shower was just a blue tarpaulin attached to the side of the house.</p> <p>Electrical cords and plumbing pipes can be spotted hanging down in front of the open cubicle, and has no curtain for privacy or a lock, raising questions for their privacy and safety. </p> <p>To make matters worse, the women revealed on Facebook that they initially tried negotiating for a rental discount of $200 per week during the renovations, but their landlord said "no way" offering only a $50 discount, "then $100 as final offer".</p> <p>Dr Chris Martin, Senior Research Fellow in the University of NSW's City Futures Research Centre, slammed the landlord for "a bunch of possible breaches". </p> <p>"There is a big question about whether the temporary arrangement meets the minimum standards that apply to rented premises in Queensland under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act," he told <em>Yahoo News</em>. </p> <p>"Those minimum standards include that the bathroom and toilet facilities must provide privacy and that a premise must be weatherproof and structurally sound, and there's a standard about security," he added. </p> <p>He also claimed that "there's a bunch of possible breaches of the minimum standards of this temporary arrangement," as intruders could also potentially get in. </p> <p>The Senior Research Fellow also slammed the $100-a-week reduction in rent, calling it "grossly insufficient".</p> <p>"What a professional landlord who takes a bit of pride in themselves as a reputable housing provider would have done, is hire one of those portable bathrooms that come on a little trailer with a little heater and hook it up, and also do a rent reduction for the hassle of having to trot out to the trailer to shower," he said.</p> <p>"That would be the appropriate response."</p> <p>He encouraged the tenants to speak to Tenants Queensland or a local tenants advice service about what to do, adding that they could say that the current temporary arrangements could be deemed "unlivable or uninhabitable". </p> <p>"I suggest they should also be telling the landlord that this arrangement may place the landlord in a further breach of the agreement and for the liability for an even bigger rent reduction and the prospect of compensation if they don't do this better,"  Dr Martin told the publication. </p> <p><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Mediterranean diet associated with big reduction in the risk of heart disease and dementia

<p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Further scientific evidence of the benefits of a “Mediterranean diet” on health have been published this week, extolling the virtues of fruit, veggies, nuts and even a little wine.</span></p> <div class="copy"> <p>In one Australian-led <a href="https://doi.org/10.1136/%20heartjnl-2022-321930" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">review</a> researchers found women who closely followed a Mediterranean diet were associated with up to 24% lower risk of cardiovascular disease and up to 23% lower risk of death from any cause.</p> <p>This is the first study to examine the association between the Mediterranean diet, cardiovascular disease, and mortality in women specifically, and is published in the journal <em>Heart.</em></p> <p>A <a href="https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-023-02772-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UK study</a> in <em>BMC Medicine</em> has also found that men and women with a strict Mediterranean diet had up to 23% lower risk for developing dementia in comparison with those with the lowest level of adherence to the diet.</p> <p>The Mediterranean diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, wholegrains, and olive oil; moderate in fish and shellfish; low to moderate in wine; and low in red meat and processed meats, dairy products, animal fat, and processed foods.</p> <p>Cardiovascular disease is an umbrella term that includes heart, stroke, and blood vessel diseases, and was the <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/heart-stroke-vascular-diseases/hsvd-facts/contents/about" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">underlying cause</a> of one in four deaths in Australia in 2019.</p> <p>“The Mediterranean diet is known for its health benefits, especially for heart health, but most studies and research into diet and heart disease are done primarily in men,” says Anushriya Pant, University of Sydney PhD candidate at the Westmead Applied Research Centre (WARC) and first author of the <em>Heart</em> paper.</p> <p>The study analysed pooled data from 16 studies published between 2006 and 2021, involving over 722,000 female participants aged 18 and above who followed the Mediterranean diet and whose cardiovascular health was monitored for an average of 12.5 years.</p> <p>The researchers found that the reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and death applied to women of all ethnicities..</p> <p>“Now we have confirmed that similar benefits apply for women’s dietary guidelines, and this reflects the strength of the Mediterranean diet for good heart health,” adds Pant.</p> <p>“In medical research, there are sex disparities in how clinical trials are designed. This creates large gaps in clinical data, which can potentially impact the development of health advice. Our work is a step towards addressing this gap.”</p> <p>The researchers acknowledge some limitations to their findings. All studies analysed were observational – so could only establish an association, not causation, between the Mediterranean diet and lowered risk of cardiovascular disease and death – and relied on self-reported food frequency questionnaires. Adjustments for potentially influencing factors also varied across the studies.</p> <p>The second study into dementia is equally supportive of the diet guidelines.</p> <p>UK scientists analysed data from 60,298 individuals from the <a href="https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UK Biobank</a> – a large-scale biomedical database containing genetic and health information from half a million UK participants – who completed a dietary assessment.</p> <p>Participants were followed for nine years, during which there were 882 cases of dementia.</p> <p>The researchers scored individuals based on how closely their diet matched the key features of a Mediterranean one, while taking into account their genetic risk for dementia.</p> <p>The authors say the findings indicate that, even for those with a higher genetic risk for dementia, having a better diet could reduce the likelihood of developing the condition.</p> <p>“Dementia impacts the lives of millions of individuals throughout the world, and there are currently limited options for treating this condition,” says Dr Oliver Shannon, a lecturer in Human Nutrition and Ageing at Newcastle University, and first author of the study.</p> <p> “Finding ways to reduce our risk of developing dementia is, therefore, a major priority for researchers and clinicians.</p> <p> “Our study suggests that eating a more Mediterranean-like diet could be one strategy to help individuals lower their risk of dementia.”</p> <p>The authors caution that there are limitations to this study, including that their analysis is limited to individuals who self-reported their ethnic background as white, British, or Irish, as only genetic data based on European ancestry was available.</p> <p>Further research is needed in a range of populations to determine the potential benefit for all people.</p> <p>In 2022, it was estimated that there were 401,300 <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/dementia/dementia-in-aus/contents/summary" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Australians living with dementia</a>. With an ageing and growing population this number is predicted to more than double to 849,300 people by 2058.</p> <p><img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=239397&amp;title=Mediterranean+diet+associated+with+big+reduction+in+the+risk+of+heart+disease+and+dementia" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /></div> <div id="contributors"> <p><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/mediterranean-diet-heart-dementia/">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/imma-perfetto">Imma Perfetto</a>. </p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

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Unforgettable waste-reducing cooking tips

<p>Reduce, reuse, recycle: these expert tips will help you find new ways to cut waste in the kitchen.</p> <p><strong>Regrow veggies</strong></p> <p>Strange but true: spring onions will regrow from their white ends. Just put them in a glass of water and let them get some sunlight. You can snip the green ends every few days for practically endless seasoning.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Say "cheese" to milk</strong></p> <p>If it’s can be hard to finish your milk before it expires, but don’t wait for it to curdle. Instead, set some aside and make cottage cheese.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Reuse your daily grind</strong></p> <p>Used coffee grounds can keep ants away. Plus, they can get rid of odours, stimulate your potted plants, and more, which makes them worth holding onto.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Put peels out for pests</strong></p> <p>Orange peels can actually be put to good use, especially if it’s summer. Insects such as mosquitoes and ants will stay away if you grind the up, and they can get rid of musty smells.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Bake bruised fruit</strong></p> <p>Overripe, very dark bananas make for flavourful banana bread. Instead of throwing them out, bake them into a great dessert. Reducing and recycling your food can even save you money.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Give stale snacks some bite</strong></p> <p>There’s no need to toss old chips. Stale snacks can be crisped up in the microwave – just put them on a microwave-safe plate and nuke on full power for 10 seconds.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Crisp up your crusts</strong></p> <p>You can make leftover pizza crust crispy again, but don’t use the microwave. Instead, put your slices on a skillet for 4-5 minutes on medium heat – make a rounded lid out of aluminium foil to make sure the toppings get toasty, too.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Cool down with an ice ‘pop’</strong></p> <p>Flat soft-drinks aren’t so great to drink, but they can make for a tasty treat with a little patience. Pour some in an ice cube tray, stick toothpicks in each space, and enjoy your treats after they freeze.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Rethink yesterday's loaf</strong></p> <p>Don’t waste old, dry bread. As long as it won’t chip a tooth, you can chop it up, sauté it with spices, and make croutons for salads or soup.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Liquor? Now, thicker</strong></p> <p>You can kick up the quality of vodka with a simple water filter. It won’t completely transform what you have in the cabinet, but filtering can make less expensive brands taste better.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Look twice at rice</strong></p> <p>Think before pitching rice if it’s been sitting in your cupboard for a few months. It can be used to dry electronics if you get them wet – just put the device in a bowl of the dry grains for 24 hours.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Banish sponge bacteria</strong></p> <p>Your old sponge might look like it belongs in the bin, but two minutes in the microwave will kill as much as 99.9 per cent of the bacteria on it, making it good as new. Be sure to get it wet first.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Celery care 101</strong></p> <p>Celery is all about crispness, so when it starts to go soft, you may as well throw it out. Right? Not necessarily. Try this first: put limp stalks in a bowl of cold water with a few slices of raw potato. After an hour or so in this starchy bath, the stalks may deliver the crunch you expect.</p> <p>And while even crisp celery may turn brown, you can stop browning before it starts. Before storing the stalks in the fridge, soak them for 30 minutes in 1 litre cold water mixed with 1 teaspoon lemon juice – a trick that will also crisp celery just before it’s served.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Get the most out of a lemon</strong></p> <p>When a recipe calls for a few drops of lemon, don’t slice the lemon and squeeze. Simply puncture the rind with a toothpick and gently squeeze out the small amount of juice you need. Then cover the hole with a piece of tape and store the lemon in the fridge for later use. Waste not, want not!</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Oiled eggs</strong></p> <p>Prolong the life of fresh eggs by dipping a paper towel into vegetable oil and rubbing the shells before storing the eggs in the fridge. The oil will keep the eggs fresh for an additional three to four weeks.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>A surplus of spuds?</strong></p> <p>If you find you’ve peeled too many potatoes for a potato salad or casserole, don’t toss the uncooked extras. Put them in a bowl, cover with cold water, and add a few drops of vinegar. Now they will keep in the fridge for three to four days.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Brown-bag your lettuce</strong></p> <p>Lettuce will keep longer if you transfer it from a plastic bag to a roomier paper bag before storing it in the refrigerator. Lettuce likes a little air, but don’t think that calls for removing the limp and discoloured outermost leaves; they may not be pretty, but these leaves help keep the inner leaves crisper.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Last stop? Compost</strong></p> <p>When all else fails, composting your old fruits and veggies can help optimise the fertilizer you use for your garden. If you’re going to toss them anyway, put them to good use.</p> <p> </p> <p><em>Written by </em><strong><em>Damon Beres</em></strong><em>. This article first appeared on </em><a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/unforgettable-waste-reducing-cooking-tips?pages=1"><em>Reader’s Digest</em></a><em>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </em><a href="http://readersdigest.com.au/subscribe"><em>here’s our best subscription offer</em></a><em>.</em></p>

Food & Wine

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The way we recycle is about to change

<p>A new recycling facility will be built in the Shoalhaven area of NSW that will reduce 90 per cent of garbage we place in our red bins. The facility is planned to be built by 2021.</p> <p>The Shoalhaven council has realised that within 12 years, its landfill facility will reach capacity and has sought out other alternatives to reduce this problem.</p> <p>How residents get rid of their rubbish will stay the same, as they put their normal rubbish in their red bin and wait for it to be collected.</p> <p>However, garbage contents will be taken to the new facility for sterilisation, drying and separation into various recycled materials.</p> <p><iframe width="400" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3mUoZdMaBQE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>The recycling facility itself will be powered by solar roof panels and gas, which is supplemented by power from the grid as needed.</p> <p>Bioelektra Australia will build and run the new facility and is very excited for this opportunity within the Shoalhaven region.</p> <p>"It's going to be a revolution in the Shoalhaven economy by creating resources out of the red bin,” said Head of Bioelektra, Freddie Itaoui.</p> <p>"We want people to be conscious of what they are throwing in the bin.”</p> <p>Itaoui added, "That's the whole idea behind our technology.”</p> <p>The Shoalhaven City Council is excited by the endeavour as well.</p> <p>A statement on its website reads:</p> <p>“This state-of-the-art facility will be Australia’s first Advanced Waste Treatment plant capable of diverting over 90 per cent of Mixed Waste from landfill.”</p> <p>Shoalhaven Mayor Amanda Findley has said that the reason it was looking for an alternative to green bins within the area was due to the levy charged by the State Government as waste goes over the weighbridge and into landfill.</p> <p>"What this technology will do, is stop it going into landfill from the get-go," Ms Findley said.</p>

Technology

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Price of 1400 prescription medicines slashed

<p>On Sunday, more than 1400 medicines were reduced in price, including treatments for cholesterol and breast cancer. </p> <p>The price cuts are the result of the government's new price disclosure process that monitors the discounts chemists receive on medicine prices. </p> <p>Millions of Australians who suffer from a range of health conditions will benefit from these price reductions. </p> <p>The new process will see anti-cholesterol pill Atorvastatin fall in price by 52 cents and Tamoxifen for breast cancer by $3.50.</p> <p>Cold sore treatment Zovirax will reduce in price by $3.17 and Capecitabine for certain types of cancer will be slashed by $6.26.</p> <p>Leflunomide for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis will be reduced by $4.24.</p> <p>Telmisartan for high blood pressure will fall in price by $1.75 and Quetiapine for mental health conditions will fall in price by $5.94.</p> <p>Diflucan to treat fungal infections will drop by a significant 17 per cent.</p> <p><span>This new scheme is expected to save taxpayers $430 million over the next four years. There are also estimated savings of $75 million to patient out-of-pocket expenses over the next four years. </span></p> <p>Paul Cross of Pharma Dispatch said the price reduction will be welcomed by many Aussie households. </p> <p>"Millions of Australians suffer from really common conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes, and what this means is their medicines are going to be cheaper.</p> <p>Aussies with chronic illnesses who take multiple medications daily will make the biggest savings. </p> <p>What do you think of the price reductions on prescription medicine? Tell us in the comments below. </p>

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