A sore throat may have many causes and it is important to find the right sore throat remedy for the particular condition that you have.

Common Causes Of A Sore Throat

Laryngitis: inflammation of the larynx. This usually results in losing your voice.

Tonsillitis: inflammation of the tonsils. Common in children.

Mononucleosis or glandular fever: accompanied by swelling of the glands in the throat.

Strep throat: a streptococcal bacterial infection of the throat or tonsils, often accompanied by fever.

Symptom of a viral infection: a sore throat is often the first symptom of a cold or flu.

Candida albicans or oral thrush.

Some of these conditions can become serious if not successfully treated. If your sore throat remedy does not work and the irritation or inflammation persists for more than 24 hours, or if you have swelling or a fever, it is important to see a doctor. You may need antibiotics or other medication. Read the rest of this entry »

Looking to make a change and lose some weight? I have reviewed the top diet on the internet and you can go and read over 200 comments people have made about why this diet has worked well for them, as well as some of the problems.

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I remember watching an old episode of Chips where Ponch cracked an egg into a glass and drank it. I have done this in the past as well in the misguided belief that it would make me stronger. Raw eggs can be dangerous to eat and you should always cook your eggs before eating. Here are some tips that have come out from the FDA:

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reminds consumers to pay special attention to the handling of eggs and preparation of foods that contain eggs during this holiday season. Some holiday favorites, such as cookie dough, homemade eggnog, and some types of stuffing, may contain eggs that are raw or undercooked. Eggs sometimes contain a bacteria called Salmonella, which can cause illness if eggs are not handled and cooked properly. An FDA national survey of consumer food safety practices, the 2006 FDA/FSIS Food Safety Survey, found that cookie dough is one of the major sources of raw egg in the American diet, and that only three percent of respondents always use a food thermometer when they cook baked egg dishes such as stuffing.

To avoid egg-related illness from holiday foods:

* Do not eat unbaked cookie dough.
* Cook baked egg-containing dishes to160 degrees F.
* Make recipes that call for raw or undercooked eggs, like eggnog, with eggs that have been treated to destroy Salmonella or with pasteurized egg products.

An estimated 118,000 illnesses per year are caused by consumption of eggs contaminated with SE. To help consumers avoid these illnesses, FDA requires the following statement on packages of fresh eggs that have not been treated to destroy Salmonella:

Safe Handling Instructions: To prevent illness from bacteria, keep eggs refrigerated, cook eggs until yolks are firm, and cook foods containing eggs thoroughly.

Following these instructions is important for everyone, but especially for those most vulnerable to food borne illness—young children; the elderly; persons with weakened immune systems due to conditions such as AIDS, cancer or diabetes, or treatments such as chemotherapy for cancer; persons with weakened immune systems due to steroid use; and persons with immune suppression after organ transplantation.

So what about Eggnog? This is poured straight out of the carton at Christmas isn’t it? Well Eggnog that is sold in stores in North America is pasteurized. Using a pasteurized product means that no further cooking is necessary.

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Any decision you make about your health care is important–including deciding whether to use acupuncture. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has developed this fact sheet to provide you with information on acupuncture. It includes frequently asked questions, issues to consider, and a list of sources for further information. Terms that are underlined are defined at the end of this fact sheet.

Key Points
Acupuncture originated in China more than 2,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest and most commonly used medical procedures in the world.

It is important to inform all of your health care providers about any treatment that you are using or considering, including acupuncture. Ask about the treatment procedures that will be used and their likelihood of success for your condition or disease.

Be an informed consumer and find out what scientific studies have been done on the effectiveness of acupuncture for your health condition.

If you decide to use acupuncture, choose the practitioner with care. Also check with your insurer to see if the services will be covered.
Read the rest of this entry »

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