How to Prevent Stroke

You can help prevent stroke by making healthy choices and managing any medical conditions you might have.

Live a Healthy Lifestyle

• Eat a healthy diet. Choosing healthful meal and snack options can help you avoid stroke and its complications. Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. 

• Eating foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in fiber can help prevent high blood cholesterol. Limiting salt or sodium in your diet can also lower your blood pressure.

For more information on healthy diet and nutrition, see CDC's Nutrition Web site. 

• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese can increase your risk for stroke. To determine whether your weight is in a healthy range, doctors often calculate a number called the body mass index (BMI). Doctors sometimes also use waist and hip measurements to measure a person's excess body fat.

If you know your weight and height, you can calculate your BMI at CDC's Assessing Your Weight Web site. 

• Be active. Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and lower cholesterol and blood pressure. The Surgeon General recommends that adults should engage in moderate-intensity exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.

For more information, see CDC's Physical Activity Web site.

• Don't smoke. Cigarette smoking greatly increases your risk for stroke. So, if you don't smoke, don't start. If you do smoke, quitting will lower your risk. Your doctor can suggest ways to help you quit.

For more information about tobacco use and quitting, see CDC's Smoking and Tobacco Use Web site.

• Limit alcohol use. Avoid drinking too much alcohol, which causes high blood pressure. For more information, visit CDC's Alcohol and Public Health Web site.

Prevent or Treat Your Medical Conditions
If you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease, there are steps you can take to lower your risk for stroke.

• Have your cholesterol checked. Your health care provider should test your cholesterol levels at least once every five years. Talk with your doctor about this simple blood test.

• Monitor your blood pressure. High blood pressure has no symptoms, so be sure to have it checked on a regular basis.

• Manage your diabetes. If you have diabetes, closely monitor your blood sugar levels. Talk with your health care provider about treatment options.

• Take your medicine. If you're taking medication to treat high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes, follow your doctor's instructions carefully. Always ask questions if you don't understand something.

• Talk with your health care provider. You and your doctor can work together to prevent or treat the medical conditions that lead to heart disease. Discuss your treatment plan regularly and bring a list of questions to your appointments.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Health Tips For Travelers (PART II)

Special Planning Considerations - For Students Travelers
Many college students travel during school breaks.  While most students will have a safe and enjoyable adventure, for some the trip will become a nightmare with a serious impact on the rest of their lives.  Students planning travel may want to review http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/safety/safety_2836.html.  American students planning travel to Mexico may want to review the following as well:  http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/spring_break_mexico/spring_break_mexico_2812.html.

Older Americans
Older American travelers should consider the following tips, review this information sheet, read the section Planning Your Trip:  Learn About the Places You Will Visit, and discuss the trip with a physician:
 

• Local conditions:  Be aware of any effects the local topography or climate may have on you:  If you are sensitive to altitude or to humidity, or to other attributes of your destination, consult with your physician.

• Don’t over-program: The additional physical activity undertaken during travel can be quite strenuous, and sudden changes in diet and climate can have serious health consequences for the unprepared traveler.

• Pack wisely:  Don’t pack so much that you will end up lugging around heavy suitcases.  Dress conservatively—a wardrobe that is flashy may attract the attention of thieves or con artists, while clothing that is very casual may result in being barred from some tourist sites overseas.  Include a change of clothing in your carry-on luggage.

Traveling With Disabilities
Individual countries have their own standards of accessibility for disabled travelers. Some countries have nondiscrimination laws that help to protect travelers with disabilities, while other countries do not.  Preparation before you go can help ensure that your planned destination will be accessible, safe and enjoyable.  Travelers with disabilities should review the Department of Transportation pamphlets New Horizons for the Air Traveler with a Disability and Plane Talk: Facts for Passengers With Disabilities . Both of these publications are available at the Department of Transportation’s website http://www.dot.gov.  In addition, travelers with disabilities should review the information contained in the section above entitled Planning Your Trip:  Learn About the Places You Will Visit, consider the following tips, and discuss the trip with a physician:
 

• Research in advance:  Learn about planned stops and ask questions about services available. Consider the level of health care available, as well as local transportation needs to and from the airport, luggage assistance, and whether other help will be needed to leave the airport terminal.  When making reservations, inform the travel agent or carrier of your disability and the equipment you use, and, if necessary, request a wheelchair be brought to the gate upon arrival and any other assistance needed while flying and at the airport.  In all cases, ask that your needs and requests be documented as part of the reservation, and take down the name of the agent.  That way, if there is a problem, you may be able to quickly show that you are entitled to the service you requested.

• Seek medical advice:  Talk to your physician about the activities you have planned and your general physical condition, any immunizations that might be needed, and medications, whether prescription or over the counter, that you might need for your trip.  Carry a letter from your attending physician, describing your medical condition and any prescription medications, including the generic names of prescribed drugs.

• Your medications:  If you take prescription medication, make sure you have enough to last the duration of the trip, including extra medicine in case you are delayed.  Pack your medication in your carry-on bag, since checked baggage is occasionally lost.  Always carry your prescriptions in their labeled containers, not in a pill pack. 

• Documentation of immunizations:  Take with you proper documentation of immunizations.

• Health and Evacuation Insurance:  Make sure you have adequate health insurance coverage while abroad, including coverage of medical evacuation (not covered by most domestic policies).  Note that U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States.

• Service dogs:  Some countries have restrictions on service dogs.  If you intend to travel with a service dog, be sure to check on possible restrictions with the embassy or consulate of each country you will visit.  (This and other country information may be found on each country’s Country Specific Information at http://travel.state.gov).  If service dogs are permitted, learn about quarantine or vaccination requirements.  Find out what documents are needed, including international health certificates and rabies inoculation certificates, and if the documents need to be translated.  Talk with your vet about tips for traveling with a dog, and how travel will affect the animal. You may also want to ensure that hotels will accommodate your service dog, and that there will be an adequate area for the dog to relieve itself.

• Maintenance on equipment:  Have a maintenance check done on any equipment you will take with you, to ensure that everything is in working order before you leave.  You may want to research the availability of wheelchair and medical equipment providers in the areas you plan to visit.

• Carry written plans:  Carry with you your written itinerary and directions of where you wish to go. These can be shown to people who might be able to help you if you are lost.  Another useful tool is a point-and-conversation guide.

Source: Centers for Disease Control

Health Tips For Travelers (PART I)

All travelers should familiarize themselves with conditions at their destination that could affect their health (high altitude or pollution, types of medical facilities, required immunizations, availability of required pharmaceuticals, etc.).  While some of this information may be found in the documents listed above, the key resource for health information is the Travelers’ Health page of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel.  The CDC website also provides general guidance on health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect-bite protection.  The CDC also maintains an international travelers' hotline at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or, by fax, at 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299).   See also the resources listed below. 

Vaccination, Infectious Diseases, Pandemic Influenza, Foot & Mouth Disease, Chemical/Biological/Nuclear Incidents

General guidance on vaccinations and other health precautions may be found on the Travelers’ Health page of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. 

Fact Sheets on foot and mouth disease, responding to chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incidents and other health issues, including pandemic influenza, may be found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1215.html. 

For information about pandemic influenza, see http://www.pandemicflu.gov or the website above.  Information about infectious diseases abroad may also be found on the website of the World Health Organization at http://www.who.int/en, and further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.

Insurance, Medicare & Medicaid, Medical Evacuation

Obtaining medical treatment and hospital care abroad can be expensive, and medical evacuation to the U.S. can cost more than $50,000.  Note that U.S. medical insurance is generally not accepted outside the United States, nor do the Social Security Medicare and Medicaid programs provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside the United States. 

If your insurance policy does not cover you abroad, it is a good idea to consider purchasing a short-term policy that does.  There are health insurance policies designed specifically to cover travel.  Many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas including emergency services such as medical evacuations.  The names of some of the companies offering short-term health and emergency assistance policies are listed on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1215.html.

Bringing Medications or Filling Prescriptions Abroad

A traveler going abroad with a preexisting medical problem should carry a letter from the attending physician, describing the medical condition and any prescription medications, including the generic names of prescribed drugs.  Any medications being carried overseas should be left in their original containers and be clearly labeled. Travelers should check with the foreign embassy of the country they are visiting to make sure any required medications are not considered to be illegal narcotics.  (A listing of foreign embassies and consulates in the U.S. is available on the Department of State’s website at  http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/dpl/32122.htm.   Foreign embassy and consulate contact information can also be found on the Country Specific Information for each country.)

If you wear eyeglasses, take an extra pair with you.  Pack medicines and extra eyeglasses in your hand luggage so they will be available in case your checked luggage is lost.  To be extra secure, pack a backup supply of medicines and an additional pair of eyeglasses in your checked luggage.

If you have allergies, reactions to certain medications, foods, or insect bites, or other unique medical problems, consider wearing a “medical alert” bracelet.  You may also wish to carry a letter from your physician explaining required treatment should you become ill.

Information on filling a prescription abroad and other health issues may be found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1215.html.

Source: Centers for Disease Control

Why Drinking Water Really is the Key to Weight Loss

Don't roll your eyes! The potion for losing that excess body fat is all around you. It covers two thirds of the planet. If you eat right and exercise at the intensity, frequency and duration proper for you, but still can't get rid of a little paunch here and there, you're probably just not drinking enough water.

No need to get defensive. You're actually quite normal. Most people don't drink enough water. Most people are also carrying around a few more pounds than they would be if they did drink enough water. If you can't seem to get that weight off, try drowning your sorrows in nature's magical weight-loss mineral. It works, and here's why:

"What on Earth is 'metabolism', anyway?" People use the term all the time, but ask them what it means and you'll get all kinds of answers. Merriam Webster defines it as, "The process by which a substance is handled in the body." A little vague, but that's really all it means.

There are many forms of metabolism going on in your body right now, but the one everyone is talking about it the metabolism of fat. This is actually something that the liver does when it converts stored fat to energy. The liver has other functions, but this is one of its main jobs.

Unfortunately, another of the liver's duties is to pick up the slack for the kidneys, which need plenty of water to work properly. If the kidneys are water-deprived, the liver has to do their work along with its own, lowering its total productivity. It then can't metabolize fat as quickly or efficiently as it could when the kidneys were pulling their own weight. If you allow this to happen, not only are you being unfair to your liver, but you're also setting yourself up to store fat.

"I've tried it and I couldn't stand it!" The problem is that, though many decide to increase their water intake, very few stick with it. It's understandable. During the first few days of drinking more water than your body is accustomed to, you're running to the bathroom constantly. This can be very discouraging, and it can certainly interfere with an otherwise normal day at work. It seems that the water is coming out just as fast as it's going in, and many people decide that their new hydration habit is fruitless.

Do take heed , though. What is really happening is that your body is flushing itself of the water it has been storing throughout all those years of "survival mode". It takes a while, but this is a beautiful thing happening to you. As you continue to give your body all the

water it could ask for, it gets rid of what it doesn't need. It gets rid of the water it was holding onto in your ankles and your hips and thighs, maybe even around your belly. You are excreting much more than you realize. Your body figures it doesn't need to save these stores anymore; it's trusting that the water will keep coming, and if it does, eventually, the flushing (of both the body and the potty) will cease, allowing the human to return to a normal life. It's true. This is called the "breakthrough point."

One recent finding, as irresponsible as it may be, that caffeine increases the body's fat-burning potential has many people loading up on coffee before going to the gym. This finding may hold some degree of truth in it, but caffeine is, in essence, a diuretic, and diuretics dehydrate. Caffeine may increase the heart rate, causing a few more calories to be burned, but this is at the expense of the muscles, which need water to function properly. This isn't doing your heart any favors, either. It's already working hard enough during your workout. Never mix caffeine and exercise. In fact, your best bet is to stay away from caffeine all together. It's a big bully that pushes your friend water out of your system.

Water is the best beauty treatment. You've heard this since high school, and it's true. Water will do wonders for your looks! It flushes out impurities in your skin, leaving you with a clear, glowing complexion. It also makes your skin look younger. Skin that is becoming saggy, either due to aging or weight loss, plumps up very nicely when the skin cells are hydrated.

In addition, it improves muscle tone. You can lift weights until you're blue in the face, but if your muscles are suffering from a drought, you won't notice a pleasant difference in your appearance. Muscles that have all the water they need contract more easily, making your workout more effective, and you'll look much nicer than if you had flabby muscles under sagging skin.

"Eight glasses a day? Are you kidding?!" It's really not that much. Eight 8-ounce glasses amount to about two quarts of water. This is okay for the average person, but if you're overweight, you should drink another eight ounces for every 25 pounds of excess weight you carry. You should also up this if you live in a hot climate or exercise very intensely.

This water consumption should be spread out throughout the day. It's not healthy at all to drink too much water at one time. Try to pick three or four times a day when you can have a big glass of water, and then sip in between. Don't let yourself get thirsty. If you feel thirsty, you're already becoming dehydrated. Drink when you're not thirsty yet.

Do you think water is yucky? Drinking other fluids will certainly help hydrate your body, but the extra calories, sugar, additives and whatever else aren't what you need. Try a slice of lemon or lime in the glass, or if you really think you hate water, try a flavored water. Just make sure you read the labels. Remember that you're going to be consuming a lot of this fluid.

It's probably a good idea to stop drinking water a good three hours before you go to bed. You know why.

"How cold should it be?" This is debatable. Most experts lean toward cold water, because the stomach absorbs it more quickly. There is also some evidence that cold water might enhance fat burning.

On the other hand, warmer water is easier to drink in large quantities, and you might drink more of it without even realizing it. Do whatever suits you, here. Just drink it!

When you drink all the water you need, you will very quickly notice a decrease in your appetite, possibly even on the first day! If you're serious about becoming leaner and healthier, drinking water is an absolute must. If you're doing everything else right and still not seeing results, this might just be what's missing.

Source: inch-aweigh

How to Reduce Your Risk Factors for Heart Disease With Dietary Changes

Choose Healthy Carbohydrate Sources
Stay away from sugary foods like candy, cookies, cakes, and pastries. A high sugar diet will increase your triglycerides and won't help your heart disease risk at all. Healthy carbohydrates include whole grain breads, whole grain pastas, brown rice, and lots of colorful fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables should become the main part of your diet. Not only are fruits and vegetables sources of good carbohydrates, they also contain lots of vitamins, minerals, and other phytochemicals that can help improve your health.

Choose Health Protein Sources
Diets with healthy proteins are a great way to keep your heart healthy. Choose lean meats, fish, and plant proteins like legumes, nuts, and seeds. These plant protein sources are also great sources for healthy carbohydrates and fats.

While red meats are a great source of iron and minerals, they are also a source of unhealthy saturated fats. When you eat red meats, choose low fat cuts and remember that one serving is only about two or three ounces. Eat fish at least three times per week and eat plant proteins every day.

Use Healthy Cooking Methods
Sauteeing and stir-frying with a little olive oil or canola oil are great methods, but don't dip your foods in batter and fry them anymore. Remove the skin from chicken or turkey and bake in the oven covered in foil. Bake fish instead of frying. Steam your vegetables to maintain the most nutrients. No more cream sauces or lots of butter either. Try squeezing lemon juice on your vegetables, or use your favorite seasonings.

Cut Back on the Sodium
Use herbs and spices instead of salt. When you are grocery shopping, be sure to read Nutrition Facts labels very carefully. A lot of canned foods contain huge amounts of sodium.

Choose Healthy Portion Sizes
That bagel you see in the coffee shop might be about the same size as five slices of bread. In order to eat a healthy diet you need to understand portion sizes. A serving of meat is about the size of a deck of playing cards and a serving of starchy foods such as pasta or potatoes is about the size of a baseball. Green vegetables and salad items can easily be about the size of two handfuls, just be sure to not overdo any dressings or sauces.

As you make these dietary changes remember that it takes time for these changes to become habits. Not sure how many calories you need or how many servings of different food groups? Use my Nutrition and Calorie Guides to help you. Keep working at these dietary changes and you will be rewarded with good health and a healthy heart.

Source: About.com

Water Treatment Methods

In areas where tap water is not chlorinated or where sanitation is poor, there are several alternative methods for ensuring water is safe to drink. These include boiling the water, chemically disinfecting it, filtering it, using various combination of the previously stated methods, or buying bottled water. Remember: if the tap water is not safe to drink in the area you are visiting, do not use it to reconstitute juice or to rinse fresh fruits and vegetables. Also avoid ice made from tap water.

Below we describe ways to make sure water is safe to drink.

Bottled Water

Bottled water from a trusted source is a recommended alternative to tap water. Before drinking, be sure all bottled beverages have fully sealed caps. If seals are not intact, the bottles may have been refilled.

Boiling Water

Boiling water is the best method for making water safe to drink. Boiling water as recommended will kill bacterial, parasitic, and viral causes of diarrhea. Adding a pinch of salt to each quart will improve the taste.

Directions for Boiling Water

• Boil water vigorously for 1 minute and allow it to cool to room temperature (do not add ice).
• At altitudes greater than 6,562 feet (>2,000 m), boil water for 3 minutes or use chemical disinfection after water has been boiled for 1 minute. 

Chemical Disinfection

If boiling water is not possible, chemical disinfection with iodine (e.g., Globaline, Potable-Aqua, or Coghlan’s, found in pharmacies and sporting goods stores) is another method for making water safer to drink. Cryptosporidium (a parasite that can cause diarrhea) and other coccidian parasites (e.g., Cyclospora, Toxoplasma) might not be killed by this method. Cloudy water should be strained through a clean cloth into a container to remove any sediment or floating matter, and then the water should be treated with iodine.

Directions for disinfecting water with iodine

Iodine tablets

1. Follow the tablet manufacturers' instructions.
2. If water is cloudy, double the number of tablets.
3. If water is extremely cold, less than 5° C (41° F), an attempt should be made to warm the water, and the recommended contact time (standing time between adding a chemical disinfectant to the water and drinking the water) should be increased to achieve reliable disinfection.

Note: Be sure the tablet size is correct for a liter of water.
Tincture of Iodine - measure out your dose to water.

1. If using tincture of iodine 2% solution, add 5 drops to a Liter or Quart of clear water. If the water is cloudy, add 10 drops per Liter or Quart. (Note: 20 drops=1 ml.)
2. Allow the water to stand for 30 minutes before drinking when the water temperature is at least 25°C (77°F). Increase the standing time for colder water: (e.g., for each 10° less than 25°C (77°F), allow the water to stand for double the time before drinking it.

Crystalline Iodine (found at some chemical companies and sporting goods stores) First make a saturated solution and then measure your own dose to add to water. The crystalline form stores well indefinitely and new batches of the saturated solution can be made from a small amount of crystals each time you take a trip.
To prepare a stock of Crystalline Iodine saturated solution:

1. Place 4-8 grams of crystalline iodine into a 1-2 oz container and fill with water. Note: 1oz=6 teaspoons.
   Warning: crystalline iodine at 4-8 grams is a lethal dose if accidentally swallowed in a single dose. Keep out of the reach of children.
2. Shake the bottle vigorously for 1 minute. Allow several additional minutes for the iodine to maximally dissolve in the available water. Some crystals should always be visible; if they totally dissolve, then more crystals should be added to the container to insure that iodine saturation of the stock solution has been achieved.
3. If the water to be treated is clear, add 13 ml of saturated iodine solution -- liquid above the crystals, not the crystals themselves -- per Liter or Quart. Note: 5 ml= 1 teaspoon. 13 ml = about 2.5 teaspoons
4. In cloudy water, add 26 ml of saturated solution per Liter or Quart.
   Note: Allow the solution to stand 20 minutes before drinking the disinfected water when the water temperature is 20-25°C (68-77°F). Increase the standing time with colder water. For each 10° less than 25°C (77°F), allow the water to stand for double the time before drinking.

Portable Water Filters

Certain types of portable water filters can also remove some types of infectious agents from drinking water. However, most of the portable filters on the market do not effectively remove viruses, thus chemical disinfection of water is needed after filtering with such filters to make the water safer for drinking. Some portable water filters designed to remove parasites (Giardia/Cryptosporidium) have an "absolute” pore sizes of 0.1 to 1-micrometer and, therefore, may also remove most diarrhea-causing bacteria. See the Division of Parasitic Diseases' Guide to Water Filters and Bottled Water to learn about different filters and those that filter Cryptosporidium. Viruses are smaller than 0.1 micron and will NOT be removed by filters with a pore size of 0.1 or larger. To kill viruses that may pass through these filters, add iodine (as described above) to the filtered water before you drink it.
 
Note: Chlorine in various forms has also been used for chemical disinfection. However, it is not as reliable as iodine for killing disease causing organisms in the wide range of water-quality conditions that travelers might encounter

Warnings

• Crystalline iodine 4-8 grams used in a stock solution constitutes a human lethal dose if accidentally swallowed in a single dose. Keep out of the reach of children.
• Water that has been disinfected with iodine is NOT recommended for pregnant women, people with thyroid problems, those with known hypersensitivity to iodine, or continuous use for more than a few weeks at a time. 

Source: Centers For Disease Control and Prevention

Better health through optimum body pH balance

Maintaining a correct body acid alkaline balance is the secret to optimum health. It keeps the body properly oxygenated, provides high levels of energy and immunity and slows down the aging process. Correct body acid alkaline balance promotes health and vitality from cellular level. Water for Health supply leading edge alkaline ionized water products, quality green superfoods and alkalising supplements to help you enjoy better health.

 
Increasingly scientists and health practitioners are confirming that if you maintain the acid alkaline balance of your body fluids at the correct level (slightly alkaline body) you will be able to overcome disease, increase your energy levels and slow down the aging process. We are alkaline by design but unfortunately modern diets, lifestyles, stress and environmental pollution lead to a build up of excess acidity in the body tissues often leading to serious health problems.

'The countless names attached to illnesses do not really matter. What does matter is that they all come from the same root cause.... too much tissue acid waste in the body!' ..... Dr Theodore Baroody author of Alkalize or Die 

Whether you are suffering from degenerative health issues or are looking to maintain good health and slow down the aging process then good hydration and proper acid alkaline balance can make a huge difference. Our products to help better hydration and proper acid alkaline balance are supported by a high quality caring, personal service driven by a desire to make a real improvement in people's health. These products are all geared directly or indirectly towards helping you gain the proper pH balance in your body where you can enjoy high levels of energy, living life without pain or debility.

Source: Water For Health

Why You Need to Drink Water

Why You Need to Drink Water

Your body is estimated to be about 60 to 70 percent water. Blood is mostly water, and your muscles, lungs, and brain all contain a lot of water. Your body needs water to regulate body temperature and to provide the means for nutrients to travel to all your organs. Water also transports oxygen to your cells, removes waste, and protects your joints and organs.

Signs of Dehydration

You lose water through urination, respiration, and by sweating. If you are very active, you lose more water than if you are sedentary. Diuretics, such as caffeine pills and alcohol, result in the need to drink more water because they trick your body into thinking you have more water than we need.

Symptoms of mild dehydration include chronic pains in joints and muscles, lower back pain, headaches and constipation. A strong odor to your urine, along with a yellow or amber color, indicates that you may not be getting enough water. Note that riboflavin, a B vitamin, will make your urine bright yellow. Thirst is an obvious sign of dehydration, and in fact, you need water long before you feel thirsty.

How Much Water do You Need to Drink?

A good estimate is to take your body weight in pounds and divide that number in half. That gives you the number of ounces of water per day that you need to drink. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, you should drink at least 80 ounces of water per day. If you exercise, you should drink another eight ounce glass of water for every 20 minutes you are active. If you drink alcohol, you should drink at least an equal amount of water. When you are traveling on an airplane, it is good to drink eight ounces of water for every hour you are on board the plane. If you live in an arid climate, you should add another two servings per day. As you can see, your daily need for water can add up to quite a lot.

• This water calculator can help you determine how much water you need to drink each day.

At least twenty percent of the water you need will come from the foods you eat. The rest will come from the beverages you drink. Water is probably the best choice; sweetened soft drinks and sodas have added sugar that adds extra calories. Sports drinks contain electrolytes and may be beneficial; just look out for added sugar and calories that you may not want. Fruit and vegetable juice are good because they have vitamins and nutrients (read labels, however -- vegetable juices may be high in sodium).
Caffeinated beverages like tea and coffee count too, but too much caffeine can make you feel jittery.

How To Drink Enough Water

It may be difficult to drink enough water on a busy day. Be sure you have water handy at all times by keeping a bottle for water with you when you are working, traveling, or exercising. If you get bored with plain water, add a bit of lemon or lime for a touch of flavor. There are some brands of flavored water available, but watch for extra calories.

Source: About.com - www.about.com

Treating a Common Sore Throat

A sore throat is a common medical condition also known as "pharyngitis." 

Sore throats can be caused by viruses, bacteria or substances such as alcohol, tobacco or pollutants. Sore throats that do not require antibiotics or other prescription medications can usually be self-treated by some simple interventions. 

The common "mild" sore throat is typically one which is slightly painful when swallowing, has a red/irritated appearance and may include a low-grade fever. This article will help you treat the simple sore throat at home.

TO TREAT THE SORE THROAT, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTION BELOW

• Take an OTC pain killer and/or fever reducer such as acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (brand names: Advil, Motrin, Nuprin) or naproxen (brand name: Aleve) to help with the ache and discomfort. These medications will also help bring down any fever you might have.

• Gargle and spit warm water (an 8-oz. glass) mixed with about 1 tsp. of table salt. Do not drink it! The warm salt water will bathe your throat, reduce the discomfort and assist in removing any exudate from the back of your throat.

• Drink plenty of clear liquids (warm, cool or room temperature--according to your likes and how it feels). Do not consume any food or liquids that cause irritation or coat the your throat, such as dairy products.

• Keep your mouth and mucus membranes moist by sucking on lozenges or hard candy (the less sugar, the better though!) You can also rinse out your mouth with clear, warm water.

Source : eHow - www.ehow.com