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- Pericarditis - Definition, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, a membrane that surrounds the heart and its major blood vessels.
Pericarditis can be caused by:
-infection
-heart attack
-autoimmune disorders
-chest trauma
-cancer
-kidney failure
-drugs
Pericarditis most often affects men aged 20-50. Pericarditis may be acute or chronic. Heart attack (see post-MI pericarditis) and myocarditis can cause pericarditis, as can radiation therapy to the chest and medications that suppress the immune system. Acute pericarditis due to tuberculosis begins insidiously, sometimes without obvious symptoms of lung infection. It may produce fever and symptoms of heart failure, such as weakness, fatigue, and difficulty breathing. Cardiac tamponade may occur. Pericarditis can be misdiagnosed as myocardial infarction, and vice versa. Pericarditis is more common in adolescents and young adults. In a recent study, Merce et al found no difference in etiology, clinical course, and prognosis between elderly and younger patients with moderate and large pericardial effusions.
Pericarditis occurs in up to 15% of patients who have acute myocardial infarctions (heart attacks). There is also a late form of post-heart-attack pericarditis, called Dressler's syndrome, that occurs weeks to months after the heart attack. Chronic pericarditis occurs when the pericardial inflammation does not resolve within a few weeks. Constrictive pericarditis occurs when a chronically inflamed pericardial sac sticks to the heart muscle, squeezing it constricting it. A CT or MRI scan can also help to diagnose chronic or constrictive pericarditis, by showing the thickening of the pericardial lining associated with these conditions. Potential sources of cardiac perforation include central line placement, pacemaker insertion, cardiac catheterization, sternal bone marrow biopsies, and pericardiocentesis.
Pericarditis usually occurs in flare-ups, but it may be the presenting manifestation. Constrictive pericarditis is a very difficult therapeutic problem. Diuretics may be used to remove excess fluid accumulated in the pericardial sac. Bacterial pericarditis must be treated with antibiotics. Fungal pericarditis is treated with antifungal agents. Medicines, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are commonly used to manage the pain and inflammation. Acute inflammatory pericarditis usually lasts one to three weeks and doesn't lead to further problems. About 20 percent of pericarditis patients have a recurrence within months or, rarely, within years. Pericarditis is treated with bed rest, diuretics, and digitalis, but definitive treatment requires surgery to strip the thickened pericardial lining from the heart.
Treatment for Pericarditis
-Analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs are given to relieve pain.
-Antibiotics are also prescribed if the pericarditis is due to a bacterial infection.
-Tamponade is treated by draining the fluid from the pericardial sac, usually via a tiny catheter. -Removing the fluid relieves the pressure on the heart, and restores normal cardiac function almost immediately.
-Pericarditis is treated with bed rest, diuretics, and digitalis.
Mon, 08 Oct 2007 05:51:00 +0000
- Relationships are key to keeping your overseas property dream alive
It seems that overseas property buyers often research locations, examine property investment potential and learn about the practicalities of buying a home abroad. However one element that seems to be ignored is human relationships.
Plan to avoid disappointment.
We all know that pulling in the same direction in any sort of relationship can make life a whole lot easier. Reaching a compromise is better than having one party in the relationship unhappy while the other is all smiles. So why do we ignore relationship factors in the decision process when buying a property abroad. This could be because you may have both agreed it would be a dream come true to own a home abroad, however everyones dreams are different and right from the out set each partner may be walking down a different path.
Start asking your self some honest questions.
Is your partner in love with living abroad as much as you are simply ignoring these differences can mean you are set disaster. Do you love the sun whilst your partner burns just thinking about a hot day. Can you speak the language whilst they cannot speak a word? These all sound very obvious but your partners enjoyment may not be as much as yours when owing a home abroad becomes a reality.
Its time to start asking some serious questions and compare them with your partners.
What is your main reason for buying a property overseas?
What would your dream home abroad look like?
How much would you spend?
How much would you be prepared to dedicate on monthly expenditure?
What would be your ideal location?
Would you like to live abroad?
Would you like to retire abroad?
How often would you want to come home?
Do not make assumptions about your partners feelings.
The list of questions could go on and on but making assumptions about how your partners view their ideal home abroad may result in a serious situation later. Its time to compromise at the planning stage so sit down and get to a joint view of your home abroad.
Your relationships may be under pressure
Buying any sort of property can be a stressful business resulting in disagreements and a desire to throw the whole project in the bin. Moving abroad and living away from home has its own unique pressures so its essential that all agree to the game plan. When one partner has sacrificed more than the other this could stay in the background until rows or disagreements ensue. Living overseas may mean more time being spent with your partner this in its self could be a form of pressure.
Go on compromise a little.
Imagine one partner looking for a home abroad situated by a golf course whilst the other hates golf . The partner may be happy to go along with this as they are swept away with the thought of owning a property overseas. But with time and pressures associated with living away from home this euphoria is set to be a temporary situation. So work on compromise with the location of your property overseas. There are so many overseas locations that could cater for both parties. This compromise will ensure your relationship does not suffer when owing a home overseas.
Missing friends and family
So you intend on living in your dream home abroad for the best part of the year. You have got the ideal location for a holiday home the property is everything you wished for. You are quite happy to see friends and family very infrequently. However what does your partner feel about this. It is an important consideration as your dream could well be tainted by a partner on an emotional roller coaster who misses friends and family. Discuss with your partner to determine how they will feel about being away from friends and family. It may be best to plan for a location that is easily accessible for friends and family.You may need to buy an overseas property with room for them to stay. What are the costs to your friends and family to visit? Too
high and your likely not to receive them veryoften so be realistic in your choice of location.
Selling your overseas property you will need an exit plan
It makes good sense when buying a property abroad to plan how and when you would eventually sell youre your overseas property. Your partner may never want to sell and plans to keep the property in the family. You may be looking at the overseas property of your dreams as a pure investment whilst your partner sees it as a home. Deciding on how and when you intend to sell your property aboard is an important factor in many cases a property cannot be sold unless both parties agree.
Buying a home overseas can be a dream come true however it can be seen that ignoring the human element that many guides never touch upon could turn your dream into a nightmare.
Mon, 08 Oct 2007 02:44:00 +0000
- Insider Real Estate Tips For Every Home Buyer
As an experienced San Francisco Bay Area real estate professional, I have been successful in helping many first-time homebuyers realize their home ownership dreams. There are many details to consider when buying a home and at times it can seem overwhelming, but if you take things step-by-step and educate yourself on the process you will soon be holding the keys to the home of your dreams.
You can be a smart and savvy homebuyer by following these proven insider tips:
Establish Your Purchasing Power: Become a Pre-Approved Buyer: I cannot stress the importance of this enough. By being pre-approved you will have an advantage in every offer situation, giving you the edge in home purchase negotiating. Pre-approval also helps you determine exactly how much home you can afford. The pre-approval process is very easy: you complete your loan application with a credit check prior to beginning your home search process.
Use the MLS to Beat The Competition to New Listings: It's a hard fact, in some hot real estate markets the home inventory is low and the demand is high, causing homes to sell fast. Keeping on top of the market is essential. By registering for a free MLS service, you can customize and save your MLS search criteria and receive daily email updates for the specific neighborhoods you are interested in. I offer such a service on my website at http://www.talisrealestate.com.
Be a Serious Home Buyer: Capture the sellers attention by presenting a strong, but simple offer accompanied by an earnest money deposit of 1-5%.
Make Sure Your Offer is Presented in Person: Your Realtor ® or real estate agent should always present your offer in person, directly to the home sellers and their agent. This personal touch makes your offer memorable and helps your representative gather critical data.
Get Professional Assistance: In today's complex real estate market it is more important than ever to have a professional who truly represents your best interests on your side. Good guidance in the home buying process can make the entire transaction go more smoothly by helping identify possible pitfalls and by putting you in a stronger position to make informed decisions to maximize your investment.
These home buying tips were provided by Talis Real Estate. For additional home buying tips and the latest real estate information, visit Bay Area Real Estate proffesional's website.
Elena Talis is a successful Realtor in the Bay Area. Her website http://www.TalisRealEstate.com offers free, customizable MLS searches and detailed information on real estate buying and selling procedures. Article Source: BusinessCurrents.net
Mon, 08 Oct 2007 02:37:00 +0000
- How Can Paid Surveys Diversify Your Work At Home
So many of us have to spend time working at home either raising kids and taking care of the house, or working as freelancers. No matter how much you like to spend time with your family or enjoy having a flexible career, you are always prone to fall victim of tedious routine. Taking paid online surveys can really change your perspectives and diversify your work at home learn why.
First, taking paid surveys is really easy. Even the lengthiest surveys are a few pages long. Survey designers take care that online surveys are easy to navigate, complete, and submit. Therefore, even if you are not an Internet junky, you can very well deal with survey taking. Online surveys are targeted to large consumer segments, and are, therefore, made for the computer proficiency even of the least skillful. Once you get started with paid surveys, you will be able to shorten the time needed to complete and submit them. That will help you complete more paid surveys, and earn more cash and prizes.
Paid surveys are a very responsible job, because the market research industry relies on consumer opinion to improve the products and services on the market. Therefore, what you write and express is really important. If you think that nobody cares about what you think, paid surveys can make the difference. Your opinion and experience are truly meaningful and significant, and you can contribute them to creating a better consumer world. Paid surveys not simply diversify your work at home routine, but give you a different perspective on the significance of your personal contribution to the quality of your consumer environment.
Paid surveys have one undisputable quality they apply to all. No matter where you live, how much you earn, what gender or social group you belong to paid surveys test your consumer opinion, and we all qualify. Of course, different surveys can be target to consumer groups that are smaller or larger, depending on how many people use the particular product or service. For instance, surveys on cat food will be targeted only to cat keepers only, because they will have direct experience with feeding their cats particular foods. Paid surveys are designed for a great variety of products and services; therefore, there will always be surveys that will target you as a consumer and you can participate to earn cash and win prizes.
Paid surveys can also be fun for people from different income brackets and educational levels. People from all walks of life find purpose and motivation to take surveys from students, retirees, stay-at-home moms, unemployed, low-skill workers, to software engineers, teachers, librarians, and nurses. Some take paid surveys for the extra cash and bonuses that they get in the form of freebies, discounts, vouchers and gift certificates. Others find it interesting to complete surveys on different topics and learn about new products and services that are just being launched on the market.Free Online Surveys are also a source of information on upcoming products, and you may be among the first to preview and try new stuff. Moreover, surveys help you evaluate the purchases you made in the past, and decide on the purchases you are planning. You may be surprised to find out that you werent as happy with a past purchase as you think you are, and even decide to change the brand, the timing of the purchase, and the credit source.
Taking surveys is more than just diversity in your work. Doing surveys at home or at the office brings you additional bonuses and cash that you can spend immediately or save to make a bigger purchase. Paid surveys help you reconsider your purchasing decisions, and improve your consumer stance. You help marketing companies improve their services, and contribute to having a more customer-oriented marketplace of the future.
Mon, 08 Oct 2007 02:34:00 +0000
- Finding a Legitimate Online Job
Finding a needle in a haystack would be easier than finding a legitimate work from home job on the internet on your own. One of the first things you need to know about a vast majority of online businesses is that it involves a lot of advertising for whatever it is you are selling. So if you are not comfortable with this aspect, then you probably would not enjoy working online.
The Work At Home Group has found that most trustworthy work from home jobs have a fee that is paid up front, although many people believe otherwise. Free internet business opportunities involve a lot of work such as multi-level- marketing. Believe me when I say that if the job is free then you are doing all the work, for someone elses' benefit. "You get what you pay for", is very true in the work at home industry. You have to take into consideration that companies that charge a fee supply you with information and valuable knowledge. Before we go any further let me say that every online business with a start-up fee is totally legitimate, is not necessarily true, there are a lot of scams on the internet. One way to find out if a company is legitimate or not is to do a simple search on the internet with their web address. Another good method is to check the BBB on online scam sites.
There are a wide variety of online opportunities on the internet. Everything from free no cost jobs to large and small start-up fees. The most success I have seen people have had were the home typing jobs. I came across about one year ago and of course it involves marketing. This type of job is really good because they cut through all the hype other companies try to sale you and just tell you up front what you will be doing which is placing ads and marketing.
What does a home typing jobs involve? It involves placing ads for companies that do business on the interent. You can do this for free or pay a service to do it for you. The way it works is for each sale that your ad generates you will be paid a commission. These commissions range from 50-75% of that sale which sometimes is more then the company profits itself.
There are small requirements to be successful with this type of job because most of them will supply you with all free or paid resources and information you need to begin. Another aspect is the tech support you get with these types of jobs. Check for yourself how the support is by emailing the company with a question, and see how long it takes for them to get back with you.
Your only concern is to generate the sales and collect your checks, the companies take care of shipping, order processing, and any refunds. There are several ways to market a company online, the most affective ways of course includes a service fee but you can also choose to do it yourself. This can be very profitable but involves many hours and committment to be successful at it. Being able to sit at home in your pajamas, save gas money and be able to make the same amount of money (if not more) as an outside job from your home is one of the major reasons people want to work from home.
Mon, 08 Oct 2007 01:30:00 +0000
- The Ultimate Internet Marketing Article
The following are some of my best trade secrets. Please only use them for Good.
This article has been developed as an internet marketing how-to for entrepreneurs and small businesses who make up 95% of businesses, yet are currently underserved by the professional search-marketing industry, and are often poorly self-served due to lack of expertise and time.
Let's Begin.A successful internet marketing program almost always beings with Keyword Research.It's important to find out which of your services people are looking for, and in what quantity they are searching for them. One of the most popular free tools to see how many searches per month there are for your keywords is Yahoo's Search History tool (http://inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion/).
Remember that as Yahoo only holds about 25% of the market share for total searches (Google is about 55% and MSN is about 15%) so the actual number of searches for most terms is really about 4x the numbers you will see.
There are many search terms that you can show up for in search engines that are less competitive and costly than others (usually the less obvious terms that people haven't found), although they are just as likely to convert the searcher to a customer of yours. The more of these terms you can find for your keyword list, the better your whole search marketing campaign will be in cost and effectiveness.
While developing your list of terms and search volume, it is important to note that many search volume numbers given are "over the radar" the real quantity of searches is much less. It is important to have accurate numbers so you can proportionately distribute your efforts to showing up for search terms -- rather than spending hours trying to show up for Another technique for converting searchers are finding "indirect keywords", where somebody who is searching for one thing, though not what you are offering as a product or service, would still be interested in your productâfor instance somebody is looking up how to fix a dent in their car themselves, and you can offer them professional dent removal services. One great use of this is running ads for the names of your competitors, and as people look up their services, they will then also be able to see your offerings
Next, convert your keyword list into an effective Pay-Per-Click campaign to drive targeted traffic to your website.
You should have a generic list of all of the services which you offer -- for example, accounting -- which may include your non-competitor-name "indirect keywords". If you only serve a local market, these should be put into a geo-targeted campaign to keep people you outside of your market from seeing your ads, clicking them, and costing you money.
These campaigns should be run in at least the major 3 search engines -- Google, Yahoo & MSN. An important point to make is that Yahoo and MSN usually have a better ROI because there are fewer people bidding against you on pay-per-click in these search engines, which thus reduces the cost-per-acquisition. The bottom line is that it is important to run ads in all three search engines.
Finally, Take Over the Natural (Non-Sponsored / Non-Pay-Per-Click) Results to drive more targeted traffic to your website
We have a pre-sorted list of directories (www.WebAndGraphicSolutions.com/link-directories.html) you can submit your site to in order to build inbound links to your website ( be sure to list the Title as the keywords you want to show up for), and going through this list is usually enough to get on the first page for any major profession in most major metropolitan areas.
Well done -- you have now covered your keyword universe and beyond with an effective internet marketing campaign.
Mon, 08 Oct 2007 01:10:00 +0000
- Let's Start With The Soup
Many a business meal starts with a soup course. Unless you have already begun by munching on the bread, this is your first opportunity to demonstrate your table manners-to impress or un-impress-your dining companions.
Choosing the right spoon is step number one. If the table has been preset, your soup spoon will be the large round or oval one to the far right of your place setting. If the table has not been fully set, the server will bring your spoon with the soup. I recently found myself on a hunt for my soup spoon after the waiter had brought the bowl. There was no soup spoon to the right of the place setting and it didn't seem to be anywhere else close by. Just before confessing that I was without a spoon, I spotted a handle sticking out from under the oversized soup bowl. So check the plate first before you give up.
With soup spoon in hand, spoon the soup away from you towards the opposite side of the bowl. If a bit of the liquid should fall from the spoon this will ensure that it will drop into the bowl and not on the front of your nice business attire. Sip your soup quietly from the side of the spoon. Slurping is never acceptable.
No matter how hot the soup, at no point should you blow on it to cool it off. You may lift a spoonful slightly level with the bowl and hold it for a few seconds while it cools off. Be patient and grateful that your soup is hot. If the soup is not heated to your liking, don't make a fuss during your meal. If you send it back to be reheated, everyone else will feel obliged to wait on you. Then they will end up with the cold soup instead of you.
If you want the last drop of soup, you may tip the bowl away from you to spoon this last bit. Just try to avoid looking as if you are not sure where your next meal is coming from.
If oyster crackers come with your soup, as they do with chowder, you can put them in your bowl. However, larger crackers are to be eaten with your fingers and never crumbled into the soup. That's only okay when eating in private.
Between mouthfuls, rest the spoon in the bowl. When you have finished, place it on the under plate on the right hand side. That is a signal to the server that you have finished.
If you'd like to have a piece of bread with your soup, put your spoon on the under plate and use the same hand that held your spoon for the bread. Never go at your meal two-fisted.
Every detail of the business meal, including how you eat your soup, contributes to your overall professional image.
(c) 2006, Lydia Ramsey. All rights reserved. Reprint rights granted so long as article and by-line are published intact and with all links made live.
Lydia Ramsey is a business etiquette expert, professional speaker, corporate trainer and author of MANNERS THAT SELL - ADDING THE POLISH THAT BUILDS PROFITS. She has been quoted or featured in The New York Times, Investors' Business Daily, and Entrepreneur, Inc. Her programs, products and services are available at http://www.mannersthatsell.com
Mon, 08 Oct 2007 01:06:00 +0000
- How apples protect your heart
It is highly recommended that you include fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. The amount of intake depends on your age, size and level of activity but the recommended amount should be at least 5 cups each day. This will lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, some cancers and stroke.
Polyphenols prevent free radical from damaging our healthy cells, and they are abundant in fruits and vegetables. Storing them will help boost up our immune systems.
Doctors advise to eat more apples regularly as they are high in polyphenols.
Snack on an apple which is delicious, satisfying, juicy and easy to carry. It is also relatively low in calories, contains no fat, cholesterol or sodium, so it is an excellent fruit to maintain healthy weight and heart.
Apples are also high in fructose, a simple sugar which is sweeter than sucrose (main component of cane sugar). As Fructose metabolized slower, it helps to control blood sugar levels, therefore is suitable for diabetes patients.
An effective way to cure constipation is to eat ripe, uncooked apples since they contain a lot of soluble and insoluble fiber. They can also be stewed which are effective treatment for diarrhoea and gastroenteritis.
Some use apples to treat skin blisters.
Many people like to eat dried apples as tidbits. Apple slices are exposed to the fumes of burning sulphur to prevent them from browning, then dried in the sun on wire trays.
As moisture is lost, natural sugars become concentrated, which is why athletes value dried apples as a source of carbohydrate that is quickly converted to energy. Dried apples contain six times more calories than fresh ones. They are high in fibre and moderate source of iron. But lost their vitamin C during drying process.
Putting apples with other fruits eg apricots together in a paper bag for two to four days will help other fruits ripen faster. For the same reason, avoid storing apples with strong-smelling foods to prevent them from absorbing unpleasant odors.
When choosing apples, make sure they are firm to the touch and free from brown bruises. Handle them gently to prevent bruising.
Large apples are more likely to be overripe which are best for stewing and baking.
It's best to store apples in a cool environment (refrigerator is the best) where oxygen balance has been chemically lowered. This halts the natural maturing processes, so they can be kept for several months without going soft. When the fruit is again exposed to normal temperatures and oxygen levels – on the supermarket shelves, it continues to mature and may quickly go soft.
To avoid cut apples from browning, dip them in a mixture of one part lemon juice to three parts water - or Vitamin C-fortified 100% apple juice.
Should we peel the apple? No, as two-thirds of the fiber, and many of the antioxidants, are found in an apple's peel. But, some people worry the apples peel may be coated with too much pesticides. so we should run the apples under the tap more thoroughly if we decide to eat the peel.
Is apple juice as good? It is best to eat apples rather than drink apple juices as blending may cause important nutrients like polyphenols and fiber to disappear. But if you really wants to drink apple juice, opt for the cloudy rather than clear apple juice to get more polyphenols and pectins.
Here's a simple apple recipe :
Sautéed Apples (serves 4)Ingredients: 1 teaspoon butter, 4 firm, tart apples, peeled, cored and sliced, a pinch of ground cinnamon (optional)
Cooking Instructions: 1. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. 2. Add the sliced apples and the cinnamon. 3. Cook till the apples turn soft. 4. Serve with pancakes
Sat, 06 Oct 2007 04:13:00 +0000
- Natural Organic Food
I would like to cover every aspect of this topic. In order to keep things short I have only included the major topics detailed as good as possible.
Natural organic food is not for everyone. There are many circumstances where even the person who might like to go organic and consume only raw organic food and food products will be at a loss as to how to go about this in an economically practicable manner.
The ground for this might seem self apparent to some people, but the truth of the thing is that no matter how far organic food and food products have come down in cost, it is still bordering on the expensive, and most middle to low income families find it most unacceptable to purchase natural organic food on any kind of steady basis.Therefore there has to be some impetus, a drive force if you will, behind their desire to purchase natural organic food and the staggering block of increased each month outgoings. These factors diverge from person to person and according to each personal situation.For instance a heart and soul income family with two teen kids and a toddler or baby might find that they have to make certain sacrifices to go organic. This can impress anything from cutting down on eating place outings to cutting back on certain unwanted luxuries such as gourmet roasted coffee to redistributing the natural organic food chain inside the family itself.
This can lead to mom and dad getting only a small percent of organic foods, or none at all in their diets, with the majority of the natural organic food and organic food products being purchased for their children.This is of course in the cases where the benefits of organic foods have tipped the scales for parents, and where they want their children to consume less of pesticide and chemic plant food enriched food, and more of natural organic food.
It is also true that families without very young children, or one-person families, will also go to the extent of overwhelming natural organic food if the need is great enough or if they feel that it won’t importantly change their easy lifestyle.
The one thing that remains steady throughout is the want of more and more people to add natural organic food and food products to their weekly foodstuff bill, contempt the considerable dent it would put in their pockets. People are looking more and more at what they are consuming, and are Taking more of an active interest in finding “natural” outlets for this.
It was into this niche that natural organic food and food products crept into and took hold. These days, the mantra on the lips of many people is, eat fit and live healthy... to learn more on this topic, please check our web site bu clicking on our link below...
In conclusion I’d like to say thank you to you for reading this article and good luck with any issues related to this information.
Sat, 06 Oct 2007 04:10:00 +0000
- The role of Vegetarian Society in Vegetarianism
The Vegetarian Society is the world’s oldest vegetarian organization with its headquarters in the United Kingdom. This educational charitable institution advocates vegetarianism and promotes the understanding of vegetarian lifestyle.
The Vegetarian Society offers free information, in-depth advise on issues about nutrition, as well as conduct forums, symposia and other presentations to academic institutions and civic groups that aim to provide understanding on their advocacy to many individuals, entities and other organizations.
In fact, the Vegetarian Society has been so driven in its advocacy program that they reach out to schools distributing packs to make sure that vegetarianism is well incorporated in the Food Technology course. They also teach chefs new and innovative ways to cook up vegetarian food that are not only nutritious, but delicious and mouthwatering as well. Moreover, the Vegetarian Society also works hand in hand with different sectors in the food industry, appealing food manufacturers, suppliers and sellers to support their cause as well.
The Vegetarian Society is also bent on raising awareness on vegetarianism through its projects and campaigns. Their environmental campaign stresses vegetarianism’s important role to the environment. With being a vegetarian, you can greatly contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, preservation of ecosystems and conservation of land and water as well. Another project called ‘Fishconceptions’ provides the general public the knowledge and understanding of one wrong notion that vegetarians eat fish.
Their Christmas project also provides new and exciting recipes that can substitute the usual turkey or any other meat food that is usually laid on the dinner table during the holiday season. Moreover, the Vegetarian Society seeks to create an applicable legal definition of the term vegetarian to solidify its thrust at making the term more significant in law.
Perhaps the most celebrated project of the Vegetarian Society is the National Vegetarian week, which is done every year. The National Vegetarian week, considered as the biggest and much awaited week in UK’s vegetarian calendar comes with a wide variety of special activities, events and promotions that gain national press and media coverage across the world.
Other than becoming a vegetarian yourself, you can also go a long way with being on the green by supporting the Vegetarian Society. You can sign up to be a volunteer or donate funds into the organization. Your support can go a long way at sending a message to people that going vegetarian is a healthier and better way of living.
Sat, 06 Oct 2007 04:08:00 +0000
- Chili Recipes - The Variations are Endless
Chili is a stew-like dish that differs from region to region. Also known as Chili Con Carne (chili with meat), chili, like stew, is made with several different ingredients and cooked for an extended period of time. Chili recipes are something like stew recipes. Many are good, some are bad and they're all a little different. One thing they do have in common is that everyone thinks they have the best chili recipe.
Depending on the region, the chili may or may not contain beans. Chili purists may point out that real chili does not contain beans, but that answer may vary depending on whom you ask.
One thing that most chili recipes have in common is that they contain some kind of meat and red chili powder. I say most because there are many variations of vegetarian chili and chicken chili, the latter of which is usually white in color, with little or no red chili added.
The meat found in chili is usually beef, although there are many other types of meat that are also used. Some very good chili recipes use venison or buffalo. And there are even chili recipes that use exotic meats such as kangaroo.
A key ingredient in most chili recipes is chili powder. This is a spice mix containing a variety of different spices, most notably ground red chilies, cumin, and garlic. This is not to be confused with ground chili or ground red pepper, which is simply the dried chili pepper ground into a powder. To forego using premixed chili powder, a chili recipe often makes use of the individual ingredients to create their own unique taste.
Regional variations of chili are wide ranging, from chili containing rice, celery, or corn to dessert like ingredients such as brown sugar or even peanut butter.
Cincinnati chili probably has the most unique flavor and ingredients, and is usually served over spaghetti. This regional variation often contains cinnamon and chocolate or cocoa.
Chili can be served many ways. By itself, it can be a substantial dish and topped with raw onions and cheddar cheese and served with crackers. It can be used as a topping for hot dogs or as mentioned above, spaghetti or other pasta. Chili can be wrapped in a tortilla and eaten as a burrito. Or it can be eaten on a hamburger bun like a sloppy joe sandwich.
If you've never made chili before it can seem a bit overwhelming with all the possible variations. Searching the Web trying to find a good recipe for your first attempt can be a daunting task with all the recipes available.
To get you started, here is a good resource for your first pot of chili. It's easy and makes a really good meal.
Easy Chili Recipes
Try some of those variations to see how easy good chili can be.
Sat, 06 Oct 2007 04:05:00 +0000
- Put A Little SASS Into Your Diet
A popular diet trick to keep shopping and meal time inspired is to find foods and recipes that will add healthful value to your diet and are easy to include. Here are a few ways you can put a little SASS into your diet.
SALSA – lycopene, flavonoids, phenolic, caroteniods and omega fatty acids
We all get the munchies from time to time, but did you know that salsa is power packed with vitamins and nutrients. Most salsa recipes use onion, tomatoes and peppers which all have powerful anti-oxidants and other disease fighting nutrients. Their ingredients help our bodies repair damaged cells to fight off diseases like cancer.
- Onions- are especially good because they are high in phenolic and flavonoids. Generally, the stronger the onions the stronger the disease finding benefits.
- Tomatoes - contain lycopene that protect against some cancers as well. Raw tomatoes are not as good as the cooked ones. When tomatoes are cooked the lycopene is able to be absorbed into your body.
- Peppers - Fresh vegetables with bright colors like green, yellow, orange and red peppers have a lot of carotene. Carotenoids are potent cancer fighting agents.
- Virgin Olive Oil (first cold-pressed) – Olive oil is a good source of omega 3 fatty acid and especially when it is the cold-pressed variety. Using heat when producing it will reduce the amount of nutrients, so look for the cold-pressed seal.
Dice and mix the above food items, add some freshly ground black pepper with just a touch of salt, squeeze in a little fresh lime or lemon juice and make a delicious salsa. Salsas can be made with sweet peppers and/or hot peppers to your liking and taste. Serve them with some pita or corn chips and your family will want you to make salsas regularly as part of your healthy snacks.
APPLES – fiber, pectin, antioxidants, flavonoids, phytochemicals, tannins and quercetin
Remember the old adage ‘An apple a day will keep the doctor away’? There is some truth to this saying that has been past down through the ages. Besides tasting great apples add lots of fiber and pectin to your diet. Eating apples will not add fat or sodium and they are a good source of vitamins. Making applesauce is a good way to make a muffin recipe healthier. By adding applesauce you can cut down on the amount of milk, sugar and oil and your muffins will taste great.
- Antioxidants - the antioxidant protection found in apples have many health benefits such as lowering blood the bad cholesterol and blood pressure as well as providing protection against colon cancer and the formation of gall stones in the gall bladder.
- Flavonoids and phytochemicals- These are found not only in apples but most other brightly colored fruits and vegetables. There are thousands of different flavonoid types and they help to ward off viral infections, allergies, inflammation, tumors and other diseases from developing.
- Pectin- apple pectin is in the fibre of the apple skin and it helps to reduce the level of insulin in the blood that is important in the prevention or management of diabetes.
- Tannins – the amount of tannins in apples vary from species to species and year to year, however, they are said to help in the prevention of gum disease.
- Quercetin- part of the flavonoid family quercetin is considered to be the basis for the synthesis of all the other flavonoids in fighting ‘free radicals’ that destroy cells in the body. This may be the main contributor to how the ‘apple a day’ became such a household phrase. People suffering from gastroesophageal reflux, asthma, gout and Crohn’s disease will benefit from quercetin found in apples.
Add an apple a day along with four other servings of fruits and vegetables and make yours the best diet for life and healthy longevity.
SEASONINGS –herbs and spices add nutrition without calories
Fresh ground black pepper is always a great flavor enhancer and it is often referred to as the world’s most popular spice. There are many different types of peppers both sweet and hot that can be added to almost any recipe. Since we are not fans of sodium or sugars, we like to add herbs and spices to flavor our food and add nutrition to our diet. Basil is a sweet herb and can be added to salads and pesto. Fresh cilantro will add a spicy and colorful addition to any salad or pasta dish. Adding celery leaves and stocks to soups and stews will give the dish a salty type taste so you don’t have to add salt. Just try some of your favorite herbs and spices and reduce the amount of sodium and sugars in your diet. You’ll enjoy the added vitamins and nutrients while lowering calories.
SALADS & DRESSINGS – High in nutrients - low in saturated fats
Salads with low-calorie dressings are always a good way to eat healthy whether you like them warm or cold because they add valuable nutrients to any diet. Using apple cider vinegars is a good way to incorporate the goodness of apples and the protective qualities of vinegars too. Oil and vinaigrettes are quick to make and also a good way to add essential omega fatty acids to your diet as well. Just be sure that you use good quality cold pressed and fresh olive oil and store oil covered and out of the light to prevent it from going rancid.
Use olive oil and vinaigrette dressings with fresh greens or cooked pasta. Toss in some fresh herbs, apples and other cut up fresh fruit and vegetables throughout the seasons. Try adding some raisins for a little bit of sweetness. While you’re at it, why not add a few nuts such as almond, walnuts, pine nuts or hazelnuts and enjoy their rich nutrient value of selenium, B-vitamin and unsaturated fat content.
Salsas, Apples, Seasoning and Salads are a great way to put extra food value into your diet. By adding these food items to your daily and weekly meals and snacks you and your family will get their powerfully rich disease fighting benefits. So go ahead try putting some SASS into your diet today.
Sat, 06 Oct 2007 03:49:00 +0000
- Recipe for a Blog - 8 Key Ingredients of a Good Business Blog: Links
As The Blog Squadtm, we hear this complaint from entrepreneurs who start blogging: "Why isn't my blog working for my business?" As part of our "blog crisis prevention" program, we have reviewed hundreds of business blogs and can spot common errors immediately.Blogs that work well for attracting new clients have these key elements:
1. A great blog
2. A tag line or blog purpose statement
3. An easy way to get automatic blog updates
4. A list of categories
5. A list of recent posts and recent comments
6. Links to useful websites, products and services
7. Frequent posts with links relevant to the blog's purpose
8. An easy way for readers to have a conversation with the author
Ingredient 6: Link to useful websites, products and services
Linking is the currency of the blogosphere. Besides being common courtesy to link to your sources of information, you can also link to your own posts, websites, and your products and services.
Weave them into your posts so they contribute to the context of your writing. Too much blatant marketing of your own products and services doesn't make for good reading, and can turn readers off.
Dave Taylor likens blog posting to conversation at a cocktail party: you wouldn't monopolize the conversation just talking about yourself and expect people will stand around for a long time listening.
Every time you post, review your article for names, books, and places. All of these can be linked to a site on the Web. Even ideas and concepts can be linked to a page in Wikipedia. Failing to link to outside sources is poor etiquette in the blogosphere.
Professionals new to blogging often ask if linking to outside resources will send readers away from the blog. This is a major concern on websites, but links are expected on blogs. If you want to establish yourself as a resourceful expert in your field you need to show people you know what's going on at other blogs and websites.
The more you can participate in the Blogosphere, by writing about and linking to other blogs, the better known you will become. When you link to others, they will know about it through trackbacks, and will be curious about you. They will visit your blog and may link to it, sending their readers to you.
Don't forget to add links to your products and services in the sidebar of your blog. Make sure people know how they can get more information about you and what you offer. You're writing a business blog, so make it easy for people to do business with you.
Sat, 06 Oct 2007 02:29:00 +0000
- Save Your Dog, Learn Canine First Aid
All dog lovers should know canine first aid and a good canine first aid kit is an absolute must. You can create your own canine first aid kit, or buy one of the many excellent pre-packaged kits available online.
If you are going to create your own kit there are a few essential items that should be included: Scissors, Gauze Pads & Rolls, Vet Wrap, Alcohol Prep Pads, Latex Gloves, Eyewash Solution, Instant Cold packs, Tweezers, Nail clippers and a Triple Antibiotic Ointment like Neosporin. Surgical rubber tubing and a 4 inch piece of dowel wood makes an excellent tourniquet and can be included as well.
Emergency
No one ever expects an accident or emergency, but when it does happen it is always best to be prepared, an ounce of prevention on your part can save your dogs life. Knowing what to do in an emergency and then acting swiftly to take the proper steps can lessen the chance of your dog sustaining additional injury.
You should also plan ahead for situations like moving a large breed dog. Some of the bigger breeds like Great Danes and Saint Bernard's can tip the scales at 120 to 150 pounds and even a Labrador Retriever can easily reach 90 to 100 pounds. Two people with a folded blanket slipped under the dog can safely move the dog to your vehicle for transport to the emergency clinic.
Use an index card to list contact numbers, office hours of your regular vet, emergency clinic and poison control center and tape that to the inside lid of you emergency first aid kit. Make additional copies and post one on your refrigerator door so that anyone who needs the information can easily find it. Keep the numbers of your regular and emergency vet in your cell phone in case you have a situation while you are on the road or away from home with your dog.
Shock
Shock involves several signs that occur as a result of a traumatic injury such as an automobile strike, electric shock, animal attack and especially burns. Signs of shock can include but are not limited to; muscle weakness, rapid heart rate and breathing, pale tongue and gums, reduced pulse rate, shivering and cool extremities. A dog in shock is in immanent danger and if not treated promptly can result in death.
Assess the situation and consider a muzzle to restrain a pet that is in pain, even the most loving pet can give you a serious bite in response to pain. A muzzle can be improvised from a piece of rope, a neck tie, gauze strip and even panty hose. In extreme situations a blanket can be placed over the dog until a muzzle can be applied. To treat shock first control any bleeding (this is not the time to clean out wounds), keep the dog warm and quiet, do not let them move around, call the vet and transport right away to the closest emergency veterinary hospital.
Bleeding
When a dog is bleeding severely, the bleeding must receive immediate attention before doing anything else, regardless of any other injuries that may be present. Bleeding can be controlled by applying firm pressure from a cloth, bandages, or your own hand if necessary. Try not to remove the bandage to check the wound because bleeding may start again. If firm pressure does not slow down the rate of bleeding, a tourniquet may be needed. The tourniquet should be located about 3 inches above the bleeding wound with just enough pressure to stop the bleeding, do not over tighten. The tourniquet should be loosened every 10 to 15 minutes and then reapplied until the bleeding can be controlled with a pressure bandage.
Poison
Sudden onset of illness in a previously healthy dog could indicate poisoning but that can be difficult to prove unless you observe your dog being exposed to a poison. Signs of poisoning can include trembling, weakness, drooling, foaming at the mouth, vomiting and loss of bowel and bladder control. Two of the most common poisonings seen by veterinarians are rat poison and antifreeze as I found out first hand when 2 of my girls shared a piece of rat poison.
You'll need to act quickly and correctly if you suspect your dog has been poisoned, the longer the poison stays in the dog's system, the more damaging it will be. Only induce vomiting if you know for sure that the dog hasn't ingested a corrosive substance. Call your veterinarian or emergency vet, if you know what kind of poison the dog ingested it will be much easier for the vet to advise you. If possible bring the package the substance came in as that will often assist them in determining the appropriate course of action.
Fri, 05 Oct 2007 07:10:00 +0000
- What is FHASecure?
The news outlets have been abuzz since Friday’s announcement by the president about a new program called FHASecure. So just what is this product that is supposed to save Americans from the sub-prime fiasco?
FHASecure is a new refinance option that is being offered to borrowers who have a good credit history and were making on-time payments before their adjustable-rate mortgages reset. The program has stringent underwriting guidelines and borrowers will have to pay a mortgage insurance premium, which are both safeguards for the borrower, lender, and taxpayers. More obvious benefits to the program include the FHA’s trusted foreclosure prevention assistance and the absence of prepayment penalties.
According to a statement released by HUD, homeowners must meet the following five criteria to be eligible for FHASecure:
1. A history of on-time mortgage payments before the borrower’s teaser rates expired and
loans reset;
2. Interest rates must have or will reset between June 2005 and December 2009;
3. Three percent cash or equity in the home;
4. A sustained history of employment; and
5. Sufficient income to make the mortgage payment.
In addition to the introduction of FHASecure, it was also announced that risk-based premiums will be implemented beginning on January 1, 2008.
Fri, 05 Oct 2007 07:02:00 +0000
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