Our live include a lot of stages. It is a new stage when our children grow up and leave to attend college or to move out on their own, and gone are the days when all of our plans centered on them.

Just because our children are eager to leave, doesn’t mean that we are eager to see them go. For parents, it means that a journey that began eighteen years ago or longer is coming to an end.

What do we do now is the question that faces many empty-nesters. For so long the purpose of their lives has been tied to their children and they are not prepared for what comes next. Here are some ideas to help you get prepared mentally for this day:

* Teach your children to be independent – The last thing any parent wants to do is cripple their children. Always being there to rescue them keeps them dependent on you and not on themselves. Let them find a summer job, balance a checkbook and take responsibility for chores around the home.

* Grieve the loss of this chapter of your life – There are many things that happen in life that can feel much like a death, and children leaving home is one of them. It is all right to be sad because your children are all grown up and wanting to live their own lives. Take the time to get used to the changes that will come in your life.

* Develop a support system – Talk to friends who are already empty-nesters or who are going through the same transition. Discuss your feelings and what may be over the horizon for both of you.

* Talk to your children – They may notice that you are feeling down. Let them know how you feel. You may be surprised how your teenager will react. What a surprise it will be to hear “thank you” fall from their lips when they refer to all that you have done for them. Believing that you have done well as a parent can aid in feeling good about making this transition in your life.

* Revisit your attitude on life – Now that your teen is leaving, you should redefining what you now want from life.  Identifying your purpose can give you new hope and a fresh outlook on the future.

Don’t despair when your teens leave the nest. Embrace the change in their life and yours.

The loss of connections can lead to forgetfulness and other cognitive changes. Maybe you don’t have the sharpest reflexes any more. Maybe you used to be able to come up with a solution to a problem right away, whereas now it takes you longer.

How to Stay Sharp into Older Age

You can continue to be sharp with these suggestions:

* Eat for a healthy brain – Feed the brain and it will remember. Increase intake of omega-3 fatty acids for cellular integrity and reduced inflammation. Eat more vegetables and fruits, as well as whole grains. Reduce intake of processed foods and artificial preservatives.

* Take care of your health – The brain is affected by many different conditions. For instance, high blood pressure can damage blood vessels needed to carry oxygen to the brain. It can also loosen cholesterol plaque that can break off and cause a stroke. Decrease your weight, lower your blood pressure and take care of your heart to help your brain. Visit your doctor regularly to get ahead of any potential problems.

* Exercise – Exercise is good for a strong body, bones and a clear mind. It increases the oxygenation of the brain cells, which leads to clarity and focus. Exercise also lowers blood pressure and increases endurance, balance and fitness.

* Play games – These are not just any games. Try a game that challenges your mind. These can be crossword puzzles, word searches, word scrambles, picture puzzles, finish the pattern puzzles and others of this nature. Another popular game to play is Sudoku. Not only does it involve strategy but also math skills, which many forget as they get older.

* Access your memory – Try remembering nursery rhymes, limericks, playtime songs and others. Accessing deeper memories can improve your recall over time.

* Stop smoking – Smoking has been linked to the signs of dementia. While forgetfulness is to be expected as you age, serious cognitive problems are not. That includes dementia.

If you are aging, don’t worry about your memory. You can stay sharp with the above tips to challenge your brain.

Food Allergies

A lot of people have glucose allergy or allergy to milk without knowing it. The allergies aren’t serious enough to cause them to break out in hives or have difficulty breathing; unfortunately the mild symptoms make it difficult to identify the cause of allergies. The best way to test for allergies is to get an allergy test from a doctor. Alternatively, try cutting glucose or milk from your diet for three weeks to see if symptoms disappear.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be cured in some people, while in others the symptoms can be reduced by taking dietary precautions. IBS can result in bloating, in addition to diarrhea, stomach pains and excess gas. IBS is best diagnosed by a medical professional. Don’t assume that it will go away on its own. Note that women have a three times higher likelihood of having IBS than men.

Fatty Foods, Large Meals, and Drinking Liquids after Eating

Bloating could just be a symptom of poor dietary habits. For example, fatty foods can line the stomach and cause excess acid to be produced. This in turn creates the sensation of bloating and heartburn. Eating overly large meals can also cause bloating. This is simply a case of having too much food in the stomach.

Having a lot of liquid within 30 to 60 minutes of eating can also cause bloating. The liquid isn’t moving through your system because it is blocked by the recently ingested food. Furthermore, the liquids dilute the stomach base and acid, causing digestion to take longer and creating more of a sense of bloating.

Eat smaller meals with low-fat foods. Eat more often if necessary, but keep meals small. Drink before meals rather than after.

Candida

Candida is a bacterium that grows naturally in your digestive system and normally doesn’t cause any problems. Every once in a while, however, due to chemical imbalances in the body, Candida can overgrow. Among other things, this can cause a sense of bloating.

There are a number of cures for Candida. Home cures generally revolve around cutting any and all sugar intake for a few weeks. There are also several medical cures from which to choose.

If Candida lasts for only a week or two, it might make sense to try to treat it at home. However, if it lasts more than two or three weeks, seek a medical professional for a real diagnosis.

Unhealthy eating habits can also raise blood pressure. Eating foods high in sodium and other preservatives can put a lot of pressure on the heart to pump blood throughout the body.

Lowering Blood Pressure Naturally

Here are some ways to go about lowering blood pressure naturally:

* Exercise – Exercise relieves stress and increases oxygenation. Increased cardiovascular health can lower your blood pressure. Avoid exercising right before bedtime, though, or you may have a problem getting to sleep.

* Learn to relax – Stress can be a contributing factor to high blood pressure. Learn to reduce your stress levels. Try listening to soft music or employ deep breathing techniques. A good warm bath can also help drain away stress from your day. Finding ways to cope with stress can help you control not only blood pressure, but other health concerns as well.

* Eat potassium-containing foods – Sodium and potassium are two elements that work together in the body. The levels are balanced to keep your electrolytes in check. Eating more potassium can counteract too much sodium. Try bananas, cantaloupe, potatoes, beans and raisins.

* Cut the salt – Too much sodium can raise blood pressure. Look for sodium content before buying processed foods, which contain a lot of salt as a preservative, even including frozen so-called healthy meals. The average person consumes at least two or three times the recommended daily limit of 2,400 milligrams.

* Reduce caffeine – There is caffeine in coffee, tea and soft drinks. Caffeine can increase blood pressure by narrowing the blood vessels. If you already have issues with high blood pressure, adding caffeine can raise it even higher.

* Drink alcohol in moderation – If you don’t already drink, don’t start, but if you enjoy a glass of wine, try red wine. It is helpful for heart health, lowering blood pressure. For women, should not have more than one drink a day, and men no more than two.

If you are having problems with high blood pressure, you can help yourself by making lifestyle changes to lower blood pressure naturally.

The heart pumps blood throughout the body. The blood carries oxygen from the lungs to all of the cells and organs along the circuitous route of the arterial vascular system. Deoxygenated blood is carried via the venous system back to the lungs, where it picks up more oxygen.

To move that blood, there is a certain amount of pressure that needs to be created within the vessels. Normally an acceptable blood pressure reflects two numbers: systolic (upper number), the pressure exerted when the heart is pumping blood, and diastolic (lower number), the pressure exerted when the heart is at rest. Ideally blood pressure needs to be no higher than 140/90, but ideally 120/70.

Higher numbers indicate that something is causing the pressure needed to move a volume of blood to increase. It could be due to a narrowing of the vessels (caused by high cholesterol or plaque build-up), stress, obesity, high salt intake or genetics. This condition is known as high blood pressure, or hypertension.

The Problems of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure poses a problem for the rest of your body. Here are just a few of the conditions that can arise as a result.

* Artery damage – Increased stress on the arterial walls can result in the tissue being damaged; when any tissue is damaged, an inflammatory response occurs. The walls can thicken and stiffen, leading to a smaller lumen (opening) and a higher blood pressure. If you also have a problem with bad cholesterol plaque, the increased pressure could dislodge it, turning it into emboli, which block the blood flow.

* Heart condition – When you have high blood pressure, the heart has to work harder to push that same volume of blood. As a result, the heart muscle can enlarge; it can also fail, or experience an infarct in a portion of the muscle that can lead to a heart attack.

* Stroke – The cholesterol plaque that breaks off as a result of high blood pressure can travel along the vascular system until it gets stuck in a smaller vessel. This often happens in the lungs or the brain. In the brain it is called a stroke. Both can result in death.

Beyond the blockage, the brain tissue is not receiving oxygenated blood. Since the brain needs twenty percent more oxygen than the rest of the body, this can lead to decreased functioning such as speech impairment, numbness or paralysis on one side of the body and other problems.

If you are facing a diagnosis of high blood pressure, work to reduce it to normal levels and avoid the dangers.

Of course, saturated fats, found in animal products, are the worst. However, the amount of fat found in some nuts, particularly pistachios, is minimal and is unsaturated fat, which is a good fat because it helps to increase the HDL (good) cholesterol numbers. This is the type of cholesterol that keeps blood vessels clean and elastic so they can function properly.

Speaking of Pistachios

Now, let’s get down to pistachios. Speaking of them specifically, a one-ounce serving of this nut contains about 13 grams of fat. This seems like a lot, but again, most of the fat is unsaturated so it contributes to a good cholesterol profile.

Pistachios are also low in carbohydrates, and they contain dietary fiber which works to fill you up and maintain your blood sugar level throughout the day.

Pistachios are full of B vitamins, which are essential for a healthy metabolism, healthy skin, muscles, eyes and nerve tissue. Other essential elements include arginine, copper and manganese. All are important for immune and nerve function.

Of course, all nuts should be eaten in moderation. Stick to one serving at a time for a snack.

Also, some nuts that you purchase can contain some extra unneeded ingredients. Don’t purchase nuts that have added salt and sugar in the form of honey-roasted or praline. And, use pistachio ice cream only as an occasional treat; otherwise, stick with plain pistachios.

If you love pistachios, keep eating. They are very good for you.

When you decide to have your ears pierced, know that there is risk involved. Many don’t think about it because it is such a simple procedure, but you are introducing a foreign object into your body. Whether the earring is 24-karat gold or surgical steel, it is still not part of your natural tissue.

The earlobe is different from the cartilaginous portion of the ear when it comes to the incidence of infection. Most piercings take place in the lobe of the ear, where the blood supply is rich. When piercings are done further up the ear, the blood supply is not as good in the cartilage, and it needs to pull blood from nearby vessels, which can create a more extensive infection if it occurs there.

Even with precautions an infection can still occur. Here are some steps that you can take to clear up an infection from ear piercing:

* Remove the earring – This is advised when the ear is not newly pierced. If it is, removing the piercing can seal the infection in the ear tissue, which can stem the source of the infection.

* Cover the ear in a solution of salt – Using balanced salt solution or Epsom salts will flush the wound and promote healing. Do this at least twice a day.

* Squeeze the ear – This might be painful, but it is necessary to remove any pus and bacteria from the ear that is forming. Constantly removing infected fluid and irrigating with salt solution will clean it out.

* Use warm compresses – They will bring more blood supply to the area to speed healing. Try it twice a day for several minutes. Be sure to completely dry the ear afterwards. Bacteria love moist places and you don’t want to spread the infection.

* Apply antibiotic ointment – This ointment can seal the wounds and keep other bacteria out. Just apply a small amount around both sides of your ear.

* Continue to turn your earrings daily – The infection has interrupted the healing process. As it is stopped, the ear will recommence closing. Turning the studs will prevent the tissue from attaching to the piercing.

* See a doctor – If the infection seems to be getting worse instead of better after a few days of at-home treatment, seek medical attention. A doctor can prescribe an oral antibiotic for more aggressive bacteria.

An infection doesn’t have to stop you from enjoying pierced ears. Wear pure metal earrings to avoid allergic reactions that can contribute to an increased risk of infection.

Piercing is a surgical procedure in which the skin of the ear is incised by a needle to make room for an earring. It is a small opening but still needs to be cared for post-operatively.

The skin around the piercing will begin to heal. You want to avoid the healing from encasing the earring and also from reclosing the hole that has just been created. If your teenager wants to have her ears pierced, you should teach her how to take care of the piercings to avoid infections.

Tips for Care of Piercings

* Don’t remove your earrings – Just in case they don’t tell you this when you have it performed, for the first six weeks, do not take out the studs. This is the primary healing time and the piercing can easily close over.

* Clean the earring hole every day – Before doing anything near the earring, wash your hands with soap and water. Since you can’t remove the stud, take a cotton ball or cotton swab and dip it in alcohol. Swab the stud on both sides of the ears. If you are given a specific cleaning solution, use that instead. When participating in sports or other activities that can introduce dirt around the studs, clean them more than once per day.

* Turn your earrings daily – As the tissue heals, it will try to attach to the studs. Daily turning prevents this so you don’t end up with earrings that you can’t remove without reopening the wounds.

* Keep chemicals away from your newly pierced ears – Hair dyes, perfumes, cosmetics and hair oils can all introduce an infection into the ears as they heal.

* Protect your ears from injury – This can happen if you play sports. Any blow to the ears or tugging on the studs can reopen the healing tissue.

* Don’t play with your earrings – It’s an unconscious thing to twirl earrings as you talk, but this action can also introduce bacteria and dirt into the healing ears.

An infection is one thing that you want to avoid when you get your ears pierced. Just like anywhere else, an infection here can be painful and can mar your dreams of donning dangles from your newly pierced ears.

If you are a vegan, then to you it probably makes sense to want to raise your child that way as well. Therefore for a child’s nutritional safety, you must know what to consider in a vegan diet so they stay healthy.

Vegans are opposed to eating any animal products of any description, and many vegans consume only fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and legumes.

It can be a challenge to eat in this manner, but for children of parents who have done it, there is usually little issue. What can be most challenging is making sure that all of the required nutrients for a child are met with the vegan lifestyle.

Many foods don’t take much tweaking to make them vegan friendly. For instance, babies usually drink breast milk or formula. You can buy formula that has no milk solids in it. Experts say that breastfeeding is better for infants because they pick up extra immunity from their mother.

When it comes to introducing solid foods, rice cereal is often used. It doesn’t contain meat or dairy so it is just the same as what any child would eat.

When your child is ready to move on to solid foods, choose mashed fruits and veggies. Mashing your own can avoid the extra sugars added to store-bought varieties. Usually the most important nutrient that causes concern is protein. Without meat, it can be hard to get enough protein each day for proper body function.

Introduce nuts, legumes and soy. Soy is a plant protein. It has less fat than animal protein. Beans are also a low-fat protein alternative. Tofu is a soy material that can be used as a meat substitute to make dishes.

Know what your child needs to eat every day. This includes examining the FDA food pie (formerly the food pyramid) for children to be sure you are keeping their diet healthy.

Vitamins and minerals are also crucial to proper development:

* Calcium – Eat green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, beans and even soy milk.

* Vitamin D – This vitamin helps synthesize calcium in the body. It is normally found in dairy but you can get it from fortified soy milk and also from time spent out in the sun.

* Vitamin B12 –The B vitamins are great for boosting metabolism.

With a vegan diet, your child will enjoy the tastes of whole foods such as grains, vegetables and fruits. They get all of the nutrition with very little fat as long as you plan well.

any who lose weight regain it, and sometimes an extra ten to twenty extra pounds on top of their highest previous weight. This occurs partially based on perception. When we lose weight we have a goal. We want to be healthier, slimmer, and more energetic, or we want to decrease the amount of medications we take for medical conditions. There is something to look forward to at the end of the effort.

When the goal is reached, the motivation is gone. Some people return to old eating or sedentary habits and that leads to weight gain again. Losing and regaining weight is a vicious cycle that can take a toll on your body over time. Therefore, the important point here is to find ways to sustain the weight loss you have achieved.

How to Make Weight Loss Permanent

Instead of asking how to lose weight, ask how to maintain the lower weight for the rest of your life. Here are some tips:

* Change your thinking – See weight loss as only half the journey. The second half of your goal is to find a way to incorporate the same habits that helped you lose weight into a long-term maintenance program. Weight loss is not a diet plan, but a lifestyle change to be followed as long as you live.

* Eat breakfast – This is the most important meal of the day. After such a long overnight respite, the body needs fuel to keep the metabolism stoked. Eating first thing in the morning helps to fight cravings throughout the day and keep blood sugar levels steady.

* Exercise – Exercise is a great equalizer. In our minds, if we sweat for an hour or longer each day, eating something that is full of fat negates all of your work, and most are not willing to do that. Also, regular exercise makes it easier to increase its intensity if you notice that you are gaining weight.

* Plan splurges – Losing weight should have some benefit. You don’t have to give up foods you love, just cut back on the portion sizes. This also makes healthy eating the norm.

* Allow mistakes – We all slip at one time or another. Attending a party can lead to weight gain and loss of motivation. Recognize the mistake; accept it and move on.

Losing weight is only half of the equation. The challenge is keeping it off – for good.