When you’re a busy parent, it can be easy to forget about one of the most important things in your life--your health. Whether you’re too busy taking your kids to and from soccer practice, so you can’t make time for similar exercise-related activities, or the stress of everyday life at the office is grinding on your emotional health over time--it’s something that happens to everyone. But neglecting your health on the daily can have eventually devastating effects, from heart attacks to diabetes. We know it’s hard, but it’s important to make time for your health, even if it’s in small ways every day.

​That’s why we’ve compiled this list of tips. By finding creative ways to stay healthy every day--even if it’s just twenty minutes--you can prevent disease as you age. No matter how busy you are! And here’s how.

We all know that sitting is bad for us, but did you know that sitting for long periods of time is deadly? According to DocWire, “sitting for six hours or more each day (defined as prolonged leisure-time sitting) increases the risk of early death by 19 percent, compared with those who sit for fewer than three hours daily. Sitting is linked to 14 diseases that could result in mortality.” Considering that most Americans are at work eight hours every day--and that’s not even counting the hours spent sitting in the car in traffic--most of us are at risk. That’s scary.

If you aren’t able to work remotely from home, think about other creative options. For example, stretch at work. It may look strange, but once you present your colleagues with this info, they’ll probably want to stretch with you every hour, too. Additionally, go for walks during your lunch break, and if you can, get a standing desk.

​Another important part of staying healthy is hydration. 60 percent of a man’s body is made up of water, with the brain and heart made up of 73 percent, the skin 64 percent, and bones (yes, even bones) 31 percent. Women’s bodies are similar, as are babies’. So it’s no surprise that hydrating your body prevents illnesses. Dehydration has a variety of negative effects, including exhaustion, heightened blood pressure and cholesterol, and bad mood. Hydrating, on the other hand, will give you energy, help you lose weight, and give you energy when you’re juggling all your responsibilities.

​It can be hard to make it into a regular habit, but the more you do it, the easier it’ll be to stay hydrated. And the best part? You’ll be teaching your kids about the importance of hydration. Keep bottled waters in the fridge at all times, and during the summer, have spare bottles in the car. Insist that your kids drink water at dinner instead of soda or juice, and keep track of what you drink, so you’re consuming eight eight-ounce servings daily.

​They say that an apple a day keeps the doctor away--and even though only apples aren’t going to be enough to keep you healthy, the idea is still valid. Preventative health is highly important because by taking care of ourselves day-to-day and going to doctor’s appointments before things get out of control, we avoid serious health problems later on. This means scheduling yearly visits to the dentist, doctor, and other specialists who might be important in your situation. If any health problems run in your family, it’s a good idea to keep those in check, too.

​Especially when you get a bit older, this is going to make a huge difference. About one in eight women in the US will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime, so finding that lump earlier just by doing checks yourself (be sure to do it once a month or so) can save you a lot of hassle and possibly your life. Eating well, keeping your weight in check, and going to the gym regularly (three to five times a week) will make a difference, too.

The best part about focusing on preventative health is that it forces you to practice healthy habits, which your children will in turn learn. That means that when they move out and go to college, and start working at their stressful jobs, they’ll be healthier than most young adults their age.

The best part about focusing on preventative health is that it forces you to practice healthy habits, which your children will in turn learn. That means that when they move out and go to college, and start working at their stressful jobs, they’ll be healthier than most young adults their age.

​These are some of the best ways to stay healthy even when you’re busy parenting. What other strategies do you think would work for you and your family?

​There are some trails worth walking and experiences worth talking about, the Camino de Santiago is just this kind of trail. Every year thousands of walkers choose to walk this famous trail for many reasons. Last year over 300,000 people from all walks of life choose to take a break from their busy schedules and enjoy the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other.

Whether you are looking for a new challenge, would like to connect with other cultures or need time out to reflect on life, the Camino is the perfect way to escape. The beauty of a walking holiday is that you can be any age, any nationality and any level of walker to enjoy the towns along the Camino in Northern Spain. Here are a few facts that you should know about the ancient Camino de Santiago pilgrimage before you plan your journey:

This is completely up to you. You must walk at least 100km to receive your Compostela certificate at the end of your walk. Many choose to walk this over the course of one week, others opt to complete the full route of the Camino Frances from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela: 800 km (497 miles). The average time taken to walk this route is 30 days.

The Camino Frances is the most popular Camino trail.  Over 300,000 walkers collected their pilgrim certificate in 2017.  The Primitive Way, or Camino Primitivo is the most ancient trail, dating back to the 9th century is the oldest trail. The French Way is the most popular today and it is the route you will find featured in films, such as, the Way.

As you walk through rural villages and coastal paths of the Camino de Santiago you will see yellow arrows around every corner pointing you in the right direction. Be mindful that the arrows should follow the trail and consult your walking notes and maps for guidance if you are unclear.

The scallop shell, often found on the beaches of Galicia in Northern Spain, have long been the symbol of the Camino. The shell is frequently seen along the trail to help guide pilgrims. In addition, pilgrims often wear shells or attach them to backpacks to denote that they are travellers on the famous trail.  According to the legend, the son of the Count of Pontevedra on the day of his wedding, decided to jump into the sea with his horse, to grab his wife’s attention. But sadly, they disappeared under the water. When everyone thought he was dead, he emerged in the shore, with his clothes covered by scallop shells. A couple of days after, the boat carrying the remains of Saint James the Apostle arrived in Galicia region. The son of the Count decided to walk to Santiago de Compostela, carrying a scallop shell with him. Today the scallop shell is the symbol of the Camino de Santiago and often known as a sign of protection along the way.

During the Middle Ages, traditional pilgrims used to start their walk towards Santiago de Compostela from their houses. Pilgrims coming from continental Europe used to take the French Way in St-Jean-Pied-de-Port, or the Northern Camino in Irún. Those pilgrims coming from overseas, landed at the various ports of Spain or Portugal, and continued from there to Santiago (the origin of routes like the Portuguese Way or the English Way). Today these routes are well marked and guide walkers on their way to Santiago de Compostela. The most popular starting town on the French Way is St-Jean-Pied de Port for those doing the full route and Sarria for those who would like to walk a week. The Portuguese Way starts in Lisbon, and the Portuguese Coastal Way in Porto. These are also popular starting points. 
 
It is important to remember that you must walk at least 100km to receive your Compostela certificate when you reach Santiago de Compostela at the end of your trip.  We would always advise spending an extra night or two in the beautiful city of Santiago de Compostela. With cobbled streets, a vibrant atmosphere and tapas everywhere this is a fantastic place to finish an epic trail. 
 
Camino experts CaminoWays.com have designed detailed Camino travel tips that will provide you with everything you need to get started on this amazing experience on one of the worlds most famous long-distance trails.

Although it is a good thing that vets can have easier access to loans with the help of the VA, they are only allowed to buy certain properties. These are usually in move-in ready condition. Single homes, condos and modular housing are allowed. Other choices like working farms or downtown delis are not. Vacation homes are also not allowed either. Homes are mainly used for residential purposes only. Retirees, on the other hand, are allowed to choose any type of home they wish to purchase. ​

​Despite a history of bankruptcy, vets are still allowed to take out a VA loan. Even those who have experienced foreclosure before can still make use of a VA loan. Obviously, there is no such guarantee for retirees.

For other types of loan programs, you can get anyone as a co-borrower. This is not the same when it comes to VA loans. When you have a co-borrower who is not your spouse or another vet having a loan entitlement, you are required to pay a down payment.

Heartburn comes in many shapes and sizes, and not all causes are the same. Certain foods stimulate stomach acid production, while others relax the valve between the esophagus and stomach, allowing acidic stomach contents to pass into the esophagus. This is especially true if you suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.
Making changes to your diet is much more effective at addressing heartburn symptoms than medication. The topic of nutrition is complex and best addressed by looking into what, when, how much, and how often we eat. It’s difficult to address all of those factors at once, so let’s start with some diet tips that you can follow to minimize symptoms.

Many foods lead to a relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, which is the valve that normally prevents food and acid from moving up into the esophagus. If your LES is damaged or weakened, which happens naturally with age, reflux can occur.
Chocolate contains an ingredient called methylxanthine which has been shown to relax the smooth muscle in the LES and increase reflux. Peppermint and mint-flavored foods like chewing gum and breath mints also trigger acid reflux because they relax the muscle that controls backflow between the stomach and esophagus. Alcohol is also a common trigger for heartburn, as it opens the LES and allows the acid into the esophagus.

Carbonated beverages cause your stomach to swell, which puts pressure on the esophageal sphincter. Garlic, raw onions, and cruciferous vegetables can cause gas, distending the stomach and promoting reflux.
The key to avoiding heartburn from these foods is to reduce stomach pressure. Research shows that increased fiber intake, specifically in the form of fruits and vegetables, may protect against GERD.

Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet, but certain types can trigger GERD symptoms. Highly acidic foods like tomatoes, citrus, and juices made from them can increase the acidity of your stomach contents and cause heartburn.

Foods high in fat can cause the LES to relax, allowing more stomach acid to back up into the esophagus. These foods also delay stomach emptying, so there is more of an opportunity for a distended stomach. These factors combine to make heartburn more likely.
Common offenders are foods that hit several of the heartburn-causing marks. Onion rings are high in fat and distend the stomach, so they’re more likely to cause symptoms than onions that haven’t been fried.

​An anti-heartburn diet addresses the cause of reflux, while medicine only lowers acidity. Research has linked onions, acidic foods, and carbonated drinks to heartburn, but those triggers aren't universal. A glass of red wine may not be a big deal on its own, but if you also have tomato sauce on your pasta and a glass of orange juice in the morning on an empty stomach, it could cause your symptoms to flare up.
No one specific diet will work for every person, as the topic of GERD has complex causes. The best way to determine your ideal diet is to track foods that trigger your heartburn. Keeping a log of all meals, drinks, and activities throughout your day will allow you to determine which foods and activities aggravate your reflux and which ones help alleviate recurrences.