Many of us automatically think of exercise and diet as the components necessary for physical well-being. Those components are important, however, as more and more brain research is completed, we understand that the mind and body are inseparable and our physical health is very important for our overall sense of well-being.Physical well-being includes exercise, diet, flexibility, endurance, safety, hygiene, personal responsibility, and use of medical services, preventive care and self care, including sleep, stress management and connection with others.
For the purposes of this column, the volume of information will be limited to exercise and diet, with links provided for those who would like more information.Let's start with the benefits of exercise for the body:Makes you stronger.Boosts the immune system.Maintains muscle and bone strength, which helps to decrease risk of osteoporosis and falls.Burns excess fat helping to maintain or reduce weight, thus reducing the risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and obesity.Helps conditions such as arthritis and asthma.Improves sleep.Helps one work out emotions such as anger, frustration and anxiety.The benefits of exercise for the mind include:Enhancing mood and reducing depression and anxiety by stimulating serotonin production.Providing opportunities for interaction with people and nature.Reducing stress and sharpening concentration.Offering a time that is just for you (even when with a friend), which is important when you may be juggling many roles.From Tetleywellbeing4life.com.auFor more information on the benefits of exercise see:http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/HQ01676http://www.busywomensfitness.com/exercise-benefits.htmlhttp://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/importance/why.htm.Psychological Benefits of ExerciseThere are many psychological benefits of physical activity.

A healthy mouth makes for a healthy pet

The same bacteria found in a pet's mouth were often found in the liver, kidney and heart as well. Even though it isn't proved cause and effect, there is plenty of information showing there's a good chance that a diseased pet's mouth may shorten life by as much as two years.Likewise, there have been studies in the human animal, showing such an association. Heart disease and stroke have been studied as having an association with dental disease in the people. Seven of nine human studies have shown periodontal disease and tooth loss are associated with strokes and vascular disease.You can check your pet's teeth simply by lifting his lips and looking at the cheek and lip surfaces of his teeth. Healthy teeth are smooth and white, and the gums should look pink. Disease of the mouth is often accompanied by brownish tartar, or calculus, on teeth, especially on the cheek side of the teeth near the back of the mouth.

Reviews of all the latest DVD releases

Fast Food Nation (15), new on DVD from Tartan Video. Fast Food Nation is a revolting film, a truly revolting film, a film which looks at America's fast-food industry from every aspect and finds it grossly wanting in each. From the corrupt executives who cover up poor food-processing to the immigrant workers bullied and maimed in the factories, it offers a stomach-churning picture of mass food production for instant gratification. Excrement makes its way into the burgers; workers' limbs are ripped off; and so too are the consumers, unaware of the gruesome processes which lie behind the smiling face of the big companies who churn out such filth. The film pulls no punches. The film of animals being slaughtered and disembowelled will doubtless increase veggie numbers. But does the film work? Just about yes, but there is scope for plenty of reservations.

The gospel according to Mavis

One of the original voices of the civil rights movement is keeping Martin Luther King jnr's dream alive, writes Patrick Donovan.

Staples was in the studio to record a new album called We'll Never Turn Back, a collection of songs about the American civil rights movement.

Rains bring a flood of memories

Last week, Kathleen, Clayton and I were in Santa Maria running some errands. One of our last stops was Farm Supply to pick up some dog food, chick-en scratch and a few other things.

Amul launches high calcium milk

Anand, Jan 22: With the introduction of Amul CALCI+ High Calcium Milk, the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation, Amul is all set to strengthen its Ultra Heat Treatment (UHT) milk portfolio.

Amul CALCI+ is targeted at helping pregnant woman, growing kids and young adults to meet their daily calcium requirement and helps in preventing osteoporosis.

Amul CALCI+ contains 100 per cent natural milk calcium and does not contain any preservatives. It is simply subjected to a special sterilisation process called Ultra Heat Treatment and stays fresh for 120 days at room temperature. The

one litre aseptically packed Tetra Pack Amul CALCI+ is available at all Amul Preferred Outlets (Amul APOs), leading super markets and major 'A' class outlets across India.

Musharraf's cheery swing through Europe

You have to hand it to Pervez Musharraf. With all the problems the Pakistani president faces at home, he still found time to spend eight days in Europe last week, assuring world leaders everything is fine in his nuclear-armed state. But everything is not fine, and the cracks in his sunny public relations facade were not hard to see.

And when a leading Pakistani journalist at a London news conference asked a reasonable question about the security services, Musharraf implied that he was an enemy of the state.

Thinking about a dog? Get educated first

When Maureen Fogerty began volunteering at the Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago, it was because she needed to choose a charity to work with when she became a bank vice president.

She wanted to do "something different." Reality set in on her first night of volunteering.

"There was a little dog shaking in her cage that they told me they had to put down," Fogerty said. "I remember hugging and kissing her as she was given a lethal injection. I also remember making a vow that I would do something about this. At the time, I was in my 20s and living in Lincoln Park."

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