We all know that eating right, getting enough sleep and taking exercise is good for our bodies and general health. But these may not be all you need for a healthy body. A key component is an active, stimulated and contented mind.

James Maddux, professor of psychology at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, explains: “Physical and mental well-being are closely interwined”.

The key to well-being, says Maddux, is achieving balance in the emotional, spiritual and physical realms. Key elements in our lives can affect our mental well-being and therefore our physical well-being.

* Job satisfaction – what you do for a living doesn’t seem to be as important as how you view it. People who like what they do and feel that they are contributing have a high job satisfaction level whether they are janitors or doctors.

* Relationships – social interactions are beneficial and long-term intimate relationships such as marriage enhance emotional and physical well-being.

* Spiritual – Maddux states: “”All the research shows that, for the most part, people who are religious in the conventional way tend to be happier, more altruistic and physically healthier”.

* Exercise – Physical activity has been shown to be more effective than drugs at banishing depression.

Maddux stresses that finding the right balance may be different for everyone.

“What is a ‘balanced’ life for one person isn’t necessarily a balanced life for someone else,” Maddux stressed. “The key is not assuming that the way other people achieve happiness in life is the way you have to achieve it.”

A Sound Body, A Healthy Mind

Advances in health care (and preventitive care especially) have served women well, helping to detect potentially serious conditions in their early stages. Still, many women don’t get the routine tests and check-ups that doctors recommend for women as they enter midlife.

Here are some of the important screening tests for women:

* Mammograms: Have a mammogram every 1 to 2 years starting at age 40.
* Pap Smears: Have a Pap smear every 1 to 3 years if you have been sexually active or are older than 21.
* Cholesterol Checks: Have your cholesterol checked regularly starting at age 45. If you smoke, have diabetes, or if heart disease runs in your family, start having your cholesterol checked at age 20.
* Blood Pressure: Have your blood pressure checked at least every 2 years.
* Colorectal Cancer Tests: Have a test for colorectal cancer starting at age 50. Your doctor can help you decide which test is right for you.
* Diabetes Tests: Have a test to screen for diabetes if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
* Depression: If you’ve felt “down,” sad, or hopeless, and have felt little interest or pleasure in doing things for 2 weeks straight, talk to your doctor about whether he or she can screen you for depression.
* Osteoporosis Tests: Have a bone density test at age 65 to screen for osteoporosis (thinning of the bones). If you are between the ages of 60 and 64 and weigh 154 lbs. or less, talk to your doctor about whether you should be tested.
* Tests for Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Talk to your doctor to see whether you should be tested for sexually transmitted diseases.

For more information on making the most of your health and healtchare, get the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s guide Staying Health at 50+

Exercise has many health benefits for the over-50 woman. Not only does it make you feel better physically, it can elevate mood and boost energy levels. Good nutrition goes hand in hand with exercise and your nutrition can even affect your exercise endurance.

A study from the Grand Forks, ND, Human Nutrition Research Center, has shown that consuming less than the RDA of zinc reduces the activity of a zinc-dependent enzyme called carbonic anhydrase. This results in the heart working harder during exercise.

Participants in the study who were put on a low-zinc diet for 9 weeks found that workouts left them panting as their hearts worked harder to carry carbon dioxide to the lungs. When the same participants were given the recommended allowance of zinc over another 9 week period, their performance in exercise workouts improved greatly.

These results have been reported by the USDA on its Food and Nutrition Information page. According to the USDA, chicken, eggs, cheese, oysters, beef, beans and peanuts are rich in zinc.

According to a survey of 2000 women carried out in the UK, middle-aged women hate their bodies and as a result may develop eating disorders or resort to cosmetic surgery.

As we reach middle age a slowing metabolism as well as other changes in our bodies make it more difficult to lose weight, so many women change their eating habits to less healthy ones in their efforts to achieve the body weight they desire. The study found that over 50% of women surveyed were skipping meals or snacking instead of eating a meal in their efforts to lose weight. Over 30% resorted to diet pills and laxatives.

The best way to maintain weight and health is through eating a well-balanced diet and getting moderate exercise, say health care professionals.

Read the article about the survey here.