• Nearly 1 in 4 Australian adults have either diabetes or impaired glucose metabolism.
• Diabetes is Australia’s fastest growing chronic disease.
• People with diabetes are 3 times more likely to have high blood pressure, obesity or elevated cholesterol
• They are two to three times more likely to have cardio vascular disease ie heart attack and stroke
• 65%-80% of people with diabetes will die of coronary heart disease
• 150 new cases are diagnosed every day
• Type II diabetes may be prevented by a healthy lifestyle which includes exercise
• At present there is NO CURE for diabetes.
  

• Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in Australia, accounting for 38% of all deaths in 2002; claiming the lives of more than one in three Australians.
• CVD is Australia's largest health problem. Despite improvements over the last few decades, the health and economic burden of CVD exceeds that of any other disease.
• Coronary heart disease is the greatest single cause of death among Australians and stroke is the second largest.
• The Heart Foundation and other leading authorities recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on all or most days of the week.
  

Benefits of exercise

A sedentary lifestyle, poor posture, poor balance and weak muscles increase the risk of fractures. A person with osteoporosis can improve their health with exercise in valuable ways, including:

• Reduction of bone loss
• Conservation of remaining bone tissue
• Improved physical fitness
• Improved muscle strength
• Improved reaction time
• Increased mobility
• Better sense of balance and coordination
• Reduced risk of falls
• Reduced risk of bone fractures caused by falls
  

• Regular exercise can be an effective way to treat some forms of depression.
• Physical activity alters brain chemistry and leads to feelings of wellbeing. Exercise can also be an effective treatment for anxiety.
• Some research studies indicate that regular exercise may be as effective as other treatments like medication to relieve mild to moderate depression.
• On average, depressed people only exercise about half as much as people who aren’t depressed. This lack of cardiovascular fitness puts a depressed person at an increased risk of heart attack.
• A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of depression, and depression increases the likelihood of a sedentary lifestyle.
  
  

To keep your back healthy and strong:

• Exercise.
• Build muscle strength and flexibility. Abdominal and back muscle exercises (core-strengthening exercises) help condition these muscles so that they work together like a natural corset for your back. Flexibility in your hips and upper legs aligns your pelvic bones to improve how your back feels.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight puts strain on your back muscles.

SO:

• Stand smart.
• Sit smart.
• Lift smart. Let your legs do the work.
  

1. Myth: Nuts are fattening.
Fact: Nuts do indeed contain lots of energy. For example, 15 cashews contain 750kj and a handful of peanuts is about 850kj. The problem is overeating these tasty snacks. If you can resist eating too many nuts they are a valuable part of a healthy diet. Nuts are high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, and plant sterols, all of which lower bad LDL cholesterol.

2. Myth: Skipping Meals Helps You to Lose Weight.
Fact: Many people think that missing out on a meal will lead to weight loss, but in fact the exact opposite is true. When you skip a meal, your body goes into starvation mode and slows down your metabolism to compensate. You’ll then overeat at your next meal, which adds up to a higher overall kilojoule intake. Instead, eat small meals often in order to keep your blood sugar balanced. Remember a good healthy breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day.

3. Myth: Red Meat is worse for your heart than white meat.
Fact: Studies have made the link between red meat and heart disease, largely as a result of the saturated fat content. But even chicken can contain as much saturated fat than the same serving size of chicken thigh with skin. Poultry is naturally lower in saturated fats, but this is negated if you eat the skin. It’s false to claim red meat is altogether bad for your health – it’s a source of vitamin B12 and iron. So instead of excluding it from your diet entirely, just choose leaner cuts.