Some of you may already know that my new website, Health Jigsaw (www.healthjigsaw.com), is now up and running.

So this will be the last newsletter from me personally.

From next month, your newsletters will come from Health Jigsaw. [please add andrew@healthjigsaw.com to your address book to ensure that emails from me will land in your inbox and not blocked by your email spam filters]

Should you no longer wish to receive any more newsletters, just send me an email and I won't clog up your inbox anymore.

Finding Time To Exercise

Having problems finding the time to exercise is a discussion topic that comes up all the time. Statistics show that the number one reason 85% of the population isn't working out consistently is because they believe that they don't have enough time.

We all have work, family and social commitments, but some people are able to consistently fit exercises into their busy schedules. Below are 5 tips that may help you:

1. Set yourself a health or fitness goal and commit to it.

2. Prioritise exercise as a health concern.

3. Schedule workouts as you would any other appointment.

4. View exercising as important as other commitments.

5. Working out before work so that nothing can interfere later in the day.

Seasonal Food Guide

The government tells us that we should be eating 5 serves of veggies and 2 serves of fruit each day. Produce that is in season locally is cheaper, tastes better and has more nutrients. Fruits and veggies start to lose nutrients immediately after they are harvested, so the best produce is that which is the freshest.

Luckily the Seasonal Food Guide Australia website (seasonalfoodguide.com) can tell us when different fruit and veggies are in season. Buying locally grown produce not only supports your local farmers, it also guarantees you the freshest produce, which imported and interstate produce can't compete with.

For those of us living in NSW, now is the best time to eat cherries, mandarins, oranges, peaches, plums and strawberries.

Happy Exercising

Everyone knows about the physical benefits of exercises but research has shown that it can also be very powerful against depression, the fourth most common problem being treated by GPs.

The Black Dog Institute, which specialises in research and education into mood disorders, advocates exercise as a counter to depression. A number of studies have also shown that regular exercisers experience less depression and anxiety than people who don’t exercise regularly.

Regular exercise helps increase levels of mood lifting chemicals like serotonin and endorphins in the brain. By improving sleep and boosting energy, exercise also makes people feel better.

The health system also acknowledges the potential of exercise to improve mental health. Anyone diagnosed with ongoing depression can receive a Medicare rebate for up to five sessions with an accredited exercise physiologist. You just need a referral from your doctor.

Food For Thought

If you're going to eat one of these...

To burn it off, you will need to:

• walk for 60 minutes; or

• cycle for 40 minutes; or

• run for 30 minutes.

[based on someone weighing 75kg]

Nothing contained in this newsletter is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice.