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Both economic theory and experimental data concur–increasing the distance traveled to find food incurs “negative fitness consequences”, by decreasing total energy for maintenance, repair and reproduction. Yet, most animals must travel to find food. Individual, small groups, and large herds of eutherian (placental) mammals–like wild buffalo, gazelles, lions, and elephants–often travel great distances to find food. This expenditure of energy, at the apparent risk of biological fitness, has puzzled zoologists for some time.

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The key note speaker for the event, Moodie showcased the results of his study (pdf) which, amongst other things, saw that cycling currently saves an estimated $227.2 million per year in health costs alone. Dr. Moodie sayd that “this report demonstrates the considerable benefit offered to individuals and governments by cycling. Addressing the barriers preventing more Australians from cycling will deliver substantial savings to both government and the community”.

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What does it take to get results like that? Trying to live in harmony with the Earth!

Today marks the 24th day I have attempted to live environmentally sustainably. I sleep in a used tent, bike anywhere I want to go, volunteer biweekly at Landslide Community Farm, and eat wild edible greens, farmer’s market fare, and dumpster-dived goods.

When my parents learned that I was going to try such an “extreme” experiment as trying to live 100% sustainably in urban Pittsburgh, they did not try to dissuade me. However, I began receiving e-mails and calls from them, saying: Did I go to the doctor yet for my poison ivy? Am I checking for ticks regularly? How about I don’t eat food out of dumpsters? While all good-natured questions, they expressed a typical parental concern that the situation I am currently in, while important, actually jeopardizes my health.

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There are many benefits of exercise during pregnancy, including improved physical conditioning, strength, flexibility, and stamina. It builds endurance for labor and delivery and a quicker postnatal recovery. By exercising regularly, you may be able to reduce some of the common discomforts of pregnancy such as backache, swelling, and constipation. Most of all, you feel great about yourself when you exercise.

How Exercise Can Help More Than Medication

Let’s take a look at the effects of exercise versus medications for two of the most important complications of pregnancy.

Gestational Diabetes

As many as one in eight women will develop gestational diabetes sometime during their pregnancies, increasing health risks for themselves and their babies. Researchers at the University of Southern California School of Medicine studied a group of women who had already developed gestational diabetes and who had fasting blood glucose levels high enough to require insulin. Half of the women in the study received the recommended insulin. The other half got personal trainers instead. The trainers supervised the women while they did simple twenty-minute stints on exercise bikes. The results were startling: moderate aerobic exercise was equally effective to insulin! Blood glucose levels were statistically the same in both groups.

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For one, these activities will help build coordination and strength as well as help foster a lifetime love of fitness. Second, the gift is an experience and not a material good. Arguably, experience is often the greatest gift we can give to our children, often holding more lasting value than just another toy or consumer good. In fact, it is just this kind of parental encouragement or “belief” that can be a much more powerful influence on our children’s level of activity than even role modeling.

In a study done by SpencerHall in 2003, mothers of children whose activity levels ranged from low to high were interviewed in order to better understand the relationship between the mothers’ attitudes toward physical activity and the activity level of their children. (After the jump, study results and four ways to encourage your child’s healthy activity level).

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Her statement details the establishment of the Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, in honor of her mother. "Set to open in October the state-of-the-art facility will enable [Mount Sinai's doctors] to continue to learn new ways for all of us to live healthier, more productive lives and will teach patients, caregivers, and physicians how best to manage the aging process."

After a lengthy paragraph about how each of her publications is contributing to this healthy living commitment through its editorial content, she closes with a very intriguing, yet general, paragraph about her eco-intentions.

It is impossible to celebrate the value of healthy living without considering the health of the environment in which we live. We believe that all companies can be more mindful of our environmental impact. With that in mind, we are exploring ways of making greener practices part of our business plan, including the creative content we generate, the products we offer, and the materials we use to keep our offices clean. You’ll hear more from us on that in coming issues.

What does the September issue have to offer readers? Here’s what Body+Soul’s website has to say:

Get healthy now! Our newest issue gives you 138 ways to look and feel your best. Learn the key to lasting weight loss, make delicious recipes featuring the ultimate power food, and discover natural anti-aging secrets. Plus, our complete guide to supplements for a healthier heart, brain, bones, and mood and a no-fail walking guide.

The introductory "Whole Living" section of the magazine is filled to the brim with useful tidbits, taste tests, product recommendations, and the latest health research. An interview with "traveling chef" Jim Denevan is on page 27, detailing his spectacular efforts on strengthening people’s appreciation for where our food comes from. Eco-entrepreneur Nau is featured on page 30; a personal favorite of mine, it’s great to see the brand getting such wide-spread attention.

Cheryl Richardson’s monthly life coach column does a delightful job of explaining how you can make your life better and more meaningful by subtracting energy-draining activities and people: "addition by subtraction," as she calls it. On page 53, this month’s power food is papaya; admittedly, I’ve never had one. Of course, after reading all of this tropical fruit’s benefits (along with a two taste-bud tempting recipes), I’m a bit more open to trying them out. I know that creamy dressings aren’t the healthiest for you, but when I didn’t find mention of them in page 58’s "Dress It Up" article, I was notably disappointed. Personally, my first choice is always ranch, and I’d be amped to find out about a less fattening, do-it-yourself, Martha Stewart version.

While it is pretty obvious that our food choices can cause us mental stress (Why did I have that last slice of pizza? How many calories were in that cake!?), medical studies have proven that the old phrase "you are what you eat" is more true than ever. "Food + Stress" is a very informative piece about how what we eat affects all manner of our mental functions. The accompanying "Good-Mood Foods" chart is already hanging on my fridge, right next to where I write my grocery list.

A favorite in the green community, Ideal Bite founders Heather Stephenson and Jennifer Boulden are featured in a two-page spread, starting on page 70. Along with their back story, a selection of their favorite "eco-creature comforts" are featured, including Sigg reusable water bottles, bamboo cutting boards, and recycled note cards. The following article, offering up four mix-it-yourself cleaning recipes, is common knowledge for most sustainable readers, but the additional "helpful hints" that follow each concoction are more than useful.

For many of us, aging reminds us of medicine cabinets full of prescriptions, nursing homes, and tearful goodbyes. Tracy Gaudet, M.D.’s article "Aging Well", starting on page 91, presents a much more pleasant, accomplished, introspective view of what getting older means. Yeah, I’m only 23, but hey, I want my 50th and 60th birthdays to be loads of fun, too, so reading this piece helped to put a lot of things in perspective. I recommend it to people of all ages.

Weight loss … do we really want to hear about this again? I was a bit hesitant when I started to read Celina Ottoway’s "Beyond Willpower" article, but even before I finished the first page, I knew this was something different. Three kids and a job make it quite tough to find time to eat right, let alone exercise. A week-long visit to the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Massachusetts gave her an invaluable depth of information. The most useful part of the article covers her return from the weight-loss program, when she is thrust back into her real life. A feature like this is all the more proof that a change in perspective and a bit of effort can do wonders for your well-being - mentally, physically, and emotionally.

"The Best Supplements For Your Health" is another piece that, at first, I assumed I knew all of what I was about to be presented with. In terms of the specific supplement information, I was correct, but the "What To Look For In A Multivitamin" proved to be most useful. I’ve been taking the same organic women’s multivitamin for about a year now, but was very surprised (nay, shocked) to find that it didn’t meet half of the requirements suggested in the chart on page 122.

Written by senior editor Terri Trespicio, "What You Get From Giving" sheds light on the unique benefits of giving with compassion. After the article’s introduction, readers are presented with a host of ways to give back to others, whether it be in your day-to-day life or via a specific volunteering opportunity. In the end, not only is giving (no matter the form) helpful for our own personal health, it benefits the community and society as a whole, making it a priceless part of our humanity.

You’re stressed and you need to clear your head - what does every magazine suggest you do? Talk a walk, of course. B+S takes it to next level in "Get Walking" by providing us with four different walking "plans" to help improve our fitness, stress relief, posture, and inspiration. Each plan is easy-to-follow and well-explained, making this a perfect tear-out-and-keep reference article.

This is just a small sampling of the great coverage in September’s Body+Soul magazine, so stop by your favorite newsstand and pick one up - you’ll be pleased, I assure you.

After owning two very different yoga mats myself, I was eager to try what NF had to offer. The first mat I owned was made from natural rubber as well, but the traction on it was terrible: in less than 10 minutes, I was slipping and sliding all over! My second acquisition was also made of natural rubber, but was much better at helping me stay stable in my poses. The downside? It was quite heavy to tote around. When presented with the chance to test out the Natural Fitness Professional Yoga Mat, I accepted with excitement.

My new mat arrived speedily, packed in recycled newspaper. The label holding the mat together is made of strong, recycled materials (feels like flexible cardboard), and features info on NF's Zero Impact Program. An inch longer than standard mats, the smell of the natural rubber was immediately noticeable. As an individual who has a fondness for rubber, this didn't bother me, but for others, you might want to wipe down and air out the mat before you use it. Though it may seem small, the reversible factor of the mat was most pleasing, allowing me to choose which earth-toned color suits my mood for that particular day.

Wanting to give my new mat a tough time, I practiced three times in a row, in heavy cotton and with the windows closed (read: sweaty!). Despite the pseudo-pummeling, the mat's traction was fantastic - I didn't slip once. Having weak knees, I also made sure to do more than a fair share of kneeling poses, none of which caused me more than noticeable amount of discomfort. You'd be amazed how much an uncomfortable, unsupportive yoga mat can make you avoid practicing as often as you know you should. With a Natural Fitness mat, I look forward to my practice every day, along with that nice smell from the rubber trees. The rest of NF's products are more than worth exploring, all made from either natural rubber, bamboo, or hemp. After such a pleasant experience with my new mat, I'm bound to make another purchase from their website soon.

Note: As obvious as this may be, if you are allergic to rubber, then I wouldn't recommend using this mat.