Health is commonly defined as an individual's ability to efficiently respond to life's challenges and effectively restore and sustain a "state of balance," also known as homeostasis. In other words, having the ability to have one's physical, mental and social well-being lead a socially and economically productive life is a sign of good health. But this state of well being is a process, which relies on your ability to constantly adjust to the ever changing demands of living and of the changing meanings we give to life. This is why there are so many products on the market today, to help us deal with the ever changing process of living.

It has been suggested that there are four general determinants of wellness: human biology, environment, lifestyle, and organization. The use of these determinants suggests that although wellness is maintained through medicine, it can also be improved through individual effort. Physical fitness, weight loss, a good diet, stress management training and eliminating substance abuses are some examples of individual efforts that are within our control. This is evident by the increasing number of programs being developed in the workplace. Not only do these programs improve the overall well-being of employees, but evidence suggests that it also increases employee morale, loyalty and productivity. Some companies have begun providing such things as gyms with exercise equipment, smoking cessation programs, and products, nutrition, weight and stress management training programs. Other programs may include risk assessments, wellness screenings and body mass index monitoring for employees.

Wellness is also a term sometimes used to describe the psychological state of being healthy, but is most often used in the field of alternative medicine to describe one's state of being. The areas most associated with an individual's wellness are exercise, nutrition, rest and mental health.

Exercise


Physical exercise is the performance of an activity used to develop or maintain physical fitness and overall well being. It is often directed toward improving one's athletic ability or skill. Frequent and regular physical exercise is an important component in the prevention of some of the diseases such as cancer, heart disease, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity and back pain. Exercises are generally grouped into three types, depending on the overall effect they have on the body:

• Flexibility exercises (stretching): improves the range of motion of muscles and joints;


• Aerobic exercises (walking or running): increases cardiovascular endurance;


• Anaerobic exercises (weight training or sprinting): increases short-term muscle strength.



Physical exercise is considered important for maintaining physical fitness (including a healthy weight size); building and maintaining strong bones, muscles, and joints; promoting physiological well-being; reducing surgical risks; and strengthening the immune system.




Nutrition


Proper nutrition is also important to one's well being. When exercising it becomes even more important to have good diet to ensure the body has the correct ratio of nutrients to aid the body with the recovery process following strenuous exercise. When the body falls short of proper nutrition, it goes into starvation mode and becomes dependent upon our fat content for survival. Between extremes of excellent well being and death from starvation or malnutrition, there exists an array of disease states that can be caused or alleviated by changes in the diet. Deficiencies, excesses and imbalances in diet can produce negative impacts on the body, which may lead to diseases such as scurvy, obesity or osteoporosis, as well as psychological and behavioral problems. Moreover, excessive ingestion of elements such as lead, mercury, PCBs, and dioxins, may incur toxic and potentially lethal effects, depending on the dose.




Rest


Proper rest and recovery is also as important component of wellness. Rest is important to the body otherwise it can exist in a permanently injured state and not improve or adapt adequately to the exercise.




Mental Wellness


The mental well being of a person refers to their emotional and psychological well being. Merriam-Webster defines it as "a state of emotional and psychological well-being in which an individual is able to use his or her cognitive and emotional capabilities, function in society, and meet the ordinary demands of everyday life." According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no one official definition of a person's mental state. Cultural differences, subjective assessments, and competing professional theories all affect how it is defined. In general, most experts agree that "mental health" and "mental illness" are similar. In other words, the absence of a recognized mental disorder is not necessarily an indicator of one's mental well being.

One way to think about one's mental capacity is to look at how effectively and successfully a person functions. Feeling capable and competent; being able to handle normal levels of stress, maintain satisfying relationships, leading an independent life; being able to "bounce back," or recover from difficult situations, are all signs of the state of one's mental capacity. Each of these aspects - the emotional, physical, and social, must function together to achieve overall well being.

As mentioned earlier, there are many products on the market to help us achieve and maintain overall wellness. From books and videos, to equipment and nutritional guides and supplements - the list is endless. But while what may work for one person, may not necessarily work for another. So before you begin any exercise or new diet regiment that promotes something like weight loss, be certain to research the product thoroughly, discuss the issue with your family doctor, to ensure that the product fits with your needs and does not cause you harm.