Articles & Links: Library of Physical Development

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Site Updated: 3 April, 2008

Da Vinci's Study of the Principal Organs of a Woman, Courtesy of  David Reuteler

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Physical Development

It's only after we're old enough to have worn the same clothing styles in two non-consecutive decades that we really begin to pay serious attention to our health. Youth gives us the illusion of health and the promise of longevity, no matter how many cheeseburgers and orders of fries we wash down with our calorie-dense soda.  But sooner or later, reality hits us over the head and the fallout is...well...usually grey and only occasionally a more sparkling silver. 

No matter where in life we are when we start, however, living a reasonably healthy lifestyle can only be a good thing. It may not be able to guarantee good health, yet we know there are certain things we can do to give ourselves a fair chance at it. And what's good for the body is also good for the mind.  Conversely, when the body suffers the mind suffers along with it (and sometimes there are physical problems that manifest themselves mentally). If we want to put our best effort into all areas of our lives, good health becomes one of our first priorities.

The difficulty is that no single fitness program is sufficient for everyone, because our bodies have slight differences in structure and behaviour due to influences such as heredity and environment. We also have different considerations depending on our current circumstances.  If we happen to be enjoying good health, we still need to be careful to exercise regularly and make sure we're getting the nutrients we need in our diet.  We need enough sleep at night, and we need to practice good hygiene.  This isn't only good for our health, of course. It also shows consideration for those who live and work alongside us, and who will bear the immediate brunt of any neglect on our part.

If we aren't enjoying good health, we may have to go beyond the basics and search out appropriate medical professionals.  But even when we're comfortable with the skill of our doctors, it still can be important to research our illnesses to find out what we may be able to do to help in our own recovery.

To add to the confusion, there can be special challenges for women.  Every time we think we have our bodies figured out, they throw something new at us. PMS, pregnancy; peri-menopause, and (finally!) menopause. Each of these natural phases can also trigger mental and physical issues when things aren't working right.

Naturally, as with all other areas of inquiry, no matter how scientific, there are wildly differing ideas about how best to ensure good health, fitness and long, productive life.  It isn't easy to negotiate the oceans of information that are floating around masquerading as fact and promising us quick fixes and magic pills.  Fortunately, the same good research skills we use in the rest of our internet forays can be used to determine the difference between reliable health advice and popular fads. 

Keeping all of these factors in mind, we hope you'll eventually work your way through all the links in the Library of Physical Development pages, plucking the good advice from the bad as you go.  We have taken as much care as possible to choose high quality information written by others, but there will always be some information you will want to discard as you balance the nuances in what you read and apply them to your individual situation.