Healthy habits can keep chronic illness at bay, according to a study of more than 23,000 Germans. Researchers looked at the lifestyles and health records of adults ages 35 to 65. After about eight years of follow-up, they found that those who had maintained a healthy weight, exercised for at least 3½ hours a week, never smoked, and eaten plenty of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains were 78 percent less likely to develop cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or cancer than those who didn’t practice prevention. Participants with all four positive habits had a 93 percent reduction in the risk of developing diabetes.
Source: Archives of Internal Medicine, Aug. 10/24, 2009