HHS HealthBeat (August 14, 2007)

Four healthy habits, and what they get you

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Baby boomers love new starts. Here’s one.

Dana King at the Medical University of South Carolina looked at boomers who got a late start on the four healthy habits. Those are eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day, exercising at least two and a half hours a week, not smoking, and keeping their weight down.

King says they reduced their risk of heart disease by 35 percent and their risk of death by 40 percent. 

``This study lends real evidence to the notion that it’s not too late to change, and that making the changes even in your 50s and 60s will have tremendous benefits in a very short period of time.’’ (11 seconds)

The study in the American Journal of Medicine was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

Last revised: August, 14 2007