Add 14 years to your life

By Amy McRee, NEWS 9

You could add 14 years to your life in four little steps.

If you're like me, you may be doing all you can now to help you live a longer, healthier life. Studies show certain things we do will prolong or even inhibit our life span. Now there is actual proof that individual lifestyle choices affect long term health.

A group from the University of Cambridge and the Medical Research Council in England studied 20,000 UK men and women between the ages of 45 and 79, none of whom had known heart disease, circulatory disease or cancer.

For four years, they were watched and filled out questionairres pertaining to their lives.

Researchers found you should without a doubt exercise. You should also not smoke. Eat five fruit or vegetable servings daily, and have one or two alcoholic drinks a day.

The four healthy behaviors combined increased longevity.

The study is part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition, it was conducted across 10 European countries, the largest study of diet and health ever undertaken.

Researchers found it's tougher for people living in isolation to make these lifestyle changes, so it's a great idea to involve someone or join a group that can help hold you accountable.

www.livescience.com 

Click on health tab and scroll down to "Study: How to live 14 yrs longer" report.