Your Mother Was Right

The adage “Everything in moderation” is still true, according to new evidence from a continuing nationwide study of female nurses. Researchers who have followed 84,000 nurses for 14 years now find that those who eat a healthy diet, get regular but not necessarily vigorous exercise and limit their alcohol consumption reap big long-term health rewards, beyond what the benefits of the individual behaviors would indicate.

How big? These combined practices--along with not smoking--can cut a woman’s risk of heart disease by up to 83% and stroke by 75%. The findings probably apply to men as well.

Scientists have long documented the health effects of each of these behaviors. The new study, published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine, provides welcome news of their greater benefit in combination.

With more than half of Californians now overweight, according to a recent survey, the study should be the kick in the pants many of us need to improve our health. These are simple habits everyone can adopt: Eat a diet high in cereal fiber, fish, fruits and vegetables, with little fried foods and fast food; quit smoking or, better yet, don’t start; drink no more than an average of half an alcoholic beverage per day, and exercise 30 minutes daily. Brisk walking will do the trick--no marathoning required.

An estimated 1.1 million Americans will have heart attacks this year, and more than 40% of them will result in death. But the nurses study demonstrates that heredity is not destiny. You can change your life.