Bad habits that make you look 10 years older

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New research suggests that four common bad habits – smoking, excessive drinking, lack of physical activity, and an unbalanced diet – can make a person appear 12 years older. The findings come from a study that tracked nearly 5,000 British adults over 20 years, and they provide yet another reason to adopt a healthier lifestyle. In total, 314 of the participants exhibited all four of these unhealthy behaviors. Of these, 91 died during the course of the study, accounting for 29 percent. Among the 387 people who led the healthiest lifestyles and did not have any of these habits, only 32 died, or about 8 percent. The risky behaviors included smoking tobacco; consuming more than three alcoholic drinks per day for men and more than two drinks per day for women; engaging in less than two hours of physical activity per week; and eating fruits and vegetables fewer than three times per day. According to Elisabeth Kvaavik of the University of Oslo, the lead researcher, these habits together significantly increased the risk of death, making those who practiced them appear 12 years older than those in the healthiest group. The study was published in Monday’s issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. The healthiest group consisted of non-smokers and those who had quit smoking; people who did not drink alcohol at all, women who consumed fewer than two drinks per day and men who consumed fewer than three drinks per day; those who exercised for at least two hours per week; and those who ate fruits and vegetables at least three times per day. “You don’t need to go to extremes” to fall into the healthy category, said Kvaavik. “These behaviors have a cumulative effect, so it’s possible for most people to adopt them.” The U.S. generally recommends that adults consume at least 4 cups of fruits or vegetables per day, depending on age and level of activity, as well as about 2 1/2 hours of exercise per week. Recent research serves as a reminder that smoking, excessive drinking, lack of exercise, and poor diet combined can make a person appear 12 years older. These findings stem from a 20-year longitudinal study of nearly 5,000 British adults, and the results further emphasize the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Overall, 314 of the respondents exhibited all four bad habits*. Of them, 91 people, or 29%, died during the study period. Among the 387 healthiest individuals who did not have any of these four bad habits, only 32 died during that period, representing a rate of about 8%. These high-risk behaviors include: smoking, men drinking more than three drinks per day or women drinking more than two drinks per day, exercising less than two hours per week, and eating fruits and vegetables fewer than three times per day. Elisabeth Kvaavik, a lead researcher at the University of Oslo, said that these habits combined greatly increase the risk of death; people with such bad habits appear 12 years older than those in the healthiest lifestyle groups. The study was published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine this Monday. Those in the healthiest lifestyle group include people who never smoke and those who have quit smoking, abstemious drinkers, women who drink less than two drinks per day and men who drink less than three drinks per day, people who exercise for at least two hours per week, and those who eat fruits and vegetables at least three times per day. Kwavik said that maintaining a healthy lifestyle “doesn’t require going to extremes; these habits, when combined, can bring you many benefits.” Most people should be able to do it. ” According to American **recommendations, adults should consume at least four cups of fruits or vegetables per day; the amount can be adjusted based on age and level of physical activity. They should also exercise for about two and a half hours per week. Reposted from Hai Ci Happy English, for sharing among Hai friends