It’s Not Too Late at Middle Age . . .

If you have an epiphany at 45 and decide to do something about your lifestyle, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s not too late to accrue a few extra years. Within 4 years the statistics will move in your favor, according to a report in the American Journal of Medicine. South Carolina researchers followed over 15,000 people aged 45 to 64 at baseline. After 6 years, about 1000 had switched to an overall healthy lifestyle, containing the following 4 elements: eating at least five fruits and vegetables daily, exercising at least 2½ hours a week, keeping their BMI below 30, and not smoking. Some 11,000 followed three or fewer of these elements.
During the first 4 years, those who followed all four elements had a 40% reduction in death from any cause and a 35% reduction in cardiovascular events. They were more likely to be older, women, better educated, higher family incomes, and no history of high blood pressure or diabetes.

These results show that adapting and adhering to a healthy lifestyle is obviously worthwhile, and that middle age is not too late to start – even if you are male, less well educated, and less wealthy. Help is at hand.