A study published this year (1) examined the relationship between 4 low-risk behaviours and length of life in a representative sample of people in the United States.  The 4 low risk behaviour were: -never smoked, -healthy diet, -adequate physical activity, -moderate alcohol consumption Data from 16958 participants was analysed.  The participants were aged 17 years and older and were part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III Mortality Study from 1988 to 2006. The results showed that the number of low-risk behaviours was related to the risk of death – the more behaviours followed, the lower the risk..  Compared with participants who had no low-risk behaviours, those who had all 4 experienced significantly reduced risk of death from all-causes, including cancers, major cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke) and other causes.  The authors of the study conclude that “Low-risk lifestyle factors exert a powerful and beneficial effect on mortality [death]” The key message of the study is that: Not smoking, eating healthily, exercising regularly and not may make a different to length of life, although not smoking had the biggest impact.  The results specifically found that compared with participants who had no low-risk behaviours (those people who smoked, did not exercise enough, did not follow a healthy diet and drank more than a moderate amount of alcohol), those who practised all 4 were 66% less likely to die early from cancer, 65% less likely to die early from a major cardiovascular disease, and 57% less likely to die….