A healthier life is up to you - living longer is down to your choices

Eat healthy - you know it makes sense

Living better and live longer may come down to choices.

A new report released last week by The American Journal of Medicine, reviewed five separate studies, all of which point to ways people can improve their lives and live longer.

The first study conducted by scientists from Xi'an, China examined wide-ranging data and found that regular fresh fish consumption reduces the risk of colorectal cancer by 12%. Asian people eat more fish than Westerners. Colorectal cancers are the third leading cause of cancer death in Europe and the Americas.

The second study from McGill University, in Montreal, Quebec, revealed alternative medical methods, including hypnotherapy and acupuncture, substantially improved the ability of people to stop smoking. Researchers reviewed 14 trials which showed that smokers who received hypnotherapy were four and a half times more likely to stop smoking than smokers who had not been hypnotized. Those who underwent acupuncture were three and a half times more likely, to end their smoking habit than those who did have acupuncture.

Smoking causes cancer, lung disease, and cardiovascular deaths.

A third study from Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, gave evidence that regular tooth cleanings substantially reduced the incidence of both heart attacks and strokes.

Heart attacks and strokes are the leading causes of death in the US.

The forth study from East Carolina University, Greenville, NC,  says that primary care physicians can be as effective as weight loss clinics in helping their overweight patients trim down. Using behavior modification and structured meal plans, physicians were able to get their patients to loose over 11% of their body weight in just 12 weeks.

Overweight and obesity is quickly becoming the leading cause of chronic disease in the Western World.

 The fifth study discussed in the American Journal of Medicine report showed that low dose aspirin, taken regularly, helped to offer protection from certain forms of cancer.

That study was conducted by scientists from the University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.