Adopting a healthy lifestyle can decrease your risk for cardiovascular disease and premature death even if you're already middle age and experiencing health problems, a new study shows. Researchers found that people ages 45 to 64 decreased their chances of heart trouble by 35 percent and their risk of dying by 40 percent over four years when they improved their lifestyles. The benefits were immediate and dramatic.

The study targeted four healthy behaviors:

1. Eating at least five fruits and vegetables a day,
2. Exercising at least 2.5 hours a week,
3. Maintaining a healthy weight, and
4. Not smoking.

Although adopting any one of these habits is helpful, the biggest benefit comes from incorporating all four.

Source: American Journal of Medicine, July 2007.