Lower Risk of Heart Attack 86%

A healthy diet, moderate alcohol consumption, a smaller waist circumference, and not smoking were each independently associated with a lower risk of myocardial infarction (MI), or heart attack, in a large group of healthy Swedish men.

When these four lifestyle behaviors were combined with physical activity, individuals who adhered to all five healthy practices had an 86% lower risk of MI when compared with a high-risk group of individuals who didn't adhere to any to healthy behaviors. When compared with the rest of the study cohort, which included individuals who practiced some but not all of the healthy lifestyle behaviors, the risk of MI was reduced 79% compared with those who adhered to all five, according to a study in the September 30, 2014 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

However, just 1% of the 20 721 men adopted all five of what the researchers referred to as "low-risk behaviors." That number is dismal! And Swedes are supposed to be healthier than Americans!

Not adhering to the healthy diet and drinking alcohol more excessively accounted for nearly one in four MIs in the study population, while the combined absence of three healthy behaviors—diet, alcohol, and not smoking—explained nearly half of the MIs.