How would you like to reduce your risk of colon cancer by 23%?  A recent study has shown that adherence to five basic tenants can indeed provide you with these results.  The five factors that you need to include in your life are: no smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, waist circumference below 34.6 inches for women and 40 inches for men, consuming a healthful diet (adequate daily intake of fruits/vegetables and fiber and limiting consumption of red meat and fat), and being physically active for at least 30 minutes a day.

Interestingly enough, these criteria are very similar to those utilized in another study that showed by following some simple rules you can live 13 years longer.  This study stated that eating four to five servings of fruits/vegetables, exercising three or more times per week, not smoking, and drinking alcohol in moderation increases your longevity by 13 years. You may be surprised to learn that these lifestyle characteristics show up regularly in research with amazing results.  Sometimes they're studied individually and sometimes in groups.  Irregardless, the results are always exceptionally positive.

Going back to colon/gastrointestinal cancer, another study found that men's cancer risk was decreased by 50% for those that participating regularly in exercise.  It is interesting to compare the first study which decreased colon cancer risk by 23% with the above study that states you can decrease your risk by 50%. In the 23% study there were numerous characteristics that you had to adhere to while in the 50% study, one single factor is able to reduce your cancer risk significantly more. That factor is exercise.  Both groups mention and include exercise as a factor, but the difference is in level of intensity.  The first study only states 30 minutes of being physically active whereas the below listed study states more intensive exercise.  This latter study shows the truly amazing benefits of participating in a regular, vigorous, exercise program.  Exercise is not simply a means to lose weight but is instead the closest thing you can get to the fountain of youth.