Advances in public health, surgery, and medicine are trying to extend our lifespan, but what about our healthspan? Your lifespan is how long you live. Your healthspan is how many years you live a healthy, vibrant life. You want your healthspan to equal your lifespan.

A large European study called EPIC found that incorporating four simple behaviors can dramatically reduce your risk of developing diseases of aging (Alzheimer’s, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer). These include not smoking, exercising three and a half hours a week, eating a healthy diet, and maintaining a healthy weight.

These four behaviors alone seemed to prevent 93 percent of diabetes cases, 81 percent of heart attacks, 50 percent of strokes, and 36 per cent of all cancer cases.