Having a healthier life style can not only prevent heart disease and stroke, but it can also reduce the risk of developing cancer, studies show. Two simple things—eating healthy and including physical activity in your daily routine—can secure a long and happy life. Cancer stands as one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., and one-third of the cases (which amounts to 550,000 deaths every year) result from poor diet and a sedentary life.

People of all ages, including senior citizens, should exercise regularly. Thirty minutes of exercising at least three times a week can considerably reduce the risk of developing cancer. Physical activity helps keep weight under control and also creates a hormonal balance in the body. Exercising keeps a strong heart as well as strong muscles and bones and can create an overall state of relaxation and health. By exercising, you provide your body with the strength to fight disease. Even if senior citizens have a harder time exercising, they should see a physical therapist to get advice on the types of exercises suited for them. Many find water aerobics fun and helpful because the water replaces most of the body weight and makes exercises easier to do.

Being obese or overweight poses a serious threat to your health and can lead to the development of heart disease, diabetes or several forms of cancer such as colon, kidney, esophagus or breast cancer, especially in senior citizens. The first thing to do if you are obese or overweight focuses on stopping gaining weight. Exercising and a healthy diet should help you slowly reducing the extra weight and develop a fit body. Discuss with your doctor a diet plan to help you start losing weight. Starving yourself never serves as a solution since it only weakens your body even more. You should undertake weight loss plans gradually and thoughtfully.

A healthy diet should include plenty of fruit and vegetables. Eat vegetables and fruit every day during your breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also, choose fruit as snacks over chips, biscuits or cookies. Vegetables and fruit contain vitamins, anti-oxidants, fiber, minerals and other nutrients essential to the body. You can also get these nutrients from supplements, but the body best assimilates them from the diet. In order to prevent cancer, stick to a low-fat diet. High-fat diets increase the risks of colon and prostrate cancers. Studies also show that within populations with low-fat diets, the risk for women to develop breast cancer proves smaller.

Living a sedentary life and having a poor diet emerge as common for senior citizens, as they don’t go to school or work and tend to take less care of themselves. If you or someone in your family finds himself in this situation, make sure you change things as soon as possible. Cancer brings with it unbearable symptoms that rob people of many years of their lives. Living a healthier life proves easy, and we can prevent many deaths if everybody starts adopts a healthier diet and exercise plan.

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