5 Health Habits that Reduce Your Risk of Dementia

Here's motivation to live a healthier lifestyle: Following a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a low body weight, avoiding smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption can help reduce the odds of dementia, according to research published Tuesday.

Researchers at Cardiff University's School of Medicine in the U.K. studied 2,235 men and found that those who adopted all five, or even four, of these healthy behaviors experienced a 60 percent decline in dementia and cognitive decline (with exercise being the strongest mitigating factor) and 70 percent fewer cases of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, compared to people who didn't practice any of them.

Yahoo Shine could not reach lead study author Professor Peter Elwood for comment, however, he said in a press release, "What the research shows is that following a healthy lifestyle confers surprisingly large benefits to health - healthy behaviors have a far more beneficial effect than any medical treatment or preventative procedure."

Unfortunately, Elwood adds, very few people follow a fully healthy lifestyle. Here are some tips for both men and women to get (and stay) healthy:

Work out together: People who exercise with a friend burn more calories, according to recent research conducted at Kansas State University. Some ideas: Take a walk, join a Spin class, or play indoor tennis together. And if you own a dog, even better - people who exercise with their dogs lose an average of 5 percent of their body weight.

Stick to a healthy diet: Your secret weapon against junk food is, actually, facing the fact you want it. One study conducted by Drexel University in found that dieters who admitted they had cravings (versus those who tried to ignore them) consciously choose not to act on them. The idea is that accepting cravings as a daily part of life will better equip you to deal with them.

Avoid smoking: If you're not a smoker, congrats. If you're trying to quit, don't attempt to do so during the holiday season. The celebratory atmosphere - parties, alcohol, and decadent food - can offset your health goals in general, so it's best to select a specific date after the festivities, according to the American Lung Association.

Curb the alcohol: Decadent holiday cocktails and after-work happy hours can be tempting, but drink too much and your fitness goals will fall by the wayside. Steer clear of creamy, sugary drinks such as eggnog and White Russians and stick to lower-calorie drinks. An ounce of vodka mixed with club soda and a squeeze of lime is just 65 calories.

Keep your weight down:
Adopting any of these healthy habits will help get your weight down. To keep it low, don't skimp on sleep. According to Harvard University, sleep-deprived people have higher levels of the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin and lower levels of the satiety-inducing hormone leptin.