According to the CDC, the four lifestyle behaviours were:
Each was ‘significantly associated with a reduced risk of mortality’. The CDC researchers concluded that these low-risk lifestyle behaviours, ‘exert a powerful and beneficial effect on mortality’.
The CDC stated: This study adds to the mounting evidence of the substantial gain in life associated with healthy behaviours, and underscores the need for the clinical and public health communities to work together to promote greater adoption of these behaviours.
The CDC study, Low Risk Lifestyle Behaviours and All-Cause Mortality: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III Mortality Study was published in the American Journal of Public Health.
Researchers analysed data from 16,958 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III Mortality Study from 1988 to 2006.
The researchers found that each lifestyle behaviour was significant in reducing mortality and found that the greatest benefit was when moderate alcohol consumption was included with the other three lifestyle behaviours.
The researchers stated: Using a sample of the US population, we showed that four low-risk behaviours exerted a powerful protective effect on mortality and several cause-specific categories of mortality.
The study authors pointed to the recommendations of the Federal 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which defines moderate drinking as consuming up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
The guidelines define a standard drink as 1.5 fluid ounces of 80-proof (40% alcohol) distilled spirits, five fluid ounces of wine (12% alcohol), or 12 fluid ounces of regular beer (5% alcohol). Each of these standard drinks contains 0.6 fluid ounces of alcohol.
The Distilled Spirits Council does not recommend that people drink alcohol for potential health benefits and have always encouraged those adults who choose to drink to do so responsibly and in moderation.
Source: American Journal of Public Health
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