by C.K. Matthews

Created on: November 22, 2009

Following through with some of the most popular New Years resolutions can help reduce the risk dying from the top four leading causes of death. With this knowledge it is time for people to start taking their New Years resolutions more seriously. Remember that old saying, "you are what you eat?" As a kid we respond with something like, "I'm not a cookie!" As we get older we begin to see just how true that old saying is. Everything we allow into our bodies has a direct affect on our output from how well or how long we live. Dying from illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, stroke (cerebrovascular diseases), chronic lower respiratory diseases, the top four leading causes of death, can be very debilitating and painful, not just for the person dying but also for those who love them.

Some of the most popular New Years resolutions that could lower ones risk for these debilitating and life threatening diseases include but are not limited to, losing weight, drinking less alcohol, quit smoking and reducing stress.

Losing weight requires eating healthy and getting more exercise. Exercise does not necessarily mean going to the gym more but it could be as easy and fun as playing more with your children. When your body is moving you are not only burning calories but you are strengthening your cardiovascular system. Which translates to reducing risk of heart disease. Eating healthy involves eating fat-burning foods and many of these foods are also healthy for the heart - also translating into reducing the risk of heart disease.

Along with losing weight and improving your cardiovascular system eating healthy will also reduce ones risk for stroke and many types of cancer. According to The Cancer Cure Foundation, fat-burning foods such as broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are known to reduce the risk of breast cancer by converting a cancer-promoting estrogen into a more protective variety.

Risks for stroke include high blood pressure and high cholesterol; people can lower their risk for these by eating the right healthy foods. Other risks for stroke include smoking and increased age. Sorry folks - there is no fountain of youth yet.

Quit smoking and you reduce your risk of several cancers. According to the National Cancer Institute, millions of Americans suffer health problems caused by smoking. Forty percent of 438,000 premature deaths from smoking or exposure to tobacco smoke are from cancer. Another 35% are from heart disease and stroke and other lung diseases make

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