The Journal of the American Medical Association has published two studies that verify what experts often claim—that the risk of heart failure is cut dramatically through a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Harvard Medical School, Boston carried out both studies.  One study (led by Dr. Luc Djousse) examined data from 20,900 men, and the other (led by Dr. John P. Forman) analysed of data from 83,882 women.

The men’s study identified a number of key positive factors:

“Maintaining a normal body weight, not smoking, regular exercise, moderate alcohol intake, consumption of breakfast cereals, and consumption of fruits and vegetables.”

10.1% risk of heart failure was found in men who managed four or more of these while men who had none of these factors had double the risk at 21.2%.

Though with a different focus on supplementation, and taking into account the use of pain medication, the women’s study looked at similar factors:

“Normal body weight, vigorous exercise for an average of 30 minutes per day, consuming a healthy diet, modest alcohol intake, use of pain medications less than once per week, and use of supplemental folic acid, a form of vitamin B.”

It may seem like a lot to stick to if you put the two together.  For women, however, it is important to note this finding wherein normal body weight is found to be one factor that provides the most reduction in heart-disease and high blood pressure risk:

“The factor with the single greatest impact on high blood pressure was body weight. Women who were obese were 4.7-times more likely to develop high blood pressure than were women of normal body weight.”

Cut your risk of heart failure, especially if you have a medical history of high blood pressure by establishing and maintaining a healthy body weight.