Reducing your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 80 percent may be as simple as adopting five healthy lifestyle habits, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health found having a normal weight reduced the risk by 60 to 70 percent, eating a healthy diet reduced the risk by about 15 percent, and not smoking lowered the risk by about 20 percent.

What’s more, the benefits add up. Individuals who practice a multitude of healthy habits can lower their risk significantly. Other helpful habits include exercising regularly and drinking alcohol in moderation—one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. The results stayed consistent regardless of the study participants’ weights or whether they had a family history of diabetes.

In the battle to lower cholesterol, eating a diet that includes a combination of cholesterol-lowering foods is more successful than eating a diet low in saturated fats, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Researchers divided the 351 study participants with high cholesterol into groups. One received dietary advice for six months on eating a low-saturatedfat diet, the other on eating a diet that contained cholesterol-lowering foods such as soy protein, nuts, and plant sterols.

Those in the second group had a greater reduction in their LDL (bad) cholesterol levels than those who were given advice on eating a diet low in saturated fats. The average reduction in LDL levels in the group who ate cholesterol-lowering foods was –24 mg/dl.

Older adults who keep up with chores, errands, and other activities of everyday life may reduce their risk for mental decline and dementia, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Why? Because these activities get your heart rate up. The study of 200 older adults with an average age of 75 found those who were most active—burning around 1,000 calories a day—were 91 percent less likely to suffer declines in memory, concentration, and language ability compared to those who were the least active.

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