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Health-enhancing behaviors, such as exercising regularly and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, can reduce risk for stroke. In this prospective, population-based study, U.K. investigators assessed the potential combined effect of four behaviors — not smoking, regular physical activity, moderate alcohol intake (1–14 drinks weekly), and high fruit and vegetable intake (based on high plasma vitamin C levels) — on risk for stroke in 20,000 men and women (age range, 40–79) without histories of stroke or myocardial infarction.
During an average follow-up of 11.5 years, 599 strokes occurred; 168 were fatal. Compared with people who engaged in all four health-related behaviors (and adjusted for numerous demographic and clinical variables),…