New research suggests it could be very simple to add up to 8 years to your life. 8 more times you get to celebrate Christmas with your family, 8 more years of travelling to enjoy, 8 more years watching your grandchildren grow up. Or if you’re my Nanna Joyce (pictured), 8 more years of Singapore Slings!

The research, which followed 17,000 people for 30 years, identified the components that make up the unhealthiest lifestyle. These were physical inactivity, smoking, poor diet and alcohol use.

For a 65 year old who doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink excessively, has a good diet and regularly exercises, the odds of living to 75 is 86% for men and 90% for women. For a 65 year old who smokes, drinks, has a poor diet, and doesn’t exercise, the odds of living to 75 was 67% for men and 77% in women.

For a link to the article, which includes a number of exercise suggestions and details of the study, click here.