Researchers looked at 760 coronary arteries and found advanced plaques in men as young as 15 and in women aged 30 to 34. Not surprisingly, people who were obese or who had high cholesterol were 2.5 times more likely to have advanced plaques. A diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, beans, and fruits is free of artery-clogging cholesterol and low in saturated fat. McGill HC Jr, McMahan CA, Zieske AW, et al. Association of coronary heart disease risk factors with microscopic qualities of coronary atherosclerosis in youth. The most physically active women had only half the stroke risk of the least active ones.
Exercise helps prevent ischemic strokes, caused by blockages in the arteries leading to the brain.
Of course, the longer and brisker the walks, the more protection they provided. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy body weight reduce stroke risk as well. Hu F, Stampfer M, Colditz G, et al. Physical activity and risk of stroke in women. But they are worried about more than lost profits.