![Fruits and vegetables](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/fruits-veggies-happiness-health-report.jpg)
1. Fruits and Veggies Boost Happiness
A recent study of more than 12,000 Australians revealed that the benefits of a produce-rich diet extend beyond physical health. With every added daily portion of fruit or vegetables (up to eight), the subjects’ happiness levels rose slightly. The researchers’ conclusion: if someone were to switch from a diet free of fruit and veg to eight servings per day, he or she would theoretically gain as much life satisfaction as someone who transitioned from unemployment to a job. The exact reason is unclear, though it may be related to the effect of carotenoid levels in the blood.
![Elderly couple](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/elderly-health-report.jpg)
2. Long-Lived Seniors Tend to Be Healthier
Longevity doesn’t usually mean more years with disease or disability, according to a 2016 analysis from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. By comparing Americans, Europeans and Australasians aged 95-plus to younger seniors, researchers found that serious conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis were hitting long-lived men and women later in life. Compared to people who died before reaching 95, those with very long lifespans often endured a shorter period of illness leading up to death.
![Man drinking coffee](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/coffee-cancer-health-report.jpg)
3. Coffee Doesn’t Promote Cancer (Unless It’s Too Hot)
Good news for fans of coffee: it was stripped of its “possibly carcinogenic” classification during a recent meeting of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. However, the agency did warn against any beverage that is served at a temperature higher than 65 C. Scalding hot liquids can conjure cells in the esophagus, contributing to esophageal cancer in the future. Meanwhile, coffee served at a moderate temperature appears to provide a mild protective effect against cancer in the uterine lining and the liver.
![Woman working out](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/dumbbells-health-report.jpg)
4. Lighter Weights as Effective as Heavy Ones
When it comes to building muscle, lifting light objects many times works just as well as lifting heavier ones fewer times, concluded a Canadian study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology. With either method, the key is to work with the muscles until they’re fatigued, which is a sign of activated fibres. The study’s participants were young men, but its findings had implications for everyone, particularly those intimidated by massive weights.