Fresh Start

There are four simple steps middle-aged people can take to lower the risk of death in the ensuing four years by 40 percent -- even if they haven't been a health superstar to date.

Make these modest changes to start undoing all the unhealthy things you did before:

Eat more than five servings of fruit and vegetables daily.

Walk at least 2.5 hours a week.

Cut your BMI* to under 30; 24.9 is ideal.

Quit smoking.

All Four Is BestTry to take all four changes to heart -- it's your best shot at lowering your risk of heart disease. But tackling even one or two items will still have an impact on your longevity

*Because pounds only tell you how hefty you are. They don't say a thing about how healthy you are. Waist size does—belly fat is linked to multiple medical problems. So does body mass index, or BMI, a height/weight measure that estimates body fat.

The healthier these numbers are, the healthier you are, especially in terms of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.