Johns Hopkins researchers led a study which has found a link between lifestyle factors and cardiovascular health, providing more evidences in support of following a Mediterranean-style diet, regular exercise, maintaining a normal weight, and quitting smoking.

According to researchers, these four lifestyle behaviors will help protect you against heart diseases as well as early buildup of calcium deposits in the heart arteries, and therefore reduce the risk of death.

HaithamAhmed, M.D., M.P.H., the study’s lead author, says:

“To our knowledge, this is the first study to find a protective association between low-risk lifestyle factors and early signs of vascular disease, coronary heart disease and death, in a single longitudinal evaluation,” says