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... Led by a team from the University of Sydney, the researchers behind the study wanted to look at how these three factors, in combination, affect cardiovascular health, after previous research had linked them to better heart health individually.

Based on an analysis of 53,242 participants with an average age of 63, the data showed that adding 11 more minutes of sleep, an extra 4.5 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and an additional quarter cup of vegetables each day was associated with a 10 percent reduction over eight years in the risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attacks, stroke and heart failure.

While the study can't prove cause and effect, the data indicated a positive correlation between these three behaviors and lower overall risk -- more evidence that a healthier life can start with some relatively minor changes.

"We show that combining small changes in a few areas of our lives can have a surprisingly large positive impact on our cardiovascular health," says nutritional scientist Nicholas Koemel, from the University of Sydney. ...