The first study looked at 50,000 men over a twenty year span from 1986-2006. Of the men participating in the study 4,975, right around 10%, were diagnosed with prostate cancer during the course of the study. Study results showed that the men who drank coffee, and lots of it, fared better than those who did not. Consumption of six or more cups of coffee a day lowered their risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer by 19%. The risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer was reduced by 41%. The more coffee they drank, the better the results.

There are some important items to note about the study. First, caffeine did not seem to be the factor. The results were the same for men who drank regular and men who drank decaf. Researchers also caution taking up coffee drinking to prevent or treat prostate cancer. This study provides a baseline for scientists and more future studies will need to be done before such a recommendation will be made. For those that drink coffee already, researchers say they should feel free to continue to do so.

The other study looked at exercise and its link to preventing and treating prostate cancer. This study participants included 2686 men who were diagnosed with prostate cancer. Men in the study, who exercised vigorously 3 or more hours per week, cut their chances of death from the disease by 30%. Exercise has always been known to be a great way to help prevent and fight cancer and other illnesses, but this was the first study to show conclusive evidence that it played a role in the treatment of prostate cancer.

Studies Show That Coffee and Exercise Help Fight Prostate Cancer was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Here are 8 great reasons to ditch the gym and get healthy at home:

You Likely Already Have Some Equipment
There are probably a lot of treadmills and exercise bikes that are being used more as a clothes rack than as a source of exercise. Dust off the expensive equipment you have already invested in and put it into use. Don’t forget the numerous workout DVD’s you already own. Check online  or at the library too for free workouts or tune into the exercise channel you likely get on your cable television.

You Don’t Have to Leave Home
After working a busy day and taking care of the family, who can really stay motivated enough to leave the house again and head to the gym. If you set aside a small area in your own home that you can use to workout, you may be more inclined to stick with the program.

There Are No Set Hours
Since many gyms are not open 24/7, you may be more motivated to keep exercising when you can do it at a time convenient for you.

There Are No Lines
In some gyms, there is likely a wait for some of the more popular workout machines. Hanging around the gym waiting is certainly a time-waster. You likely have better things you could be doing. Working out at home means no lines and maybe even some multitasking, such as running in place as you load the washing machine.

Make It a Family Affair
Instead of having to find a sitter, you can get your whole family involved in one of the best and completely free forms of exercise – walking.

There is No Intimidation
Going to a gym where tons of other people, who may or may not be in better shape than you, can be intimidating and keep you from sticking with your exercise goals. Exercising at home alone or with close friends and family can make it more fun and less intimidating.

You Can Grow Into Your Routines
Instead of having to commit to hour-long classes at a gym, you can build up and change your routine according to your daily activities. Whenever you can fit in a few minutes of exercise, go for it! A little exercise each day is much better than none at all.

More Money To Spend on Rewards
When you get into a workout groove, eventually you will begin to reap the rewards of weight loss and a new and improved body. You can then use the money you would have otherwise been wasting on a gym membership to get new clothing and updated equipment to continue your workout routines at home.

8 Reasons You Should Cancel That Costly Gym Membership was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Here are five ways to use a rewards credit card to help you save money and live a healthier life.

Get a good rewards card. The first step is to get a good rewards card which will pay you cash back on the things that you purchase under its terms.  Search for cards that give the best reward amount as is possible.

Buy at health food stores. Yes, the large grocery chain stores sell ‘healthy’ food items, but are they really?  Health food stores business depends on not only selling the best healthy food, but giving good advice to patrons on why an item they are selling is healthy and what to look for in food ingredients.  Your purchase with your rewards card gives you cash back on food good for you and that is a doubly-good bonus.

Join a health club. Look for a health club that has the size and staff necessary to help you with a customized program that will push you, but encourage you to keep going.  Paying for a long-term membership is frowned upon if you do not think that you will keep up with the program.  See if the club you are interested in will allow you to pay month-to-month in order to make sure that you are going to stay with the program.  Or, better yet, see if they have an introductory program so that you can try out the benefits and make sure it fits you and your lifestyle.

Buy a bicycle.  Outdoor exercise is important during good weather months.  A bicycle is a great way to get exercise.  Not only do you get a good cardio workout, but you also get the benefit of being out of doors and going places that can be good for you mind, too.  A ride to a park and back gives you time to exercise and think at the same time.

Get good walking shoes. If you are into walking, make sure you have the right shoes to give you maximum comfort and support.  Local shoe stores still offer help and advice in this area, but you are always wise to shop around.  Once you have an idea of what you want (even after visiting a few stores) avoid making a purchase and then go online to see if you can get a better price through an Internet merchant.

Join a weight management program. Many programs like Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers are great as motivators and provide structure to help you lose weight if you need to or to just maintain where you are.  These programs provide a support system which keeps you interested and on-track with your goals.  Also, you will find lifestyle encouragement in all aspects of life, not just weight and eating.  You can also find locally established programs at some hospitals and other medical facilities in your area.  Check your local yellow pages for one near you.

Paying for these items above with your rewards credit card means that you are not only taking care of yourself, but providing cash back on the purchases that help keep you there.  That is a benefit that keeps on giving.  And, who does not need to do the things necessary to live a healthier life?  We all do and we all can begin today.

Five Ways to Use a Rewards Credit Card to Live a Healthier Life was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

1) If you really must use a gym for motivation or lack of space to work out at home; the time to join is RIGHT NOW.  Gyms are pretty smart, they know that January marks the time of year when people are declaring their goals for losing weight.  To help encourage people, gyms offer specials for joining in January.  If you’re going to join a gym, look for one offering a New Year special and save big.  Sometimes if you pay a year’s membership in advance, you can save even more – just be sure you aren’t going to be among the 80% of people who give up on their resolutions within 30 days of making them!

2) Set up an inexpensive and small scale home gym.  Gone are the days when you need a full basement or extra room to house bulky exercise equipment and racks of dumbells just to get your workout done at home.  There are a number of gadgets on the market that get your strength training done without breaking the bank or using half your home.   The Gravity Bar secures in a door way and for less than $100, you can strength train with some fancy gravity based moves, like push-ups, pull-ups, bicep curls, lunges, dips and more.  If you remember to go for a walk, jog or ride your bike, you’ll have a complete cardio and strength training work out available right from home.

3) Join organized activities for good causes.  There are Walks-for-cures, runs and triatholons for all different illnesses and diseases, used as fundraising events all over the country.  Joining organized events like these will motivate you to train for the event and keep focused on the goal.   You’ll probably have to raise money as part of the requirements, but people like to know they’re supporting worthwhile causes like cancer, autism, or MS to name a few, and you can feel good about improving your own health and helping other people with theirs, too.

4) Check your local schools, YMCA and your employer for organized sports you could participate in.  Many offer adult teams that allow you to participate in the sport of your choice for fun, light competition and exercise.  The fees for being part of the teams vary, and if you’re lucky enough to have an employer-sponsored sports team, chances are you won’t have to pay anything at all to join.

5) Incorporate more activity into your daily routine.  If you live close enough to work or school, walk or ride a bike instead of driving or catching a ride.  Sure, you’ll have to leave a little earlier and it will take longer to get home, but this burst of daily activity will go a long way to helping you get or stay in shape and save money on transportation costs.  Other ways to incorporate more activity into a daily routine include:

• using the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator
• parking further away from your destination and walking the distance
• pacing or walking around when talking on the phone
• tightening stomach muscles while sitting at work at your desk
• stretching and doing floor exercises during commercials of your favorite television shows
• doing lunges as you walk from one room to another in your home

It is possible to keep your New Year’s resolutions to both save money and stay in shape – you just have to think outside the box a little… and remember you’ll need more than willpower to keep your new year’s resolution.

5 Ways to Save Money and Stay in Shape was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Be Specific About Your Goals. Simply wanting to lose weight and get in better shape is not a good goal to have. Instead you should have a specific goal, such as “I want to lose 20 pounds by the 1st of April.” Having a specific goal in mind will give you a “finish line” of sorts and encourage you to do what it takes to meet that goal. You’ll know exactly what you have to do to win and will be able to come up with baby steps along the way to help succeed in that goal.

Come Up With Baby Steps. If your goal is to eat healthier this year, it’s not going to happen overnight. If you simply decide to start eating healthy all the time, you’re much less likely to stick with it. If instead you try to start eating healthier a few meals a week, start cooking with healthier ingredients, trying new healthier recipes, switching to diet soda, and gradually working into a healthy eating lifestyle, you’ll be much more likely to succeed. Instead of diving into the pool head first and hoping that you know how to swim, you’re taking it slowly and performing intentional steps to learn how to swim.

Be Accountable. If you really want to make change in your life, you have to make your accountable to someone. After you have a list of baby steps to accomplish, give them to one of your close personal friends who would be willing to tell you if you were doing something wrong. Ask them to keep you accountable for accomplishing your baby steps and working toward their goal.

A Slipup Is Not the End. One of my roommates recently decided to start waking up at 5:00 AM in the morning, and on the second day he slept through his alarms. Instead of just giving up, he got back on the horse and gave it another shot the next morning. He hasn’t been successful at getting up that early every day, but he’s definitely making progress and moving in the right direction. We have to admit that there will be days when we fall short of our goals. A lot of people tend to quit their resolutions once they don’t stick with their plan for a day or two. Instead we need to persevere and keep working toward our goal. Don’t let one day of not working toward your goal let you down.

Give Yourself Positive Reinforcements. If you successfully meet one of your baby steps for a week or two, reward yourself. Go out and let yourself partake in one of your favorite activities. It could be going to a sports game, a trip to the spa, or maybe even just letting yourself find a cozy place to read for an afternoon.

Don’t Get Complacent. A lot of people let themselves slip once they’ve reached some sort of success. You might lose 5 or 10 pounds and be very happy with the results, so you quit going to the gym as much and going out to eat every now and then. Before you know it, you’re back where you began and now you’re de-motivated. After you reach your goals, remember that you need to keep working towards them. If you’re not moving forwards, you will inevitably move backwards.

It’s a great thing to make New Year’s resolutions, but if you’re going to make one, you should at least be serious about it and come up with a plan to stick with your New Year’s resolutions.

How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions was created by and is property of American Consumer News.