Lifestyle and diet related chronic diseases include obesity, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and cancers. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than nine million deaths worldwide attributed to Lifestyle occur before the age of 60.

Following are seven little steps you need to take to get started on a healthier life style.

1. Know your health Status - At least once a year go for health screening to find out the status of your health. Talk to your doctor to find out the normal ranges and what they mean. This will help you understand what goes on in your body. Once you've determined where you stand, you are one step closer to making changes to your life style.

2. Eat right - Many people equate healthy eating with eating bland, boring, and unexciting foods. What healthy eating really entails is getting the necessary "BMV" in your meals. It basically means going for Balanced meals, in Moderate amounts, and with a Variety of foods .And, eating right does not have to be expensive !

Other things to look out for in your food choices include:

•  Getting your daily dose of fiber for healthy body weight, good digestion and a healthy heart.

•  Cutting down your sugar intake to avoid unnecessary calorie intake that could lead to weight gain.

•  Using less salt in your meals; instead, spice up your food with herbs and spices.

•  Limiting intake of high fat foods to maintain a healthy body weight and heart.

3. Stay fit and active - Physical activity improves cardiovascular fitness, strength and flexibility, and burns up calories to keep you fit and trim.
Medical Practitioners recommend that all adults should carry out 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity at least five to six days a week, preferably daily, to maintain current body weight.

When your fitness improves, the intensity and amount of time spent on physical activity can be gradually increased. If you want to lose weight, the duration of physical activity should be at least 60 minutes daily.

Limit physical inactivity and any sedentary habits like watching television, to no more than two hours a day. Also try to be active as much as you can every day in as many ways as possible, eg taking the stairs, doing household chores, washing your car, etc.
Remember that every bit of physical activity counts.

4. Rest and relax - Prolonged stress has been identified as a factor that increases the risk of Life Style Diseases, especially heart diseases. Most adults agree that modern living can be rather stressful. Coping with certain amounts of stress is acceptable, but with prolonged exposure to excessive levels, it most definitely becomes harmful.

5. Don't light that next cigarette
Although smoking seems like a harmless puff of fun, each stick contains thousands of chemicals that destroy healthy organs. Smoking can clog up your arteries, reduce blood flow, and cause addiction.

6. Avoid alcohol intake
Too much alcohol does just the same as smoking, and increases your risk of developing Life Style diseases. If you attend gatherings occasionally, choose non-alcoholic beverages or learn how to limit your alcohol intake.

7. Get a good night's sleep
The quality of your sleep directly affects the quality of your waking life. This includes mental sharpness, productivity, emotional balance, creativity and physical vitality. Hence, make sure you get sufficient sleep in order to wake up feeling refreshed.