5. Cigarettes are the biggest known cause of cancer. False. It has been said that we are eating ourselves into an early grave. Which, unfortunately, is quite true. As we all know, cigarette smoking is deadly (30% of all cancer deaths). But few of us know how deadly our eating habits are! The typical diet alone (processed, high-fat, high sugar food), is responsible for an estimated 35% of all cancer deaths! And that's just the effect of diet on cancer, not to mention the clear effect of diet in other diseases such as diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, obesity and high blood pressure. 

See what doctors and health experts fear for our health. Here is a clip from the documentary Processed People.

6. If heart disease runs in my family, I'm going to get it to so why bother trying to be healthy. False. In reality, genetics are only responsible for 10% or less of these chronic (or lifestyle) diseases. Our choices, not our genes, determine most of our health outcomes. Getting active and losing just a few kilograms can dramatically improve blood pressure, blood sugar, risk of heart attack, diabetes and stroke. 

Making better choices for your health in eating well, exercise and stress reduction can dramatically reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke, cancer, diabetes, obesity and many more of the lifestyle related diseases. The easiest approach to health is often ignored because of its simplicity. Don't choose an expensive, flashy diet that makes impossible claims.  Instead choose a lifestyle programme that you can sustain. The effect on your health will be far more powerful and much safer than any medication or other treatment currently available.