Mankind has been searching for the fountain of youth for centuries, but as it turns out it's been within our reach all along. And it needn't cost you a penny -- all it takes is a little hard work.

As the New York Times reported recently, the secret to longevity is simple: Get moving. Exercise is the only proven way to slow down the aging process and keep you healthy well into your golden years. It seems the only question left to ask it this: Why aren't you doing it?

"Physical inactivity is one of the strongest predictors of unsuccessful aging for older adults and is perhaps the root cause of many unnecessary and premature admissions to long-term care," two prominent geriatricians wrote in a recent edition of the Archive of Internal Medicine. They went on to point out that exercise can help fight and prevent myriad diseases and conditions, including cancer, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia and more. Plus, it's the only thing that can help you trump the recently-discovered obesity gene.

A new study published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Journal has found that a fatty acid found in fish oil has anti-cancer effects. The omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) which is present in fish was found to cause a certain type of cancer cell, called neuroblastoma, to die. Neuroblastoma, a tumor of the sympathetic nervous system is the most common form of cancer in infants and the most common solid cancer found outside the brain in children.

The researchers exposed the cancer cells to DHA and then observed the byproducts as it was metabolized into the cell and examined the growth of the cancer cell overall. What they found was that while the DHA killed the cell, metabolic derivatives of the DHA were even more effective in destroying the cancer.

The best part is that DHA is not harmful to healthy cells. While the cancer cells were unable to deactivate the DHA's building toxic derivatives, non-cancer cells have a natural protective system that neutralizes the toxic DHA byproducts as they are produced. Cancer cells become overwhelmed and die, while normal cells are unaffected.

Some people seem to have issues with the idea that emotions are associated with disease. Admittedly, the realm of emotional healing tends to bring to mind New Agey weirdos wielding crystals rather than hard science, but there is no denying that emotions have very real, material effects on the body and science is backing it up.

What we tend to feel as emotions are actually the effect of chemical cascades that visit cells in the body, signaling them to cause different responses. These chemical messengers have physical effects on the cells telling them to produce certain substances, retain vitamins or minerals or even turn on or off certain genes.

For example, stress causes the release of cortisol from the adrenal glands which activates the cells of the nervous system, getting the body ready to deal with stress. Chronic stress, which the body was never designed to accommodate, leads to the constant bombardment of the cells by cortisol leading to an inflammatory response which is implicated in many disease states (including arthritis, cardiovascular disease and even Alzheimer's disease).

For over a decade, there have been rumours of a connection between the wearing of bras and the prevalence of breast cancer. Some of the rumours allege that women who wear bras are 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer than those who forgo bras. Underwire has also been blamed as a culprit, with allegations that the wire prevents lymphatic drainage and traps potentially fatal toxins in the breast tissue. Some sites have even alleged that the connection between bras and cancer is much stronger than the connection between smoking and cancer.

While most of us are wise enough to be dubious about many of the things we read online, some of the information has come from seemingly credible sources. This week, The New York Times article "Q&A: Bras and Cancer" asked Dr. Ted Gansler, director of medical content for the American Cancer Society to respond to the rumour.

So, is there a connection between bras and breast cancer?

Need help butting out plus some extra incentive to hit the treadmill? Well, it turns out that exercise might be a good way to combat those nicotine cravings when you're trying to quit smoking -- and it's also a good way to avoid those dreaded extra pounds that a lot of new non-smokers pile on, as they regain a healthy appetite and use food as a substitute for cigarettes. According to researchers at the University of Western Ontario's new Exercise and Health Psychology Laboratory (as reported by Science Daily in "Sweating out the Cravings"), working out may be your best defense against cravings.

Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

If you had a choice, would you marry your spouse all over again? That's what a recent survey asked, and the majority said yes.

Think you're safe if you don't smoke? Don't be so sure. Studies show that even third-hand smoke -- residual smoke in the environment -- can be dangerous.

Got gut problems? Blueberries will help, even more so if you pair them with probiotic yogurt.

Got a case of the 'moobs'? A new fat-zapping microwave may put an end to the dreaded man boobs.

Got an uncomfortable itch in an embarrassing spot? Here's what to do about it without losing face.

Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

It's one of the leading causes of death today, but apparently, 40 percent of cancer cases can be prevented by people protecting themselves from the killer disease.

Don't let arthritis slow you down -- Join the millions of Canadian uniting in the Power of Movement yoga fundraiser to fight this debilitating condition.

You can't always trust the number on the scale -- Experts are quick to point out that even if you're a healthy weight, you can still be unhealthy if you don't have a balanced lifestyle.

Sit up straight! It's not as easy as it sounds, but here are some tips for keeping your posture in check all day long.

Fallen off the New Year's resolution wagon already? Don't wait until 2011 to start fresh -- Self's Editor Lucy Danziger explains why you should have 'Mulligan Mondays' every now and then.

After shedding over 60 pounds to reinvent herself and her health, Carole Carson inspired a weight loss mass movement in her hometown. Now, she's trying to encourage women around the world to lose weight and reduce their risk of breast cancer and other diseases. Here, she explains the link between breast cancer and excess weight, and the weight loss tips that finally helped her go from "fat to fit" after 40 years of failed attempts.

Q: What was your motivation for getting in shape and how did you accomplish it?

A: I stepped on the scale and it broke, taking with it my elaborate system of denial. My 5-foot-2-inch frame had reached 183 pounds. When the scale broke, I was forced to acknowledge that I wasn't simply pudgy or stocky as I'd told myself -- I was fat. In that moment of epiphany, I decided to get fit and lose weight. Equally important, I decided I wasn't going to diet but rather adopt a new lifestyle -- one I could sustain indefinitely.

I wrote about my makeover -- from butterball to butterfly -- in the local newspaper of my small town in northern California. Later, I invited friends and neighbours to join me in getting fit. Over 1,000 people showed up for the Nevada County Meltdown. During the next eight weeks, over 206 teams lost nearly four tons of excess weight. To encourage others to follow our example, I condensed what I had learned on this remarkable journey in a book, From Fat to Fit: Turn Yourself into a Weapon of Mass Reduction.

Q: What is the connection between weight and breast cancer risk?

It's nice that all my favourite fruits and vegetables are slowly making their way on to the growing list of superfoods. While there is no official list of superfoods, and indeed it seems like "the" list will vary extensively depending on where you're getting your information, the term superfood usually designates a food that is particularly high in specific nutrients, minerals or, most commonly, antioxidants. It's fantastic to see natural foods like blueberries, pomegranates and cacao being recognized for the healthy, nutrient-dense foods that they are.

A shame, then, that one of my favourites, mango isn't usually thought of as a superfood. Mangoes are quite good for you, and I've sung their praises in the past, but their antioxidant count doesn't come close to what an equal volume of pomegranate or blueberries or acai berries would be, and its vitamin profile is fairly standard. However, Dr. Stephen and Dr. Susanne Talcott have started referring to mangoes as superfoods after their recent study uncovered the surprising effect the fruit has on cancer cells.

Texas AgriLife Research food scientists examined five different varieties of mango and found they all effectively stopped the growth of cancers cells in the lab. And the Talcotts tested an extract of polyphenols from mango in vitro on colon, breast, lung, leukemia and prostate cancers. Polyphenols are a class of natural antioxidant compounds from plants, found in high concentrations in tea, wine, chocolate and certain other plant foods. The Talcotts specifically looked at specific polyphenols from the mango called gallotannins as being the bioactive compounds responsible for the effect on cancer cells.

Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

Forget expensive diet programs -- If you live in England and you're overweight, you could get paid over $3000 to slim down.

According to a comprehensive Stats Canada study, Canadians are becoming fatter and less fit. And the decline in our health is evident across all age groups!

In need of a good night's sleep? Make sure your bedroom is properly outfitted for maximum snooze potential with these tips.

We all know fake-n-baking is dangerous for your skin (and health), so should tanning beds be banned for people under 18? What do you think?

Finally, want to know the worst way to break up with your cougar girlfriend? Take a lesson from this guy and don't try to fake cancer.

Everyone's increasingly concerned about what we're eating and where it comes from, but even some seemingly healthy choices are filled with toxins. Dr. Janine Bowring, ND, explains how to avoid dangerous food.

Q: What commonly makes foods toxic?

A: Foods can be deemed toxic if they contain things such as pesticides, heavy metals and other environmental toxins such as PCB's and dioxins found within them. Unfortunately, our food is more toxic than we think. Even seemingly non-toxic organic food can be high in heavy metals, causing a number of health concerns.

Foods can also be considered toxic if they are difficult to digest by an individual. A common culprit is wheat products. Most people now have difficulty digesting wheat because this grain has been altered over the years to become more pest-resistant. For this reason, it can cause digestive ailments for many of people. Packaged food containing a number of preservatives is also toxic. We should focus on eating whole foods as much as possible to stay healthy and prevent disease.

Q: What affect can eating toxic foods have on our health?

Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

You've probably heard that more exercise will help you sleep better ... but is it true? The New York Times looks into the issue.

You know how you're supposed get eight glasses of water a day? Apparently, beer can be counted to that total.

Ward off winter weight gain by starting the day right -- here are some slimming breakfasts to fill up on.

Sheesh -- recent research shows that British people will drink 84 times their weight in alcohol over their lifetime. How do you think us Canadians stack up in comparison?

Regular mammograms are recommended in screening for breast cancer... but is there are chance they might cause cancer?

Avoid or minimize six sources of holiday heartburn.

Nutritionist Elisa Zied, author of Nutrition at Your Fingertips, says that certain diseases can be prevented by consuming certain foods on a regular basis. To find out which diseases you can prevent and what to eat, keep reading.

Q: What kinds of diseases can be prevented through diet?

A: There's evidence that making dietary and lifestyle changes can play a role in the prevention of a variety of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cancer, and osteoporosis.

Q: What are your top disease-fighting foods and why?

A: There's no one food that can prevent disease, but consuming a wide variety of nutrient-dense foods in the context of a healthful dietary pattern can add to the disease-fighting arsenal of the diet.

Here are four foods/classes of foods that may play a role in preventing several diet-related diseases.