Sticking to your New Year's resolutions can considerably reduce your risk of cancer

Scientists have found sticking to your goal of drinking and smoking less, or giving it up entirely can reduce your risk of cancer by a third, the Daily Mail reported.

Researchers from Cardiff University examined data from 343,150 people from the UK Biobank.

The large scale study examined the effects of quitting alcohol and tobacco, eating healthy, exercising and maintaining a low body mass index (BMI).

The results showed that each behaviour decreased the chances of cancer by 8%. However, when undertaking them all together the risk reduction was almost a third.

"The take-home message is healthy behaviours can have a truly tangible benefit," Researcher Professor Elwood is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail. Adding, "A healthy lifestyle has may benefits additional to cancer reduction – it costs nothing, has no undesirable side effects... and is better than any pill."

The findings were originally published in the journal ecancermedicalscience.