Finally, the news about diet and exercise you've been waiting for: too much of it can be bad for you.

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So say the folks at Elan Vital, Inc., the company behind a stress management, exercise and nutrition plan called the Lifegevity Program. Vital recently conducted a study that found people who just workout like crazy and diet are not as healthy as people who combine stress management techniques with moderate exercise and diet.

Over-exercising and dieting can wear your body down, actually increasing your risk of certain illnesses, according to researchers.

Relaxation and stress management are critical to health and longevity. A fact confirmed by the Canadian Institute of Stress' clinical study that found relaxation could have a greater impact on people's health than exercise.

But don't let your gym membership lapse just yet. Vital researchers stress the importance of relaxation and exercise and nutrition. They studied the effect of this winning combination on more than 250 people.

Participants were assessed for a "Lifegevity Score," which determines the likelihood someone will develop health problems such as cancer and heart disease. Then they entered the Lifegevity Program at Vital's Lifegevity and Sports Conditioning Center in Centerville, Ohio. The program consists of stress management, aerobic and weight training, nutrition and relaxation. Participants in the program improved their health scores by more than 24 percent.

Even the people who were in good shape saw significant improvements. According to researchers, within just 6 months, people on the program felt 8 years younger.