7 Ills That Don't Need Pills

People pop pills for just about every condition these days, but multiple studies in recent years offer strong evidence that diet and exercise can be effective treatments for many ills.

In the April 2008 issue of the Harvard Health Letter, reseachers highlight how to manage seven common conditions without taking medication. While no one should stop taking prescribed medication without talking to a doctor, the researchers write that with discipline, the nonpharmacological approach can do as much as pills in mant cases.

These seven common conditions can be managed without medication:

1. Arthritis
2. Cholesterol
3. Cognitive decline
4. Depression
5. Diabetes
6. High blood pressure
7. Osteoporosis

Live Science March 25, 2008