Moderate fitness training, a Mediterranean diet and not smoking are some of the best ways to keep a heart healthy, according to a leading cardiologist.

Dr Charles Knight, consultant cardiologist and secretary of the British Cardiovascular Society, also advised against healthy people taking aspirin to prevent a heart attack.

Following a study published in the journal Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, which found that the likelihood of aspirin preventing heart symptoms is small, Dr Knight said a daily aspirin was only beneficial for those who already have heart problems.

"If you are healthy, the risk of bleeding is less than the benefit that you get in terms of less clotting," he said.

A separate study published this week in the British Journal of Cancer also found that an hour of physical activity a day can significantly reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Regular activity can benefit more than just physical health, as respected personal trainer Jim Stubbs also recommended exercise as one of the best ways of maintaining emotional stability during winter.