Tip: Men, women can get healthy by doing chores

Here are two old suburban stereotypes that could actually lead to better health: Men mow the lawns and women do the housework.

Men older than 70 who mowed the lawn using a nonpropelled power mower reaped the benefits of a good workout, according to a Canadian study. Researchers found that lawnmowing met the "energy expenditure requirements for health benefits specified by the American College of Sports Medicine." The workout was even better than playing nine holes of golf. The study appears in the current issue of the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity.

And in a study of 1,329 people older than 65, Dutch researchers found that women who did light to heavy household activities, such as cleaning and vacuuming, had a decreased risk of suffering debilitating falls. That study was published in the Journal of Gerontology.