We have all heard that quitting smoking, limiting the consumption of alcohol, or too much exposure to sunlight can all lower the risk of cancer. But have you ever wondered if exercise can also significantly reduce the risk of cancer?
If you find that challenging to believe, several studies support that fact. If you want to learn more, find out what the research says about this.
What the Research Says?
A study released in the Journal JAMA Oncology revealed that physical activity like power walking, climbing steps, doing strenuous work, or playing with the kids can all lower one’s risk of cancer. The report relied on data from more than 22,000 individuals who were carefully tracked and monitored over a significant period of time.
Participants in the study reported their activities, including the times they did not regularly exercise in their leisure time. The study revealed that adults who included about 4.5 minutes of vigorous activities in short one- or two-minute bouts had more than 30 per cent lower incidence of cancer.
Another study conducted in the United States revealed that more than 46,000 cancer cases could be prevented each year if people simply walked for about 45 minutes a day. The eye-opening study by ACSM analyzed nearly 600,000 American men and women in every state, including the District of Columbia, and found that 3 percent of common cancers are linked to inactivity.
When it comes to specific types of cancers, a recent study by the British Journal of Sports Medicine revealed that regular activity affects the risk of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is considered one of the most lethal forms of cancer in men, killing more than 300,000 individuals each year globally.
How Does Exercise Help Lower your Risk of Cancer?
Although it’s hard to identify how exactly exercise lowers the risk of cancer, researchers and doctors concur on one fact; exercise lowers the risk of inflammation in the body. When the risk of inflammation is reduced in the body, cell damage is avoided, slowing down cell growth and boosting your immune system.
Exercise can also bring about other beneficial changes in the body, such as improving the body’s immune function, bringing about changes in hormones, and improving insulin sensitivity. On so many levels, exercise is good for the body. Just think; with increased activity, not only can you ward off life-threatening diseases like cancer, but you can also reduce your waist size and body fat and improve your blood sugar level, cholesterol, and insulin.
What can you Do?
If these statistics move you to take action, then you should start now. Research by the National Cancer Institute estimates that approximately 10 million people die of cancer each year worldwide, making it the leading cause of death after heart disease.
Being a bogglingly complex disease, cancer has, for many years, puzzled doctors and scientists alike. After all, it is intertwined with so many causes, and inactivity is one of many risks that play a small role in its potential role.
These studies aren’t meant to shame women and men; rather, they can prove to be helpful catalysts urging you to take small steps. There are so many obstacles that can deter you from exercising, but if you manage to fit in 45 minutes of a day of walking or exercising, not only will you be able to ward off diseases like cancer, but you can also reshape your body and beat the odds of developing many other types of malignancies!
David Messiha | Staff Writer
