Being active is one of the best things you can do for your health. Exercise not only helps you feel stronger and more energetic but also lowers your risk of many serious diseases – including cancer. Scientists have found strong evidence that regular physical activity can help prevent several common types of cancer.
But how does it work? Let’s take a closer look at how moving your body helps protect you from this disease and what kind of activity makes the biggest difference.
How Exercise Helps Protect Against Cancer
When you move your body, a lot of good things happen inside. Exercise helps keep your hormones in balance, strengthens your immune system, and lowers inflammation – all of which can reduce your cancer risk.
For example, high levels of certain hormones, such as estrogen and insulin, can encourage cancer cells to grow. Exercise helps lower these hormone levels and keeps them steady.
It also reduces chronic inflammation, which can damage cells and make it easier for cancer to develop. By keeping inflammation low, your body can better protect and repair itself.
Exercise also boosts your immune system, helping your body find and destroy abnormal cells before they turn into cancer. Even small amounts of regular activity can make a noticeable difference in how well your immune system works.
Staying Active Helps Manage Weight
Being physically active also helps you control your weight, which is an important part of preventing cancer. Carrying extra body fat increases the amount of hormones and growth factors in your body that can lead to tumor growth. Obesity has been linked to higher risks of cancers such as breast, colon, pancreatic, and liver cancer.
Exercise burns calories and builds muscle, which helps you maintain a healthy weight. You don’t need to spend hours at the gym – even moderate activities like brisk walking, dancing, or swimming can help. The goal is to move your body regularly and avoid long periods of sitting still.
Cancers Most Affected by Exercise
Research shows that regular physical activity has the strongest effect on reducing the risk of colon, breast, and endometrial (uterine) cancers. Some studies also suggest that exercise may help prevent lung, liver, and kidney cancers, but more research is still needed in these areas.
How Much Exercise Is Enough?
The American Cancer Society recommends getting at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week. Moderate activity includes walking, cycling, or gardening – anything that raises your heart rate but still lets you talk. Vigorous activities, like running or aerobics, make you breathe harder and sweat more.
Try to spread your activity throughout the week, and add strength training (like lifting weights or doing push-ups) twice a week. This helps keep your muscles and bones strong.
Remember, every bit counts. Taking the stairs, walking your dog, or even stretching during TV commercials all add up over time. The important thing is to stay consistent. Visit one of the top facilities to learn more about senior fitness and breast cancer prevention.
Start Being Active for Your Health
Exercise is a simple and natural way to lower your risk of cancer. By keeping your hormones in balance, reducing inflammation, improving your immune system, and helping you stay at a healthy weight, regular physical activity makes your body stronger and more resistant to disease. You don’t have to be an athlete to see benefits – even small changes, like walking more or sitting less, can make a real difference.
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