The Importance of Exercise for Cancer Prevention

You probably know the importance of exercise in the prevention of heart diseases but not for cancer. Well, you should! It is a very good reason for you to engage in any form of regular physical activity.

How does it protect you from different cancers? For one, it can help you maintain your normal weight or lose weight if you need to. Being overweight is a risk for hormone-related cancers. In fact, physical activity and the use of flax seeds in your meals offer health benefits against colon cancer.

The benefits of any form of physical activity are the subjects of several studies being done today on cancer prevention. These studies are being funded by no less than the National Cancer Institute.

Health Benefits with Regular Physical Activity

1. Prevention Against Tumors

One of the compelling reasons for its importance is it reduces your risk for many common types of cancers such as breast, colon and prostate.

The importance of exercise is felt most by your colon and breasts. The NCI has confirmed that being physically active in addition to any of the healthy eating plans is an important part in the prevention of the disease.

What is its importance in prevention of tumor development? There are two reasons for its importance.

1. Regular physical activity prevents weight gain and even obesity. Obesity is a risk factor for major types of tumor.

Related Article: Cause and Effect of Obesity

2. Benefits of being physically active include maintenance of healthy level of hormones in your body. Hormones play a very important role in prostate, colon, breast and pancreatic cancers. If hormone levels are unusually high, this is bad news for you.

2. Positive Effects On Immune System

Any form of consistent and moderate physical activity benefits your immune system. Physical activity makes your immune system stronger and healthier.

How does it build up your immune system?

Exercising at least 30 minutes a day benefits your white blood cells by enhancing their protective functions. Also, it boosts the production of macrophages of your immune system. A macrophage is a type of white blood cell that fights infection by "eating" invading bacteria or organisms.

3. Healing Effects On Stress Hormones

According to the definition of stress, stress hormones that are released frequently and in large amounts have harmful consequences to your health.

Relieving stress is crucial because there is a link between chronic stress and tumor development. For more info on the importance of protecting your cells from chronic stress, check out this page on Stress and Cancer.

The importance of a physical activity as simple as walking is very helpful in relieving stress. A study has been done on the importance of walking on men's health by a team of experts from the Harvard University. They discovered that such a simple physical activity benefits men against depression. It does not only relieve and reduce stress. It also improves mood by releasing feel-good chemicals known as endorphins in your brain.

Recommended Types of Exercise

There are many different types of physical activity you can do. If you think you have to enroll in a gym and do heavy exercise to get the full benefits, you're in for a surprise.

Very frequent, low-level physical activity is a lot better and easier to do. Forget those heavy weights. Just walk more and climb stairs more. Don't take the elevator as much as possible.

You also tend to do more of walking than weight lifting because it can be incorporated to your daily activities.

Thousands of years ago, Hippocrates, the father of medicine, already knew the importance of exercise when he said "walking is a man's best medicine". So, walk more if you want to be healthier.

Are you now motivated to get up and get moving? Make any form of physical activity a daily habit for you and your family and understand the importance of exercise in the prevention of life-threatening diseases.

Related Pages You Might Like:

Benefits of Being Active | Cancer and Regular Exercise | Why Should People Exercise?

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