| Is exercise one of the ways to prevent cancer? | | | | intensity level for fishing is 2.4 MET and hunting is 3.6 |
| Men who workout at least 30 minutes a day, at a | | | | MET. |
| moderate to high intensity level were half as likely to | | | | The team found that as the intensity levels of the |
| get cancer according to new research, the first of its | | | | exercise increased, the risk of cancer death went |
| kind to look at cancer mortality and intensity of | | | | down. |
| exercise. | | | | In fact, an increase of 1.2 metabolic units of oxygen |
| It seems that the increased oxygen consumption | | | | consumption was related to a decreased risk of |
| associated with moderate to high intensity workouts is | | | | cancer death, especially in lung and gastrointestinal |
| involved in lowering the risk of cancer. The study | | | | cancers, even after all other factors were accounted |
| appeared online July 28, 2009 in the British Journal of | | | | for in the analysis. |
| Sports Medicine. | | | | "The intensity of leisure-time physical activity should be |
| The Finnish study included a population-based sample | | | | at least moderate so that beneficial effect of physical |
| of 2,560 men aged 42-61, assessing the subjects' | | | | activity for reducing overall cancer mortality can be |
| physical activity and the rate of cancer death. None of | | | | achieved," recommend the study authors in a news |
| the men who participated in the research had any | | | | release. |
| history of cancer. | | | | Today there are many risk factors that have been |
| Participants filled out the 12-Month Leisure-Time | | | | associated with cancer. Some we can control, others |
| Physical Activity Questionnaire and were then followed | | | | we can't. |
| for a 16-year period. During that time there were 181 | | | | Smoking is an example of a behavior known to |
| cancer deaths among the subjects. | | | | increase your risk for cancer that you can control. |
| The team saw that those who did moderate to high | | | | Your genetics, traits that came from your mother and |
| intensity exercise for at least a half hour a day were | | | | father, are beyond your control though you may be |
| 50% less likely to develop cancer compared to the | | | | able to help yourself by making lifestyle changes that |
| other men. | | | | offer some protective benefit. |
| Moderate intensity exercise increases your breathing | | | | Research continues to show that things you do every |
| and heart rate. You'll sweat but be able to talk and | | | | day, can have a huge impact on your risk of cancer. |
| carry on a conversation. | | | | You'll want to pay special attention to... |
| Examples include brisk walking, slow jogging, bike riding, | | | | - Diet - fruits and nonstarch veggies may offer some |
| swimming, water aerobics, ballroom dancing, softball or | | | | cancer protection, as might a diet low in fat, high in |
| baseball, volleyball, doubles tennis or gardening. | | | | fiber. |
| High intensity workouts are often shorter, though they | | | | - Alcohol Intake - drinking in moderation (2 drinks/day |
| burn more calories. They aren't an option for everyone, | | | | for men; 1 drink/day for women) is thought to be safe, |
| especially if you're new to exercise - you'll want to | | | | but more than this can increase the risks of liver |
| make slow, steady progress using longer sessions of | | | | cancer; colorectal cancer in women. |
| less intense exercise. | | | | - Activity - those who are physically active, typically at |
| High intensity workouts are harder to keep up, and | | | | least 30 minutes a day, have a lower risk of some |
| should be used sparingly. Tailor the workout to your | | | | cancers than those who aren't active. |
| fitness goals and build up over time and be sure to | | | | - Obesity - is a risk factor for several cancers, while |
| follow the appropriate training program for your sport. | | | | losing the extra weight can reduce your risk of these |
| For this latest research, exercise intensity was | | | | same cancers. Even a little weight loss helps. |
| calculated in metabolic equivalents of oxygen | | | | The dangers of cancer are real and hard to ignore... |
| consumption (METs). Exercises with an average of 4 | | | | however, the good news delivered to us from this |
| MET are considered moderate intensity. Some | | | | latest research is that if a person is active - even |
| examples here might help. | | | | moderately so - he has already embraced a habit that |
| The average intensity of jogging is 10.1 MET, for cycling | | | | helps prevent cancer and enjoy many healthy years. |
| it's 5.1 MET and 4.2 MET for walking. The average | | | | |