One of the biggest killers today is Cancer. If you haven’t had cancer, then you know someone who has and maybe even a family member who is struggling with it right now. Although research has found some medications that seem to be helping cancer patients fight the disease; there is still no real cure. Research has found that the best way to protect yourself is through vigorous exercise.
People who exercise at high intensity are less likely to develop cancer and die, research out today suggests.
Jogging, swimming, rowing and games like squash or football all lead to a lower risk of developing cancer and dying from it.
However, the study found people must exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.
Experts followed 2,560 men from eastern Finland with no history of cancer and asked them how often they exercised.
The men, aged between 42 and 61, filled in questionnaires and undertook physical tests to measure the intensity of their exercise.
They were followed for an average of almost 17 years and were aged 53 on average at the start of the follow-up.
The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found that men who did an average of 5.2 MET activity for at least 30 minutes a day had around half the risk of cancer death of those who exercised less.
This was also true after adjusting for factors likely to influence the results, including age, alcohol consumption, smoking, body mass index and calorie intake.
The average duration of physical activity was 462 minutes per week, or almost eight hours.
The authors, from Kuopio and Oulu universities in Finland, said high intensity exercise was best for lowering the risk of getting cancer and dying from it, particularly lung and gastrointestinal cancers.
The study said: ‘The intensity of leisure time physical activity had a strong and independent association with cancer mortality.
‘Men with a mean (average) intensity of leisure time physical activity of over 5.2 MET had a greatly reduced risk of cancer death (source).’
Obviously, there are other factors that determine whether you get cancer or not. However, if you could cut your chances in half by doing a half hour of cardio per day … wouldn’t you do it??? If you’re not sure or you think you don’t have time; then maybe you should visit your local hospital. One hour in that place around people who are suffering from an illness might be enough to make you think about how lucky you are to be healthy and capable of physical activity.
Adria Ali
Melanie says