The Importance of Exercise
for Cancer Prevention

You probably know the importance of exercise in the prevention of heart diseases. Any form of regular physical activity can also reduce stress. But are you aware that other healthy reasons to exercise include prevention of many cancers? Physical activity and the use of flax seeds in your meals offer health benefits against cancer of the colon.

Related Article: Health Benefits of Flax Seeds

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

Why is exercise important and why should people engage in a physical activity?

Any form of physical activity brings a lot of healthy benefits such as . . .

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.

If you want to read more about how the importance and benefits of physical activity protect your body from tumors, see Cancer and Exercise.

2. Positive Effects On Immune System

What are other benefits of being active besides prevention against cancer?

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.

What types of exercise should you do?

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.