Exercise reduces the risk of heart disease, but there’s an increase of studies suggesting that it can also reduce the risk of developing several types of cancers.

A study conducted by Danish researchers discovered that exercise could help reduce the formation of cancer. They found that exercise elevated the levels of epinephrine in the blood of breast cancer patients—even after a single workout session. Epinephrine stops breast cancer cells from growing in vitro, and in mice, it also prevents the cells from developing into tumors.

In a previous study, the research team had demonstrated that voluntary wheel running in mice decreased tumor growth across a number of tumor models. Lead researcher Dr. Pernille Hojman told GEN magazine that this protection was in the form of “an epinephrine-driven mobilization of cytotoxic immune cells, which then were redistributed to the tumors.”

In 2016, the National Cancer Institute, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, a report that strongly supports the theory linking regular exercise to cancer reduction. Harvard Health Publications reports that, “those with the highest levels of physical activity had lower rates of cancer of the esophagus, lung, kidney, colon, head and neck, rectum, bladder, and breast, as well as of two cancers of the blood (myeloma and myeloid leukemia).”

There is no absolute proof that exercise saves you from developing cancer or any other illness.  But all these studies suggest that the probability of reducing the rate of cancer is very high.

Regular exercise has several benefits for the organs, the brain, the heart, the mind. Exercise can also slow down the biological processes common to aging. Next to eating a healthy diet, regular exercise is also an immune system booster and fights inflammatory disease.

What will you do to move your body today? Just 20 minutes is better than sitting on the sofa!

You may also be interested in: Epigenetics 101: Telling Your Genes How to Behave

SOURCES:

http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2017/09/07/0008-5472.CAN-16-3125

http://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(16)30003-1

http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/single-exercise-session-reduces-cancer-cells-ability-to-form-tumors/81254905

https://www.health.harvard.edu/exercise-and-fitness/does-regular-exercise-reduce-cancer-risk