Yet another reason to work out (and by
working out we mean literally breaking a sweat and getting your heart
pumping)... A new study shows that post-menopausal women who regularly
exercise "vigorously" are less likely to develop breast cancer than
their more relaxed cohort. The study published by the journal of Breast
Cancer Research, (link "Prospective Study of Physical Activity and Risk of Postmenopausal Breast Cancer"
) followed 32,000 women from 1987 to 1998. Only women who performed
vigorous exercise on a daily basis, and who were considered to be of
lean body mass, (defined as a BMI of less than 25) were at a reduced
risk of contracting breast cancer. Authors Lietzman, Moore et al
reported that "Our findings suggest that physical activity acts through
underlying biological mechanisms that are independent of body weight
control." In other words, researchers were able to prove the separate
benefit of exercise on cancer prevention.
Examples of vigorous
exercise include: running (not walking), fast jogging, chopping wood,
scrubbing floors, aerobics, cycling up hills (cycling on long flat
planes does not count).
We know that obesity can increase the
risk of cancers - especially increased tummy fat - but it has been more
difficult to identify a benefit from vigorous exercise in preventing
breast cancer. From this recent combination of studies and results,
combining regular heart-pumping exercise with a lean body weight are
the most beneficial to prevent breast cancer. And are also beneficial
to prevent a variety of cardiovascular problems (heart attacks,
strokes). So get out your running shoes or sharpen your tools and get
moving!