We have heard for years that exercise prevents breast cancer, but it is not until recently that it has been absolutely and definitively been proven by researchers that this is true! We know exercise helps but scientific proof about this has always been a bit dodgy because in order to be accurate the research had to be conducted over a couple of decades. The impact of exercising was never as clear as the impact of something like smoking.
However last year a very important study, called the Copenhagen Male Study found that regular cancer exercise can help prevent intestinal cancer. This was an important study because it studied the exercise habits of over 5000 men over a period of 23 years. These men were divided into four different levels of exercisers – from those who never worked out to those who worked out a lot.
The study turned up some interesting results about the relationship between exercise and the development of cancer. First of all it was found that those who exercised moderately had a stronger resistance to developing the disease later in life. The head of the study, Dr. Inge Haunstrup Clemmensen from the Cancer Foundation in Denmark believe that the moderate physical activity appeared to strengthen the immune center.
The study revealed that moderate physical activity played an important part in preventing all cancers of the digestive tract, but especially intestinal cancer and esoophagal cancers. It also showed that exercise was effective against prostrate and lung cancer.
One of the explanations for this was the exercise stimulated the intestinal tract to move it’s contents through the bowels further. You have probably heard the phrase “Death begins in the colon.” That refers to cancers that happen because of putrefied old food and impacted feces that are never moved out of the body. The idea is that if you keep moving it speeds up the digestive process and cancer causing agents are not allowed to fester and cause problems.
Experts estimate that one third of deaths can be attributed to sedentary habits and bad diet. This is why it is so important to get into a regular regimen. A conditioned and fit body is much less prone to disease of all kind.
It is also not a good idea to work out too hard. If you exercise every day in a way that requires a great deal of exertion you can actually cause the immune system to be lowered. If you are any kind of athlete, you have probably already noticed that you sometimes seem to detoxify or not feel well after a big workout. This can be partly due to picking up viruses because your immune system is not as efficient.
The good news is that you do not have to be a bodybuilder or spend exhaustive hours in the gym to prevent esophageal and colon cancers. All you need to do is walk or cycle two or three times a week and then also do some kind of weight bearing exercise twice a week. This will keep your body a little more resistant to the poisons in our environment that can cause cancer.
