How to avoid 13 different cancers

Do you feel bombarded with advice on how to escape cancer? It hard to remember all of it — even though it’s lifesaving information you want to know. Well, now you only have to remember ONE way to reduce as many as 13 different types of cancer…

And it’s surprisingly simple at that…

This one thing can help keep your body free from esophageal cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, kidney cancer, stomach cancer, endometrial cancer, myeloid leukemia, myeloma, colon cancer, head and neck cancer, rectal cancer, bladder cancer and breast cancer… increasing the odds in your favor at percentages that will make your head spin…

And nope, I’m not talking about taking vitamin C, although that cuts your risk of at least nine different types of cancer…

And it’s not vitamin D either, which drops your risk of at least five different types of cancer.

I’m talking about exercise. Simple, daily exercise crushes 13 different cancers all at once.

Researchers from the National Cancer Institute pooled data from 12 different U.S. and European studies and looked specifically at self-reported data on physical activity. They found that people with higher levels of physical activity had a…

• 42 percent lower risk of esophageal cancer
• 27 percent lower risk of liver cancer
• 26 percent lower risk of lung cancer
• 23 percent lower risk of kidney cancer
• 22 percent lower risk of stomach cancer
• 21 percent lower risk of endometrial cancer

And the list goes on…

Now, according to the study’s lead researcher, there are three factors that could be responsible for the cancer-preventing properties of exercise: its ability to reduce hormones like estrogen, its ability to lower insulin levels and its ability to quell inflammation — all of which are suspected risk factors for cancer.

But regardless of the reason for these results, the one thing that is blindingly clear from this study is that you should be exercising like your life depends on it — because it does.

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to go out and break a sweat right now if it means I won’t ever have to hear the C word come out of my doctor’s mouth.

But unfortunately, this message isn’t getting across to most Americans. At least not yet. More than 50 percent of people in the U.S. do not meet recommended physical activity levels.

This could be why cancer is a nationwide epidemic, with one in every four deaths in the U.S. occurring from cancer.

It’s also because, as a country, we spend so much time and energy searching for a cure for cancer that we overlook the best cure: prevention. And clearly the best way to prevent cancer is to exercise.

One last thing… in this study, researchers specifically examined leisure time physical activity… so physical activity you choose to do for enjoyment. That means your chores don’t count. If you want to keep cancer away (and I’m sure you do) make sure your exercise routine includes something fun like walking, dancing, gardening, yoga, hiking or swimming. To explore your choices, check out the fitness and exercise section on our site. There’s something for everyone.

Sources:

1. F. Garland, F.C. Garland, E.D. Gorham, M. Lipkin, H. Newmark, S.B. Mohr, and M.F. Holick. “The Role of Vitamin D in Cancer Prevention.” American Journal of Public Health. 2006 February; 96(2): 252–261.

2. “Vitamin D and Cancer Prevention.” National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov. Retrieved May 17, 2016.

3. Block. “Vitamin C and cancer prevention: the epidemiologic evidence.” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1991 Jan;53(1 Suppl):270S-282S.

4. C. Moore, I. Lee, E. Weiderpass, P.T. Campbell, et al. “Association of Leisure-Time Physical Activity With Risk of 26 Types of Cancer in 1.44 Million Adults.” JAMA Internal Medicine, 2016.

5. “Exercise Cuts the Risk for 13 Cancers.” Medscape. http://www.medscape.com. Retrieved May 17, 2016.

6. “Cancer Facts and Statistics.” American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org. Retreived May 17, 2016.

7. “Physical Activity and Adults.” World Health Organization. http://www.who.int. Retrieved May 17, 2016.