Sunday, November 6, 2011

The Cancer Risk of... Sitting?

We all know that regular exercise can help prevent cancer, and improve your survival.  But this week, Nevill Owen, PhD, of Australia's Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute presented research at the American Institute for Cancer Research conference showing a link between a sedentary lifestyle and cancer risk.

The findings encourage "break time".  Instead of just thinking of getting to the gym, which is difficult for many people, thinking of ways to get moving throughout the day will have an impact.

"We found that even breaks as short as one minute can lower these biomarkers."  The biomarkers they refer to are: waist circumference, inflammation, and other indicators of cancer risk.

The  risk effects seemed greater for colon and breast cancer.  The evidence was weaker for lung, prostate, and ovarian cancers.

But even without a specific link to other cancers, why not take breaks?  We often think more clearly when we get up and move around, and if it is also helping in the fight against cancer, it's a simple thing to do - and supports the plan to fit cancer fighting strategies into every part of daily life.

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