Physical activity prevents cancer through several mechanisms. The anti-cancer effects of exercise are partly due to the fact that exercise helps in weight management.
Weight Management
In addition, exercise has its own independent anti-cancer effect. Our knowledge of these effects and the mechanisms for preventing cancer is still incomplete.
Exercise reduces inflammation in the body, especially in the intestine. This protects against cancer because inflammations contribute to adverse changes in cellular function.
The body’s own defense mechanism, the immune system, becomes stronger with exercise.
Activity reduces the number of certain hormones and growth factors in the body. With exercise, the body’s insulin levels are reduced. Sufficiently low insulin levels prevent the uncontrolled distribution of cells. Exercise also affects female hormone levels.
“Exercise helps with weight management and reduces the amount of fat in the body.”
Lower oestrogen levels protect women from breast cancer and uterine cancer. Strenuous exercise is especially beneficial in preventing breast cancer.
Combined with a healthy diet, exercise helps in weight management and reduces body fat. Exercise also speeds up the metabolism. Regular exercise reduces the risk of cancer by accelerating digestion, leaving less time for harmful carcinogens to be absorbed into the body.
Too much sitting puts you at risk of cancer, because it slows down the metabolism. In terms of cancer risk, sitting is especially detrimental to women.