Another Surprising Benefit of Exercise

By Stepy Kamei

At this point, you know exercise is vital to improving and maintaining your physical and mental well-being. Study after study has shown a direct correlation between people who exercise regularly, and a lower risk of developing numerous health conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, insomnia, and depression. Healthcare professionals and experts agree that the benefits of exercise are numerous and highly significant. Still, in case you needed yet one more reason to make working out more of a priority in your life, consider the recent set of guidelines published by physicians stating that regular exercise can help prevent cancer in addition to reducing symptoms in those who are currently being treated for cancer.

Exercise as a Preventative Treatment Plan for Cancer

You no doubt understand that living a healthy and active lifestyle is crucial to improving your chances of avoiding a cancer diagnosis later on in your life. But what is it exactly about exercising that can actually serve as a vital aspect toward preventing various cancer diagnoses?

Physicians and health experts agree that there are three core benefits of exercise that provide a much-needed boost of preventative care against cancer. First, exercise serves to reduce inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation is known to be associated with an increased risk in cancer.

Second, exercising discourages weight gain and obesity. These are further risk factors for developing cancer later on in life, as excess weight tends to strain the body and lead to inflammation.

Finally, regular exercise works to boost the immune system in the body. This leads to healthier overall body function altogether, therefore strengthening a person against health issues such as cancer.

How Can Exercise Benefit Cancer Patients?

For patients who are currently in the midst of cancer treatment, exercise can help reduce symptoms and may even improve the likelihood of the treatments working. Exercising tends to put people in a better mood, since it encourages the production of feel-good chemicals such as serotonin in the brain. Having a positive outlook can greatly help someone stay positive while going through challenging cancer treatments.

Furthermore, exercising can keep the joints flexible, preventing stiffness, aches, and pains that will only make recovery seem even more difficult.

It's important to remember that you'll only get the maximum amount of benefits from exercise when you implement it as a regular routine into your life. People who exercise at least three days a week with very few breaks in this routine tend to experience the most benefits from working out. Experts urge patients to engage in 30 minutes of aerobic activity three times a week, as well as strength training two or three times a week.

You should always consult with your primary healthcare provider for further information and advice on the best kind of workout plan for your specific health needs and goals.

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in College Station, Tex.