Exercise Versus Cancer

Image : http://www.flickr.com

While we often hear about food's ability to cause and prevent cancer, exercise is another key factor in preventing and treating this terrible disease. It's no secret that many of us today aren't getting enough exercise. The problem arises when this not only affects our overall health, but also our ability to thwart and combat various diseases.

Preventing Cancer through Exercise

The first issue is: can exercise actually prevent cancer? Unfortunately, as with everything else in life, there aren't any absolutes when it comes to cancer prevention and exercise. But clinical studies show that exercise can definitely help to prevent certain varieties of cancer. How much exercise is enough? According to the American Cancer Society, you should exercise at least half an hour, and a minimum of five days per week.

Which exercises should you do? Well, you don't necessarily have to run a marathon or even work out at the gym. Instead, what's important is moving your limbs and getting a solid cardio workout. Walking, dancing, and hiking are some oldie-but-goodie choices that can definitely be effective in cancer prevention. You could even take it slower, and choose activities such as Yoga or Tai Chi. If you want to take it up a notch, cycling, swimming, and even rollerblading are some good options.

The particular exercising that you opt to do is less important than doing it. In addition to helping to reduce the risk of cancer, you can tone your muscles, improve your endurance, and look and feel better than you have in quite a while! It also provides you with a way to get some fresh air and make some new friends!

Treating Cancer through Exercise

Exercise can also be quite helpful if you've already acquired cancer. After being diagnosed with this major disease, it's understandable if exercise isn't at the top of your "to do" list. Yes, cancer is a serious ailment that can be life-threatening. But that's when exercise becomes more important than ever.

One benefit of exercise in treating cancer is that it makes it easier for you to stay with your treatment program. While cancer treatment can be quite grueling, exercising prior to, and after the treatment, can help to make the whole process more bearable. In fact, exercise is a crucial component after treatment, and can actually help to reduce exhaustion. It can speed up the recovery time after treatment, by making your muscles stronger and increasing your blood circulation.

Exercise can also provide psychological benefits to cancer victims. Besides being physically grueling, cancer can also be mentally exhausting. Exercising can boost your spirits and give you hope during some really difficult times. Experts continue to discover the power of positive thinking, even after acquiring diseases like cancer. It's recommended that cancer victims start exercising immediately after learning that they have the disease, while focusing on what physical activities they CAN do.

Although cancer can be a devastating disease, exercise can help to effectively prevent and treat it. And especially after being diagnosed with the disease, it's time to get up and prepare yourself for the biggest fight of your life!