Cancer Risk & Prevention Program
Exercise to decrease cancer risk
Studies have shown that exercising as little as 30 minutes a day can decrease your risk for certain types of cancer, as well as heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and glaucoma. Exercise is also a mood booster, reducing stress, anxiety and feelings of depression.
Exercise can help you:
- Increase energy levels
- Improve your self-esteem
- Strengthen your immune system
- Improve muscular and physical endurance for everyday activities
- Increase your good cholesterol, or HDL
- Strengthen bones and keep them strong
- Create muscle tone
- Strengthen your heart
- Increase your metabolism so you’ll burn calories even faster
- Burn calories to help maintain a healthy weight
- Feel less pain, through the release of endorphins
- Decrease high levels of triglycerides
- Ease the pain associated with arthritis
Remember to talk to your doctor before beginning an exercise program.
Exercise doesn't have to involve high-end equipment or expensive gym membership. One of the simplest ways to increase your physical activity is by aiming to take 10,000 steps a day.
If you want to start a routine, try a daily walk. Find out more about walking as exercise.
As with any exercise, it's important to include warm up, stretch, and cool down as part of the activity.
