A 2010 press release from the World Cancer Research Fund may surprise some with its simple manner of lessening their chances of developing cancer. The WCRF notes in their release that ongoing research continues to reveal that many cancers could be prevented by simply going on a brisk daily walk or engaging in other forms of "moderate" exercise.
The WCRF is a non-profit umbrella organization in the U.K. that brings together cancer charities from the United Stages, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, France and the U.K.. It was established in 1982 and the organization's focus is research and education not in the areas of cancer cure but in the areas of food, nutrition and physical exercise and how those things combine to prevent cancer.
“There is now very strong evidence that being physically active is important for cancer prevention," Dr. Rachel Thompson, the deputy head of science for WCRF, said in the release. "Even relatively modest increases in activity levels could prevent thousands of cancer cases in the UK every year."
Cancer Cure For Some: How to Prevent Cancer is be Active and Eat Well
In their press release the organization says that if all women in the U.K., for example, were to take a brisk 45 minute daily walk the result would be 5,500 fewer cases of breast cancer each year in that country. If everyone in the U.K., the WCRF says their research indicates, were active for only thirty minutes for five days every week there would be approximately 4,600 less cases of bowel cancer diagnosed yearly.
“These figures also show you do not have to go to the gym every day to benefit," Dr. Thompson notes. "You can reduce your cancer risk just by making small changes and so many cancer cases could be prevented through something as simple as brisk walking. Even by walking to the shops instead of taking the bus or car people can make a real difference to their health."
She stressed that moderate exercise is all that is needed and the press release defines moderate exercise as "...anything that gets your heart beating a bit faster and makes you breathe more deeply."
Exercise and Cancer: Activity Can Help Prevent Cancer
In February of 2009, the World Cancer Research Fund published a report called Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention and in that report was a paper called Preventability of Cancer by Food, Nutrition, and Physical Activity and the WCRF says that paper was used in compiling estimates for the August 31 press release.
The organization is trying daily, it says, to get these figures out to people and because many do not realize how great a role lifestyle, food and particularly physical exercise plays in preventing cancer. The 'how to prevent cancer' answer lies in exercise and diet and they want to let people know that.
“There is strong scientific evidence that being physically active is important for cancer prevention but just over a third of people are aware of the link," Dr. Thompson says. "So there is still a lot of work to do in raising awareness.”
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