Exercise and Cancer

Is exercise really effective against cancer? Yes, especially colon cancer. A report published two years ago found that hose who were highly or moderately active had a 50 percent lower risk of colon cancer than those who were less active. Active men were defined as those expending more than 1,000 calories per week in recreational activity, the equivalent of jogging or playing tennis two hours a week or walking 10 miles a week.

In addition, a twenty-one-year study of eight thousand Japanese men in Hawaii suggested that those who were as mush as 70 percent less likely to develop colon cancer than the sedentary men. Similarly, studies of some men and women show that being sedentary may increase the risk of colon cancer more than threefold.

Physically active and a low fat, high-fiber diet may account for much of the eduction in the risk of colon cancer. Some researchers, however, reported that exercise seemed to have a protective effect, independent of diet. It appears, that exercise, like wisdom, is a good thing?