#14 - Because it reduces your risk of cancer

We're young and generally healthy.  We don't spend a lot of time thinking about cancer.  However, after researching today's topic, I think maybe we should spend time thinking about it while we are young and healthy.  We should think about how much sleep we're getting and how much physical activity we're involved in each day.  If we make the habits now, we'll avoid the pitfalls in the future. 

As spring comes on in our little valley, the outdoors is more and more inviting.  We've been hungry for the suns warm rays and the buds on the trees to turn into beautiful green leaves.  Let's go outside and enjoy a brisk early morning walk, play a game, or go for a run.  When the wind picks up, let's meet at the gym and get a good workout in.  We don't have to wait and see what life holds for us.  We can do some prevention and maintenance early on in life. 

Here's some interesting facts I found online:

According to the Mayo Clinic's article  "Cancer prevention: 7 tips to reduce your risk" you should maintain a healthy weight and include physical activity in your daily routine. 

Maintaining a healthy weight may lower the risk of various types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, prostate, lung, colon and kidney. Physical activity counts, too. In addition to helping you control your weight, physical activity on its own may lower the risk of breast cancer and colon cancer.

As a general goal, include at least 30 minutes of physical activity in your daily routine — and if you can do more, even better. Try a fitness class, rediscover a favorite sport or meet a friend for daily brisk walks.

For women: A recent study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research's Seventh Annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research suggests that regular physical activity can lower a woman's overall risk of cancer – but only if she gets a good night's sleep.

The American Cancer Society recommends that you exercise for 30 to 45 minutes at least five days each week.

For men: Finnish researchers recently concluded that, if you wish to ward off lung or gastrointestinal cancer, you might want to spend your leisure time jogging instead of picking berries, mushroom gathering or fishing.

 

So, get a good nights sleep and make sure you sweat every day to help prevent cancer.  We're not sitting around waiting for life to happen TO us.  We're living.

Crys