Postmenopausal women can reduce their risk of breast cancer by walking an hour a day. The research included 73,000 women between the ages of 50 and 74. They were participants in the Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort that started in 1992. This study run by the American Cancer Society collected questionnaires from the volunteers every two years until 2009.
Those who reported walking at least seven hours a week had a 14 percent lower risk of breast cancer. Other physical activities such as bicycling, tennis, jogging and swimming were also helpful.
[Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, Oct, 2013]
If it is difficult to get motivated to walk every day, enlist a friend or group of friends. Having someone else who counts on you to be there is a great motivator and makes it more fun. Exercise has many other benefits, including improved mood, better odds on prostate cancer survival, better control of diabetes and better cognitive function as people age. More physical activity also benefits younger people, including schoolchildren, as it improves their attention span.
