3-minute activities can prevent cancer. All you need to do is run to the bus stop

Although this medicine cannot be prescribed, we can implement it ourselves. It’s all about movement! It turns out that short but intense physical exercise can reduce the risk of developing cancer. Scientists have reached these conclusions. This is good news for those who are unable to motivate themselves for long exercises.

Physical activity in cancer prevention – new facts

Recently, a team of Polish scientists from the Medical University of Lodz, working under the supervision of cardiologist prof. Maciej Banach announced that 4,000 steps a day is the optimal number that can protect against heart disease and premature death. This principle is worth practicing in everyday life, but recent discoveries by researchers from Florida add an important contribution to the above-mentioned report.

“JAMA Oncology” presents the results of an analysis that sheds a completely new perspective on the impact of physical exercise on reducing the risk of cancer.

It turns out that moving very quickly for even three minutes a day can significantly (up to 30 percent) reduce the risk of cancer. This includes: about lung, pancreas, breast and colon cancer. Researchers from the University of Miami reached these conclusions after analyzing the results of 23,000 patients registered in the United Kingdom Biobank database. These were only people who did not engage in regular physical activity, such as gym training or cycling.

Daily habits that protect against cancer

Scientists from Miami talk about the need to introduce “vigorous intermittent activity”, by which they mean intense, short-term effort undertaken in everyday situations. As prof. says Tracy Crane from the University of Miami, responsible for the study, is about moving as if we didn’t want to be late or miss something important. You can imagine that someone is following you or even chasing you – then you automatically speed up your pace.

It is worth introducing the following habits to reduce the risk of cancer:

• instead of taking the elevator, vigorously climb the stairs to the next floors,

• in shopping malls and other public places, avoid using escalators – move briskly,

• walk briskly to the bus stop, railway station or metro stop,

• get off the bus a stop earlier and walk quickly to work or university,

• park your car further from your destination and cover the distance by vigorous walking.

At the same time, prof. Tracy Crane adds that when implementing these habits, you must not give up regular physical exercise (e.g. it can be divided into five 30-minute walks a week).