Women: Here is one more reason to exercise

“Exercise could lower breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women by reducing body fat and ultimately circulating estrogen concentrations,” state the researchers, quoted by Reuters Health.

by Dr. Nicholas Warner — 

Ladies, you still cannot think of a valid reason to exercise? How about warding off breast cancer, which will be diagnosed in an estimated 200,000 women in the U.S. in 2005 alone?

Researchers examined more than 170 postmenopausal women for one year and found those who engaged in consistent, moderate physical activity experienced a significant decrease in specific female hormones. This decrease — due largely to a reduction in body fat — in turn lowered their risk of developing breast cancer. Conversely, women who did not exercise experienced smaller declines, and even increases, in the same hormones.

If the conclusion seems obvious, it is. “Exercise could lower breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women by reducing body fat and ultimately circulating estrogen concentrations,” state the researchers, quoted by Reuters Health.

Still, the authors note that the causal link between regular physical activity in postmenopausal women and lowered incidences of breast cancer remains a mystery. Regardless of where you are on the menopausal timeline, the benefits of exercise for women at every stage in life are undeniable.

To learn more about breast cancer and what you can do to avoid it, check out www.komen.org.

References

1. McTiernan Anne, Tworoger SS, Ulrich CM, et al. “Effect of exercise on serum estrogens in postmenopausal women,” Cancer Research, April 15, 2004; 64(8):2923-28.

2. “Moderate exercise may cut breast cancer risk,” Reuters Health. May 7, 2004.

Dr. Nicholas Warner is a certified massage therapist and a doctor of chiropractic with Wellness in Motion, LLC in Phoenix, Ariz. He has been an instructor at Los Angeles College of Chiropractic. 602-863-4252.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 24, Number 5, October/November 2005.