An Anti-Cancer Elixir: Sweat

If you’ve survived a bout with colon cancer or breast cancer, there’s a simple way to boost your longevity and lower your risk of cancer recurrence:  Exercise and break a sweat. A review of 45 studies published in the Journal of the National Cancer Instituteshows that exercise helps cancer survivors by improving their insulin levels, reducing inflammation and boosting immunity.

In a commentary on the study that also ran in theJournal, Edward L. Giovannucci, M.D., Sc.D., of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, noted that physical activity not only helps cancer survivors live longer but improves their quality of life: “Even though direct effects of physical activity on cancer are not definitely proven, given that physical activity is generally safe, improves quality of life for cancer patients, and has numerous other health benefits, adequate physical activity should be a standard part of cancer care.”