Problem
Nobody wants cancer, but at least 500 Canadians are going to be diagnosed with cancer today. So how can you avoid it or beat it?
Solution
It’s time to get fit. According to a study published in JAMA Oncology, middle aged men high levels of cardio-respiratory fitness had reduced risks of certain types of cancer.
Method
Researchers recruited 14,000 men aged forty-six to fifty, testing their cardio-respretory levels by making them run on a treadmill to the point of exhaustion. After that, their fitness levels were regularly tested, along with other health information gathered. The study lasted from 1971 and 2009.
Results
Middle-aged men with high levels of fitness can reduced their risk of colorectal cancer by 44% and their risk of lung cancer by 55% when compared to men with low levels of fitness. For the record, a man with low levels of fitness takes more than twelve minutes to walk or run a mile.
The Takeaway
Start exercising now—it’s easier than starting late. On top of that, even if you do get diagnosed with cancer, as a fit man you’ll have an easier time beating it. Why? Treatments like chemotherapy and radiation take a serious toll on health, and fit men deal with it better. Start taking the stairs—your body will thank you.
