FITNESS FABLES
Strength training linked to reduced risk of cancer
Growing research suggests the right kind of exercise helps beat cancer
Only couch potatoes could claim not to care about the benefits of regular exercise. Physical activity promotes general health and wellbeing. In its cardio incarnation, it keeps your heart beating to a healthy rhythm, which helps protect you from heart attack and stroke. But regular exercise doesn’t just protect you from cardiovascular disease, it reduces your risk of many other diseases. Growing research suggests the right kind of exercise also helps beat cancer. Like many people, when you think of "exercise" you probably think of walking, running, working out on a treadmill, swimming or other aerobic activities that get your heart rate up. Also like many people, you may overlook the value of strength-building exercises, particularly for cancer prevention. Or you may think it’s mostly for bodybuilders. Zimbabwean sports and lifestyle physician Dr Austin Jeans is a big fan of strength-building (resistance) training. He defines it as training against a "progressive load primarily to d...
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