\n\t\t\t\t\tA scientist explains the small lifestyle changes that’ll make a big difference to your health\u00a0\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n
Researchers from Newcastle University have found that even short bouts of exercise can protect against bowel cancer, which is the fourth-most common cancer in the UK, accounting for 11 per cent of all new cancer cases. There are 42,900 people diagnosed in the UK every year \u2013 that\u2019s nearly 120 each day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The scientists discovered that exercising for just 10 minutes a day could halt bowel cancer growth<\/a> and speed up DNA damage repair. They collected blood samples from 30 overweight or obese, but otherwise healthy, men before and immediately after a 10-12 minute exercise session \u2013 in this case in the form of a cycling test.<\/p>\n When these exercise-induced molecules were applied to bowel cancer cells in the lab, researchers found the activity of 1,364 genes was altered, including those involved in DNA repair, energy production, and cancer cell growth.\u00a0<\/p>\n Here, Dr Sam Orange<\/a>, an expert in exercise physiology at Newcastle University, who led the study, explains how to make the most of this research to reduce your risk of bowel cancer and other serious illnesses.\u00a0<\/p>\n New FeatureIn ShortQuick Stories. Same trusted journalism.<\/p>\n Any movement is better than nothing<\/p>\n When you look at the evidence, the greatest health benefits come from the change from doing nothing to doing a little bit. The more you do, the health benefits still increase, but that first leap from nothing to something has the biggest impact.<\/p>\n So, if you\u2019re not a very active person, that\u2019s all the more reason to start doing something today, and you\u2019ll be reducing your chances of developing bowel cancer<\/a>. What I always say is: \u201cAny movement is better than nothing, and more is usually better.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s good evidence that reducing your sedentary time <\/a>\u2013 time spent sitting down \u2013 throughout the day, can be beneficial for general health. And each time you\u2019re active at a certain intensity, this will trigger the release of these bioactive molecules into the bloodstream that can have various beneficial effects, one of which is to be able to either prevent or slow down the progression of certain cancers.<\/p>\n Playing with your children counts as movement!<\/p>\n