Nancy Brennan, author of Active Against Cancer, and wellness and exercise expert Jacqui Errico, were my guests on Survive and Live Well. We hear from our doctors (well, okay, hopefully we hear from our doctors) that we should exercise. However, rarely do we hear why. Did you know that exercise creates anticancer conditions in the body?
As Nancy Brennan writes in her book: “Cancer cells create certain conditions as their numbers grow. They change the local cellular environment by changing the biochemistry. Cancer cells need these biochemical conditions in order to reproduce. Sometimes cancer cells are overwhelmed by the immune system and they die. Other times, the cancer cells’ growth is encouraged by these conditions that they favor, such as chronic inflammation, greater levels of insulin, poorly oxygenated blood, too much cortisol (a natural stress hormone), and excessive estrogen or testosterone.”
“Anticancer conditions, on the other hand, are bad for the continued uncontrolled reproduction of cancer cells.” Exercise, in moderation, helps to create the desirable anticancer conditions in your body, helping you fight cancer with exercise ” As Brennan writes: “If you eat well, and not too much, and if you get a good amount of exercise, you can actively promote anticancer conditions in the cellular environment of your body.”
“Exercise, in particular, can reduce levels of cellular inflammation by lowering blood sugar levels and reducing insulin and insulin growth factors. Exercise boosts the immune system, lowers stress levels and brings hormones into balance. Exercise helps us maintain a healthy weight and improves body composition (the mixture of fat and muscle).” [Adapted and quoted from Active Against Cancer, with the author’s permission.]
Exercise and a proper diet afford us a simple way to change that environment; to make the body less hospitable to cancer cells. If I can offer up no other good reasons to exercise, I offer you this: Exercise will make you feel better, heal faster, live longer, and in the words of Evelyn Knapp via Jacqui Errico, “Exercise gave me a sense of control in a situation that was out of control”. Strength for Life, a wonderful organization that offers free exercise classes and wellness retreats to cancer patients and survivors, was founded in memory of Evelyn Knapp. Evelyn spent a lifetime promoting exercise and proper nutrition to thousands. She lost her challenge with breast cancer in 2005.
To replay this show: March 12th, 2013–http://hipcast.com/podcast/H6SYM3ds Nancy Brennan and Jacqueline Errico
To replay another great show on Exercise and Cancer: November 6th, 2012– http://hipcast.com/podcast/HZPYKh2Q Rhonda Smith and Cara Novy- Bennewitz.
Elyn
~~If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any~~
Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer coach, radio talk show host, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. She is also on the peer review board of the Natural Standard Database. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs. She mentors women who are coping with issues of well-being associated with breast cancer and its aftermath; she is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and wellbeing. Elyn has been featured on CNN Money, Talk About Health and more and has contributed to Breast Cancer Answers as well as written for the Pink Paper, Breast Cancer Wellness, Natural Healing-Natural Wellness, Integrative Oncology Essentials, and other publications and newsletters. Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys.
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