Morning workouts may add extra protection against cancer

You know how I feel about exercise. After all, consistent physical activity is one of the simplest ways to live longer and slash your risk chronic disease… whether it’s diabetes, dementia, or cancer.

But new research shows that it’s not just moving more that will save your life. As it turns out, doing it at the right time of day could make a serious difference, too…

Cut your cancer risk by 25 percent

Researchers looked at data from nearly 2,800 Spanish subjects to investigate the causes of common cancers—and, more importantly, ways to prevent them.

They conducted interviews between 2008 and 2013 to get an idea of recreational and household physical activity levels. They also assessed the timing of subjects’ exercise—zeroing in on a group of men and women with prostate and breast cancer, specifically.

Ultimately, the researchers found that, compared to matched controls, subjects who worked out between 8 and 10 in the morning received the strongest protection against these cancers.

In fact, models showed that risk of breast cancer dropped by 25 percent when women worked out in the morning compared to not exercising at all. Meanwhile, men saw their risk of prostate cancer drop by 27 percent with the same routine.

It’s also worth noting that, in this group specifically, later workouts still reduced prostate cancer risk by 25 percent—a substantial benefit. So I think it’s safe to say that exercise is beneficial regardless of when you do it. (I talk more about this in the July 2016 issue of my monthly newsletter, Logical Health Alternatives [“The next big cancer breakthrough—coming soon to a gym near you?”].)

But if you can get a bit of extra protection just by working out in the morning—well, then I’d say it’s worth being an early bird. Especially where cancer prevention is concerned.

Hormones behind the benefit

These researchers speculate that estrogen levels might have something to do with their findings. High levels of this hormone have clear links with breast cancer, and regular exercise is one way to help keep your levels in check. And morning workouts may be particularly beneficial since estrogen production peaks around 7 a.m.

But melatonin could also play a role here. As I’ve explained before, this hormone helps to regulate your sleep-wake cycles—but it does a whole lot more than that.

Low levels have been implicated in everything from migraines to—you guessed it—cancer. And nighttime workouts could potentially delay its production and disrupt sleep.

The fact is, the circadian rhythms that set your body’s “clock” have a much bigger impact on your health than most people realize. (Learn more about this in the March 2018 issue of my monthly newsletter, Logical Health Alternatives [“The deadly cost of a broken ‘body clock’”]. Not a subscriber? Consider signing up today.)

It just so happens that exercise can help regulate these critical rhythms, which is especially important for older people who are more vulnerable to circadian disruption. And if this study’s results are any indication, morning exercise delivers particularly powerful benefits.

That said, it’s no secret that the biggest threat to the public health is the fact that half the population doesn’t exercise at any time of the day. So I will leave you with this evergreen advice: If you want a longer, healthier life, just get moving—period. Go for a daily walk after dinner each night. Take the stairs. Park further away. Whatever you do, just move.

P.S. There are several simple, science-backed strategies to fight cancer. And I outline them all in my Essential Cancer Protocol. To learn more about this innovative, online learning tool, or to enroll today, simply click here now!

Source:

“Study hints that early morning exercise may reduce cancer risk.” Medical News Today, 10/18/2020. (medicalnewstoday.com/articles/study-hints-that-early-morning-exercise-may-reduce-cancer-risk#Cancer,-sleep,-and-exercise)