You don’t need to spend hours at the gym or run marathons to reduce your risk of cancer.

According to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Sydney, just four minutes of vigorous exercise a day can cut your cancer risk by a fifth. The study, which monitored 22,000 non-exercisers in the UK for nearly seven years, found that short bursts of activity that make you “huff and puff” can bring significant health benefits. The researchers discovered that just four and a half minutes of vigorous activity, done in bursts of around one minute each, can reduce the overall risk of cancer by 18% and the risk of some cancers linked to physical activity by up to 32%. So, what exactly does vigorous activity entail? It could be vigorous housework, carrying heavy shopping bags, or bursts of power walking. The study also revealed that the benefits of exercise increase with higher levels of activity. Although the study is observational and not intended to show cause, there are biological explanations for why short bursts of vigorous activity are effective, such as reducing chronic inflammation, improving blood sugar levels, and boosting heart and lung fitness.
The Bottom Line: Just four minutes of vigorous exercise a day can reduce your risk of cancer by a fifth, according to a study from the University of Sydney. Short bursts of activity that make you “huff and puff” can bring significant health benefits, and even tasks like housework and carrying heavy shopping can count as vigorous activity.

Key Points:

– Researchers from the University of Sydney found that just four and a half minutes of vigorous activity a day can reduce the risk of cancer by 18%.
– Short bursts of activity, such as vigorous housework or power walking, can have significant health benefits.
– The risk of some cancers linked to physical activity can be reduced by up to 32% with just a few minutes of vigorous exercise daily.
– The benefits of exercise increase with higher levels of activity.
– Short bursts of vigorous activity can help reduce chronic inflammation, improve blood sugar levels, and boost heart and lung fitness.
– The study is observational and not intended to show cause, but there are biological explanations for why exercise is effective in reducing cancer risk.
– It’s a great alternative for those who find traditional exercise difficult or unappealing.

Source Article: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/four-minutes-vigorous-exercise-day-174921956.html