Stay Healthy: Why Being Active is Important

Last updated 3 months ago

It’s a common fact that maintaining an active lifestyle can help reduce the risk of obesity-related diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes—but as an oncologist would tell you, staying healthy through diet and exercise can also reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. In fact, the American Cancer Society states that staying at a healthy weight and exercising can greatly reduce the risk of developing or dying from cancer. Keep reading to learn why being active is so important for your health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, individuals who are physically active tend to be at a lower risk for several types of cancer, including colon cancer, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and lung cancer. In addition, research shows that maintaining an exercise regimen can help provide cancer survivors with a better quality of life.

There are several steps you can take to stay active and reduce your risk of cancer, including:

Being as lean as possible without being underweight.
Avoiding excessive weight gain at all stages in life.
Limiting your intake of high-calorie foods and drinks to maintain a healthy weight.
Getting at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity each week.
Limiting your sedentary activity throughout the day, such as sitting, lying down, or watching TV.
Eating at least 2 ½ cups of fresh fruits and vegetables each day.
Limiting how much processed meat you are consuming.
Choosing whole grains over refined grains.
Limiting how much alcohol you consume.

The South Florida Radiation Oncology Center is devoted to helping patients suffering from cancer. Learn more about your screening, diagnostic, and treatment options by contacting us at (888) 823-9162. You can also visit our website to learn more about our facility.

For the most comprehensive cancer treatment options available, give our oncologists with South Florida Radiation Oncology a call at (888) 823-9162. You can also visit our Facebook age for interactive blog posts by our patient support coordinator, Cindy Collins. Our website also contains helpful links to all these topics on our Recources page at www.sfrollc.com.