—and can help reduce your risk of breast cancer. So take a walk with your family. Ride a bike. Hit the gym. Let nature be a reminder to live simply, healthy and well.
So how exactly does exercise help you prevent breast cancer? Physical activity reduces your exposures to certain ovarian hormones. Exercise with weights helps build muscle and reduce body fat, lowering your level of circulating estrogen. Lower levels of ovarian hormones and circulating estrogen both decrease your breast cancer risk.
START WALKING:
A study found that walking for 7 hours a week or more at a brisk pace (3-3.9 miles per hour) can reduce your breast cancer risk.
DEVELOP A REGULAR EXERCISE PATTERN:
A study of 74,000 women found that those who exercise regularly reduce their risk of developing breast cancer by 20%. In the study, moderate exercise such as swimming, walking or cycling 5 times a week had the greatest impact on breast cancer prevention.
USE EXERCISE TO REDUCE STRESS:
Although research into the connection between stress and the onset of breast cancer is in its earliest phase, it is well documented that stress can affect your immune system. That’s why stress-reducing activities, like regular exercise and meditation, are important to overall good health.
- Bumgardner, Wendy Walking Reduces Breast Cancer Risk, The New York Times Company © 2007,
- American Cancer Society, Inc. A Brisk Walk to Cut Breast Cancer Risk, © 2007.
  
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