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Lifestyle and Health 

Benefits of physical activity

The health benefits of regular physical activity are manifold. Yet, 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, for example brisk walking, are sufficient for a bio-positive effect. However, by increasing the activity, the benefits will also increase.

Regular physical activity:

  • reduces the risk of dying prematurely reduces the risk of dying from heart disease or stroke, causing one-third of all deaths
  • reduces the risk of sickening with heart disease or colon cancer by up to 50%
  • reduces the risk of developing type II diabetes by 50%  
  • helps to prevent / reduce hypertension, affecting one-fifth of the world's adult population
  • supports the prevention / reduction of osteoporosis, reducing the risk of hip fracture by up to 50% in women
  • increases motility and, thus, reduces ailment of the musculoskeletal system and the lower back
  • promotes psychological well-being, reduces stress, anxiety and feelings of depression and loneliness
  • helps to prevent or control unsound behaviours, especially among children and adolescents, like the consumption of tobacco, alcohol or other drugs, malnutrition or violence
  • helps  to control weight and lower the risk of obesity by 50% compared to people with sedentary lifestyles  
  • supports ossification and maintaining of the bones structure, muscles, and joints and abates immobility
  • soothes pains of the locomotor’s system

 

An intensive nutrition and lifestyle intervention can change gene expression in men

Epidemiological studies indicate that prostate cancer is much lower in parts of the world where people eat a lower-fat and plant-based diet. Lifestyle changes may modify the progression of prostate cancer. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is decreased in men with early-stage prostate cancer that changed diet and lifestyle intervention. The team of Dean Ornish conducted a study to examine changes in gene expression of men with low-risk prostate cancer who declined immediate surgery or hormonal therapy. The participants altered intensive nutrition and lifestyle habits. After 3 months they showed significant improvements in weight, abdominal obesity, blood pressure and lipid profile. RNA samples were checked with quantitative real-time PCR. Significant differences were found for genes with roles in tumorigenesis, protein metabolism, intracellular protein traffic and protein phosphorylation. After the intervention, 48 genes were up-regulated and over 450 were down-regulated.

 An improvement of habits can alter cellular response. A better knowledge of molecular mechanisms advance preventions and treatment for complex diseases.

 

For further information

WHO 

Lifestyle intervention and protate cancer

Your lifestyle, your genes and cancer

 


 
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