“In the light of these results, it is equally important to maintain healthy muscular strength levels.
It’s possible to reduce cancer mortality rates in men by promoting resistance training involving the major muscle groups at least two days a week.”
Men who have stronger muscles from regular weight training are up to 40 percent less likely to die from cancer, according to a research.
The findings suggest muscular strength is as important as staying slim and eating healthily when it comes to protecting the body against deadly tumours.
A team of international experts tracked the lifestyles of over 8,600 men for more than two decades. Each volunteer had regular medical check ups that included tests of their muscular strength. The men who regularly worked out with weights and had the highest muscle strength were between 30 percent and 40 percent less likely to lose their life to a deadly tumor.
Even among volunteers who were overweight, regular weight training seemed to have a protective effect, although the researchers stressed that keeping a healthy weight was still crucial for avoiding premature death.
The reserachers recommend men weight train at least twice a week, exercising muscle groups in both the upper and lower body.
But they added, “In the light of these results, it is equally important to maintain healthy muscular strength levels.”
Researchers said it’s possible to reduce cancer mortality rates in men by promoting resistance training involving the major muscle groups at least two days a week.
[Source: Telegraph, 23 May 2009]
Chapter: Cancer :: 7 February 2012
