Posted on 12/29/2006 8:15:33 AM PST by twntaipan
Women who exercise by doing the housework can reduce their risk of breast cancer, a study suggests.
The research on more than 200,000 women from nine European countries found doing household chores was far more cancer protective than playing sport.
Dusting, mopping and vacuuming was also better than having a physical job.
The women in the Cancer Research UK-funded study spent an average of 16 to 17 hours a week cooking, cleaning and doing the washing.
Something as simple and cheap as doing the housework can help Dr Lesley Walker of Cancer Research UK
Experts have long known that physical exercise can reduce the risk of breast cancer, probably through hormonal and metabolic changes.
But it has been less clear how much and what types of exercise are necessary for this risk reduction.
And much of past work has examined the link between exercise and breast cancer in post-menopausal women only.
The latest study looked at both pre- and post-menopausal women and a range of activities, including work, leisure and housework.
All forms of physical activity combined reduced the breast cancer risk in post-menopausal women, but had no obvious effect in pre-menopausal women.
Chores protected
Out of all of the activities, only housework significantly reduced the risk of both pre- and post-menopausal women getting the disease.
Housework cut breast cancer risk by 30% among the pre-menopausal women and 20% among the post-menopausal women.
The women were studied over an average of 6.4 years, during which time there were 3,423 cases of breast cancer.
The international authors said their results suggested that moderate forms of physical activity, such as housework, may be more important than less frequent but more intense recreational physical activity in reducing breast cancer risk.
Dr Lesley Walker of Cancer Research UK said: "We already know that women who keep a healthy weight are less likely to develop breast cancer.
"This study suggests that being physically active may also help reduce the risk and that something as simple and cheap as doing the housework can help."
He recommend that men and women take regular exercise and maintain a healthy body weight to help prevent cancer.
The research is published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.
Presumably these folks...
And here's their offical press release. It does make some ense, actually, once one ignores the hype.
Press release: Take a tip from Kim and Aggie and reduce bowel cancer risk
At least we're in very good company :)
official, sense
More caffeine....
I don't know where the Beeb got the breast cancer angle.
Oh, that study. I believe the results were that house cleaning is responsible for prostate cancer and Brokeback Syndrome! Not.... just kidding.
sw
The best.
:-)
Who paid for this conclusion?? Makes absolutely no sense.
This is obviously a ploy by the "barefeet, pregnant, and in the kitchen" crowd.
There is another study that says being naked under the burqua reduces breast cancer, heart attack and stroke.
Ask any Afghani male.
I don't know,
Cleaning house stresses me,
Watching the dust bunnies play in the candlelight while not having to wash dishes is very relaxing to me.
So is using the iron as a doorstop, having enough underwear to only do laundry once a month and using the pets as organic floor cleaners.
I was told by a doc back in the late 80s that my prostate infection was caused by non-use. His advise was to have more sex.
That idea fell on deaf ears to my darling -- much the same as this one will.
Im getting out the popcorn for this one!
i guess i'm set for a while. :)
i did my monthly power cleaning yesterday.
This would be an excellent research grant to administer.
Dust bunny ran over my foot while typing.
We have dust buffalos in this house...
Simple? Cheap?
I'm a single Dad and I am not built for housework ... it hurts my back and legs and when I clean, I tend to go overboard with the multi-purpose, stink pretty Lysol-type brand of cleaner ... and we won't even start with the laundry ... I have a 13 yo son, 100% dirt ball grub (Thank you, Lord ..) and a lovely 16 yo daughter caught between childhood and womanhood .. try it on ... on the floor ... try another on ... on the floor ... by the time we're ready for church, she has a brand new, ankle deep carpet.
Simple? Cheap?
Nuh uhhhh.
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