Cycling Helps Beat Cancer

Cycling has been known to improve your overall health. Now research shows it reduces cancer risk, too.

  

Biking just half an hour a day reduces risk of cancer by 34 percent according to a new Swedish report published in the British Journal of Cancer. The study, which looked at more than 40,000 Scandinavian men ages 45-79, found a direct relationship between the amount of time men spent cycling and the risk of being diagnosed with cancer and their cancer recovery rate.

The researchers compared responses from the men with seven years of medical records and the group's 3700 cancer cases to find the association. In addition to the reduction in cancer incidence, daily cyclists were also 33 percent more likely to survive and recover from cancer. And for each hour of moderate exercise, risk of cancer mortality dropped by 12 percent. 

The researchers say it's clear that increased activity leads to a longer life, but they point out the exact effects of exercise on cancer are still uncertain.

Either way, you can add this to the myriad of cycling's health benefits such as lower blood pressure, cardiovascular health, reduced stress and bone strength.