A woman’s chances of breast cancer often depend on the way her body breaks down estrogen. Researchers at the University of Minnesota in Saint Paul have investigated a fast and effective way for women to alter their estrogen metabolism and shrink their risk of cancer.
They have found that aerobic exercises, like walking, jogging or biking, help the body convert estrogen into metabolites linked to a reduction in breast cancer risk.
In this research, women performed 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise five times a week for 16 weeks. The exercises were performed on a treadmill, stair stepper or elliptical machine.
“Observational studies suggest physical activity lowers breast cancer risk, but there are no clinical studies that explain the mechanism behind this,” says researcher Mindy S. Kurzer. “Ours is the first study to show that aerobic exercise influences the way our bodies break down estrogens to produce more of the ‘good’ metabolites that lower breast cancer risk.”
According to Kurzer, exercise increases estrogen metabolism favoring the production of a metabolite called 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1) over one called 16alpha-hydroxyestrone (16alpha-OHE1), resulting in an increase in the 2-OHE1/16alpha-OHE1 ratio. That improved ratio has been linked with a reduction in breast cancer risk.
http://easyhealthoptions.com/cancer/how-women-can-quickly-lower-breast-cancer-risk/
