Reflecting back on my recent posts, it’s clear my focus is on living healthy as a preventative measure. It is my belief that a balanced life which includes proper nutrition, exercising and taking care of your mental and emotional health can lead to a better quality of life.
A recent study published in the Cancer Research journal brings me full circle in my journey so far on this blog.
Researchers found that weight loss of postmenopausal women by caloric restriction and regular exercise can lower biomarkers for inflammation which are associated with increased risk for several types of cancer.
Biomarkers called high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin were analyzed after a 12 month period where 439 overweight or obese women ages 50 to 75 were separated into four groups: a control group, only diet, only exercise and diet plus exercise, participated in interventions.
“The study found that a 12 month caloric restriction weight loss diet intervention, with or without exercise, produced large, significant reductions in several biomarkers of inflammation.”
They also found that, “direct comparisons of diet versus no diet groups showed significant reduction in all inflammatory biomarkers in the diet groups.” Hs-CRP decreased the most in women who lost five percent or more of their baseline weight in any group tested.
The researchers observed a 40 percent reduction in hs-CRP in the diet and diet plus exercise groups and expected that such a decline would result in a reduction in cancer risks.
I like emphasizing this type of data because it points to how beneficial nutrition and exercise can be for our bodies, even in older age.
Imagine the possibilities of health benefits if young adults were increasingly vigilant about their health from the start. The best medicine can be preventative medicine in the form of natural, whole foods and in strengthening our bodies through exercise.
It is my goal to be constantly aware of how what I am doing to my body will affect me 10, 30 or 50 years down the road. Hopefully by sharing these types of studies, I can inspire that same concern in others.
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Study published in the May 2012 issue of Cancer Research
Be Health Wise 