Cancer Prevention - Physical Fitness - Be Active
Regular exercise is important for health. Being active reduces the risk of colon and breast cancer and possibly cancer of the uterus and prostate. Make exercise a regular part of your day.
The recommendation for cancer prevention is at least 30 – 45 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity is needed most days of the week.
What you can do:
- If you have not been very active, start slowly and begin to slowly add more activity each time. Walking is a great starting point. Set small goals for yourself and build from there.
- If being active is new for you, or if you have a medical condition, discuss your exercise program with your doctor before you start.
- Set your goal towards being active for 30-45 minutes at least 4 days per week.
- To benefit most, you need the activity to be moderate to vigorous (meaning you need to sweat a little, get your heart rate up but still be able to talk to the person beside you while you are exercising).
Related Resources
Alberta Centre 4 Active Living
Canada’s Physical Activity Guide to Healthy and Active Living
Heart and Stroke Foundation - Basic Principles of Physical Activity
