Studies say exercise and veggies are important for cancer patients and survivors

Cancer survivors who return to work and the companies they manage may want nothing more than to do business as usual. There are decisions to be made, jobs to accomplish, and money to be brought in. Cancer patients still battling the disease are wanting to get to this stage of getting back on their feet as well.

But getting back to peak performance while one’s health is not yet totally back in shape can be a struggle day to day. Cancer survivors who are in recovery understandably want to forget the shadow of the illness they had defeated or temporarily beaten back, but its lingering symptoms can slow them down from fulfilling the work they love the most.

A report by The Guardian has a bit of good news to those who are struggling with the disease and its aftermath. Studies have shown that the illness can be beaten, and the lives of the patients prolonged. The source of this healing is not an expensive miracle drug but time-tested health practices that many of us had heard a dozen times over but, in the pursuit of success, had ignored or neglected. Eat healthy foods like vegetables and fruits. Do exercise or healthy activities for about 30 minutes a day. Chances of surviving cancer will get higher.

Exercise is crucial for the health of cancer patients and survivors. (Source)

The different studies, hailing from countries like the United States and Australia, were presented at the Chicago-based American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). In one study, colon cancer survivors will have longer lives if they do regular exercise, dine on considerable portions of vegetables and fruits, and stop eating meat and refined grain. Moderate wine drinking can also reduce their chances of dying because of the condition. 

In another study, breast cancer survivors who exercised for about three hours a week also stand a good chance of extending their lifespan.

Overall, both studies recommended for cancer patients 150 minutes of exercise, generous diets of fruits and vegetables along with whole grains, and maintaining an ideal body weight. Exercise need not be intensive but can start with brisk walking.