Clean Your House and Reduce Cancer- Yes & NO ..it depends

Can House Cleaning Reduce the Risk of Cancer?

While housework may not be fun , an hour’s vigorous housework every day can help to reduce the risk of some types of bowel cancer according to a new Cancer Research UK report. House cleaning may not be as much fun as a class at the gym but this new report says that cleaning the kitchen floor and vacuuming  the stairs can use as much physical energy as a gym session on the treadmill or a brisk walk and all types of activity can cut the risk of colon tumors.

The study, part-funded by Cancer Research UK and the Medical Research Council and published today by the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) scientists, analyzed data from 413,000 people in 10 European countries to conclude that physically active people were 22 per cent less likely to develop colon cancer.

For tumors on the right side of the colon the risk was reduced by as much as 35 per cent in the most active people. For active people who are not overweight with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of less than 25 the risk was reduced even further.

Scientists concluded that exercise was most beneficial in reducing right-sided colon cancer risk in both men and women who already had a healthy weight. But it also benefited to a lesser extent those who were overweight but not obese.

One hour a day of vigorous physical activity or two hours of moderate activity would be enough to reduce the risk of colon, though not rectal cancer. Dr. Lesley Walker, Cancer Research UK’s director of information, said: “This is a very large study which should remove any doubt about the benefits of exercise in relation to reducing the risk of bowel cancer.

It is important for people to understand that they can take steps in their daily routine to reduce cancer risk. You don’t need to join a gym to get the benefit of exercise. If regular brisk walking or going for a run doesn’t appeal you can take a tip from  Britan’s TV’s Kim and Aggie and do some strenuous housework. Cleaning windows, vacuuming and scrubbing floors burn off a lot of calories. So does gardening or cleaning the car. If you combine regular physical activity with a good diet you are more likely to maintain a healthy body weight which will also significantly help to reduce your risk of bowel cancer.

What is particularly interesting about this study is the correlation the scientists have found between exercise and cancers on the right side of the colon. We do not know the reason for this although physical activity is known to stimulate waves of muscle contraction down the right side of the colon which accelerates movement of waste and the possible cancer- causing agents in it.”

Get the Benefits of Housework without the other Risk of Chemicals

While physical activity of housework is helps reduce some forms of cancer…cleaning with many store bought cleaners may increase other forms of cancers. So be selective with the products you use. For example many cleaners contain VOC’s organic volatile organic compounds such as petroleum distillate, alkylphenols, and more. These chemical solvents have been linked to everything from cancer to reproductive problems to organ damage.

Using the unhealthy chemicals in your home ends up in your household dust and dirt that your family breathes.  That is why using a line of cleaners that is not only safe but effective like Shaklee Get Clean is important for the health of your family.

Find out More about the Shaklee Get Clean Product Line

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