How walking to work can slash risk of many cancers

Walking to work may seem like a simple routine, but it has powerful health benefits, including reducing the risk of many cancers. Research shows that regular physical activity helps regulate body weight, balance hormones, reduce inflammation, and improve immune function—all of which play a role in lowering cancer risk. For example, brisk walking can reduce levels of estrogen and insulin, two hormones linked to breast and colon cancers when present in high amounts. It also promotes healthy digestion, lowering the risk of colorectal cancer by speeding up how food moves through the gut.

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Beyond hormones, walking boosts circulation and oxygen delivery throughout the body, creating an environment less favorable for cancer cells to thrive. Studies have found that adults who walk regularly have a lower risk of cancers such as breast, colon, lung, kidney, and even bladder cancer. Choosing to walk to work instead of driving adds consistent daily movement, which builds up over time. Even 30 minutes a day can make a measurable difference. Since it’s low-cost, sustainable, and easy to fit into daily life, walking to work can be one of the simplest long-term cancer-prevention strategies.