Veggies, Exercise May Cut Cancer Risk

April 15, 2008 (San Diego) -- Regardless of age or ethnicity, women can significantly cut their risk of breast cancer by exercising just 30 minutes a week, a new study shows.

A second study suggests that the perks of eating your fruits and veggies may include a lower chance of developing lung cancer.

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Foods rich in plant chemicals called isothiocyanates and quercetin appeared to offer the best protection against lung cancer, the study showed.

Isothiocyanates are found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and turnips. Apples, grapes, onions, and broccoli are good sources of quercetin.

Both studies were presented here at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Exercise Wards Off Breast Cancer

The exercise study involved about 1,500 women with breast cancer. They were compared with nearly 5,000 women who didn't have breast cancer.

All the women filled out an extensive questionnaire that asked about their diet, smoking, and exercise habits.

Overall, women who engaged in recreational exercise 30 to 150 minutes per week were 50% less likely to have breast cancer than women who exercised less than a half hour per week.

African-American women benefited the most. They were about 70% less likely to have breast cancer if they exercised 30 to 150 minutes a week than if they exercised less.

But Hispanic-American, Tunisian-Arab, and Polish-Caucasian women all benefited as well, researcher Teresa Lehman, PhD, of BioServe Biotechnologies in Beltsville, Md., tells WebMD.

The findings held true regardless of whether a woman was premenopausal, perimenopausal, or postmenopausal, she adds.

Exercising more than 150 minutes per week did not confer additional benefit, she adds.

More Exercise May Be Better

The study showed that how long you exercise per workout session also significantly affects breast cancer risk.

Women who exercised 15 minutes or more per session were 40% less likely to have breast cancer, compared with women who exercised less than 15 minutes per session.

The analysis took into account a woman's age, race, and weight as well as how much she smoked in her lifetime -- all factors that can affect breast cancer risk.

Marji McCullough, ScD, RD, of the American Cancer Society, tells WebMD that the findings are consistent with the group's recommendation to engage in physical activity as a means of keeping breast cancer risk down.

But she takes issue with the finding that more is not better.

Women should work out 30 minutes a day, five times a week, to reap the greatest benefits, McCullough says.

"And even more, like 45 minutes a day, and vigorous activities like running, will reduce breast cancer risk even further," McCullough says.

Fruits, Veggies Linked to Lower Lung Cancer Risk

For the lung cancer study, Tram K. Lam, PhD, of the National Cancer Institute, and colleagues analyzed data on 2,120 people without lung cancer and 201 people with lung cancer.