If you needed extra motivation to get moving this year, there is new research that might just push you off the couch. A study from Newcastle University found that very short bursts of intense exercise, around ten minutes, can trigger real changes in your blood that affect cancer cells in a lab setting. Just ten minutes of hard cycling was enough to release molecules into the bloodstream that appear to support DNA repair and slow cancer cell growth during laboratory testing.
Researchers examined more than 1,300 genes and observed noticeable shifts in how they behaved after the short workout. Some genes linked to energy production became more active, while others associated with cancer cell growth were reduced. The blood samples taken after exercise also contained molecules connected to lower inflammation and improved metabolic processes.
Dr. Sam Orange, who led the study, was careful to point out that this is not a cure and does not replace medical treatment. What it does offer is a clearer explanation of one way physical activity may help protect the body against cancer. Even short, intense movement seems to send powerful biological signals that support overall health and may create conditions that are less favorable for cancer cells.
The takeaway is encouraging and practical. You do not need hours in the gym to make a difference. Even ten focused minutes can matter.
Researchers at Newcastle University have found that exercise increases the concentration of several small molecules in the blood—many linked to reducing inflammation, improving blood vessel function, and metabolism. When these exercise-induced molecules were applied to bowel cancer cells in the lab, the activity of more than 1,300 genes was altered, including those involved in DNA repair, energy production, and cancer cell growth.
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