Gardening and regular walks could reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, experts say.
According to one study, light physical activity – also including housework and cooking – was linked to a 21% reduction in the risk of contracting the disease.
Women who logged five hours and 45 minutes of gentle exercise per day experienced a reduced risk.
Experts say this is easily achievable, even for those with jobs, if they walk to work, go for a walk on their lunch break and do things like chores in the evening.
A quarter of the 48,000 women studied performed this much lighter exercise daily.
Light physical activity – also including housework and cooking – was linked to a 21% reduced risk of contracting the disease, study finds
Women who logged five hours and 45 minutes of gentle exercise per day benefited from the reduced risk
Participants were asked to live their lives while wearing a fitness tracker for a week.
They were then contacted again after an average of five and a half years, during which 836 were diagnosed with breast cancer.
Those who did the most light exercise were 21% less likely to have developed breast cancer than women who did the least – less than four and a half hours a day.
The results, published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, were unusual in showing that light activity – one that doesn’t make you sweat or get short of breath – can protect against breast cancer.
Lead author Dr Carlos Celis-Morales, from the University of Glasgow, said: “This is further proof that every step counts, and doing things like gardening or walking to work can make the difference.”
Dr Julie Sharp, head of health and patient information at Cancer Research UK, said: “Being active is a great way to help us maintain a healthy weight, which reduces the risk of 13 different types of cancer. .
“There is also evidence that getting plenty of exercise can directly prevent breast cancer.
“The NHS recommends 150 minutes of activity a week – but it’s good to build up activity over time.
“Any exercise is better than none, and the more you do, the better.”
“It doesn’t matter if you’re taking a brisk walk or riding a bike with a friend, or even doing housework.”
“Anything that warms you up, makes you slightly out of breath, and your heart beats faster counts.”