Doing regular physical activity isn’t just good for your heart, weight or mood. Today science tells us something even more surprising: moving can teach our intestinal bacteria to fight cancer. A study published in the journal Cell identified a molecule produced in the intestine during physical activity, called formate, which appears to have a direct effect in enhancing the immune response against tumors.
This discovery opens a completely new path: physical exercise could become an active part of oncological treatments, not only as a general support, but as a real therapeutic tool. It all starts from a simple gesture within everyone’s reach: moving your body every day.
The formate
It’s nothing new that those who do regular physical activity live better and get sick less. But now we also know why movement can help the body defend itself against tumors. The answer lies in our microbiome, which is the set of billions of microorganisms that live in our intestines. These bacteria are not there by chance: they produce substances that influence our well-being, digestion, mood and – as this new research shows – even the functioning of the immune system.
When we exercise, our microbiome changes. And among the many molecules that intestinal bacteria begin to produce, one in particular has attracted the attention of researchers: formate. This small molecule appears to directly stimulate the strongest immune cells, those that recognize and attack tumor cells.
But the most important news is that formate makes immunotherapies more effective. Immunotherapies are treatments that help the body recognize tumors and fight them from the inside, but unfortunately they don’t work for everyone. According to the data collected, those with higher levels of formate in their blood respond better and for longer to these treatments.
Train to heal yourself
This discovery changes the way we look at physical activity. No longer just a “duty” to stay fit, but a concrete gesture to activate our internal allies, the good bacteria in the intestine, and to strengthen the body’s natural defenses.
And you don’t need to do extreme sports: daily walks, cycling, yoga or any activity that stimulates the body is enough. Each movement can help make the microbiome produce more formate, and therefore create an internal environment that is more resistant to disease.
Another fascinating aspect concerns the role of the microbiome in fecal transplants, a technique already being tested to strengthen the immune response in cancer patients. The new research suggests that it is not only important which bacteria are present, but more importantly which molecules they produce, such as formate. Understanding this could help doctors identify the most effective “super donors” for these therapies.
In the future, we may even prescribe personalized physical activity programs as an integral part of cancer therapies. Or imagine formate-based supplements for those who cannot move enough. The direction is clear: the intestine and movement will be increasingly central to the medicine of the future.
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