It’s almost impossible to know for sure what keeps a woman at ease from breast cancer. Given that about 85 percent of breast cancer cases occur in women with no family history of the disease, prevention is important for all women. A new research gives healthy women a new method that cuts the breast cancer risk: regular workout.

Earlier this week, journal Cancer published a research that gives women another way to cut the risk of developing the dreadful breast cancer. Based on investigating more than 3,000 women, researchers with the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill saw exercising was linked to a lower breast cancer risk.

“What we can say is, exercise is good for you” said Lauren McCullough, lead author of the study. “It’s never too late to start. Our evidence suggests that if you start after menopause, you can still help yourself” she added.

After researchers analyzed data from the 1,504 women with breast cancer and the 1,555 without breast cancer, they reached an impressive conclusion. A two hours a day, five days a week workout cuts the breast cancer risk by 30 percent. The more hours the women worked out the lower the breast cancer risk was.

“I was excited by the results because as women tend to age, they get set in their habits, and think that if they haven’t been active their whole life, why start now” explained the lead author. “But it’s important to show that there is research-based evidence that says you can start exercising after menopause and still enjoy really good benefits” added McCullough.

And every bit of exercise counts, whether you’re out gardening or walking you dog. In fact, even household chores count as exercise. So, it’s not necessary to go sweat it off at the gym. However, be careful with the pounds you gain while you’re exercising. The most vulnerable area of the body when it comes to gaining pounds is the abdomen and women after menopause are having a particularly hard time with that.

The fat around the abdomen is producing insulin and sugar levels that are not healthy for your system. On the long term the fat on your belly is going to boost the risk for breast cancer if you’re not careful.