On the occasion of the usual fundraising for AIRC research, also in Humanitas – on 24 and 25 January, at Building 2 – it will be possible to receive a 2.5 kg net of oranges against a donation of 9 euros.
AIRC volunteers will colour of orange 3,000 squares and more than 700 schools in Italy with Le Arance della Salute, the first appointment of the year to support the work of over 5,000 researchers and promote good health habits to reduce the risk of cancer. Italian red oranges, in fact, contain anthocyanins, natural pigments with exceptional antioxidant properties, and about 40% more vitamin C than other citrus fruits.
Not only oranges
From this year not only citrus fruits but also orange jam (minimum donation 6 euros) and orange blossom honey (minimum donation 7 euros). Volunteers will also deliver a guide with some valuable information on prevention, particularly on smoking and obesity, along with healthy and tasty recipes based on oranges, signed by Michelin-starred chefs such as Moreno Cedroni, Carlo Cracco and the young JRE Roberto Tonola.
Good habits and lifestyles: no smoking and proper nutrition
The battle against cancer is gaining new tools every day as research progresses, but the importance of individual behaviour and habits is increasingly recognised. Smoking is the avoidable risk factor that most affects health: in Italy one person in four smokes, 85-90% of lung cancers are caused by cigarettes, which are also the cause of many other cancers. These include those that affect the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach, intestine, pancreas, liver, cervix, ovary, kidney and blood. To reduce the risk of developing cancer, you should not smoke or quit immediately if you have already started.
The food we eat can also become an ally for prevention, if together we reduce other risk factors such as sedentariness and obesity. Some types of cancer – those affecting the esophagus, stomach and intestines – are more sensitive to the effects of eating. But a healthy diet alone is not enough. It is important to combine a varied and balanced diet with regular physical activity – at least 30 minutes of walking per day – which helps to reduce the risk of colon and endometrial cancer, as well as affecting the prevention of breast cancer.
