Smokers don’t know that half a gram a day is a valuable defense against cancer and cardiovascular disease

According to statistical data from the Istituto Superiore della Sanità, 18% of Italians have quit smoking, while 57% have never started. However, 25% remains excluded, indicating that smokers in Italy are one in four. Although the figure is down compared to a few decades ago, it is still too substantial for the related consequences.

Average cigarette consumption is around 12 per day, but one in four smokers smokes more than one pack. The risks of cardiovascular and neoplastic nature are not a mystery and, fortunately, the battles against this bad habit are becoming more and more important.

All the weapons of science

For years, research has been committed to identifying every possible solution to contain the catastrophic risks of smoking, which in any case can only be eliminated by stopping.

It was the Airc Foundation for Cancer Research that published a Danish study focusing on flavonoids and their effects. Smokers don’t know that half a gram a day is a valuable defense against cancer and cardiovascular disease. Flavonoids are part of the polyphenol family, a shield against free radicals, anti-inflammatories and natural antioxidants. The study finds confirmation on a rather significant number of patients, counting 56,000 observed for 23 years. It emerges that consumers of moderate amounts of flavonoids run a lower risk of incurring cancer or cardiovascular diseases. The results appear more significant in smokers and in subjects who consume moderate quantities of alcohol.

Smokers don’t know that half a gram a day is a valuable defense against cancer and cardiovascular disease

These amazing chemicals can be easily integrated into your daily diet. It is not the first time, in fact, that we have talked about how nutrition affects health and how much a balanced diet is useful for prevention. For example, there are even twelve cancers that we risk with this bad habit.

Also according to what was reported by the Airc, half a gram of flavonoids are enough to reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. They are readily available in common foods such as apples, oranges, tea. The necessary half gram can be supplemented by assimilating 100g of broccoli or blueberries.

As reported by the Airc itself, the study highlights the reduction of inflammatory and carcinogenic effects, but not the cancellation of the same. Smokers and drinkers remain the category most at risk for this type of disease.

It may seem superfluous to say, but in reality it never is: quitting immediately is the best solution to avoid nasty surprises, perhaps with medical support.