(ANSA) - Milan, September 30 - Cancer prevention begins with lifestyle changes, biologist and nutritionist Anna Villarini explained Wednesday at Milan Expo 2015. The key factors are smoking, diet, physical activity, and weight, according to the University of Milan professor and expert for the Italian Association for Research Against Cancer (AIRC).
    Villarini laid out the new European Code Against Cancer at the Italy pavilion's Spazio Donna (Women's Space), organized by the Italian Health Ministry.
    "The European Code indicates which lifestyles and factors affect our health and the risk of cancer, and smoking comes first of all," she said, adding passive smoking is also a cancer risk.
    Physical activity can help fight the risk of cancer, she said.
    "You don't need to go to the gym every day or run three hours a day," Villarini said.
    "It takes 30 minutes of walking a day to prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease," she continued.
    Diet is also critical, since people with a body mass index greater than 25 or a waist measurement greater than 80cm (for women) and 94cm (for men) are more at risk of getting cancer of the breast, endometrium, kidney, esophagus, intestine, pancreas and gallbladder.
    "A diet rich in plant foods, such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits and nuts is recommended," Villarini said, adding people should avoid or limit their intake of cheese, sugar, and processed meats, such as salami.
    She concluded by recommending regular screenings for the most common kinds of cancer, and for women to avoid hormone replacement therapy after menopause if they can.