Block Cancer

Block Cancer

Crunch on Carotenoids. There are more than 500 of these bright orange contenders against cancer. Carotenoids, like beta-carotene, lycopene, and lutein, are found in bright red, yellow, and orange fruits and vegetables like carrots, cantaloupe, pumpkin, watermelon, sweet peppers, and tomatoes, as well as in dark leafy green vegetables like spinach and broccoli-you just can't see the orange color in these foods because the green pigment chlorophyll covers it up. Carotenoids help block cancer on two levels. One, they're some of the most potent antioxidants on the block. Two, some of them stop cells from proliferating-an important step in cancer development.

"Lycopene, which is found in tomatoes, is probably the most active," says Myers. Harvard researchers found that men who ate numerous servings of lycopene-rich foods, including tomato sauce, were less likely to develop prostate cancer.

Guava, pink grapefruit, and watermelon are also good sources.