Get Sauced to Stay Healthy

As if the taste of your grandmother's spaghetti sauce recipe weren't enough incentive. Studies show that the yummy red stuff is a major cancer deterrent, too.

Your risk of developing certain cancers (like prostate, GI, skin, or breast cancer) decreases significantly when you eat 10 or more tablespoons of tomato sauce per week. S'getti, anyone?

Lovely Lycopene
Many scientists believe that the active ingredient responsible for the cancer protection is lycopene, a carotenoid known for its antioxidant properties. All tomato products contain lots of lycopene, but it's more available to your body when it's cooked. (Look up more sources of lycopene with this online tool.)

Soup It Up
While you're at it, add some cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli and cauliflower, to your sauce. They contain chemicals that prevent cancer, too -- so you get double protection. Discover more ways to boost the nutritional quality of fruits and veggies.

Did You Know?
Tomatoes help keep your mind young. We've got six more foods that give your brain a boost.

Heads-Up for Men
You know that tomatoes are a powerful prostate protector. Here's what else you can eat to help keep your prostate healthy.

YOU: Staying Young. Roizen, M. F., Oz, M. C., New York: Simon & Schuster, 2007.