There may be other risks to avoid, depending upon where you work, and you can incorporate certain foods into your diet as a preventative. Their paper is published in the October issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The scientists were particularly interested in a group of chemicals called carotenoids found in fruits and vegetables and known to have protective effects against oxidation and certain tumor-causing agents. They found that diets with a variety of carotenoids were associated with a 32 percent drop in risk for lung cancer. When the researchers looked at individual carotenoids, they found that increased consumption of alpha-carotene was associated with a 25 percent drop in risk.
Carrots are a major source of alpha-carotene.
High intake of lycopene was also associated with a 20 percent lower risk of lung cancer. Lycopene is commonly found in tomato-based foods such as tomato sauces and ketchup.