Product Review

Dr. Mitchell Gaynor is the director of medical oncology at the renowned Strang Cancer Prevention Center in New York City. His mother died of breast cancer when he was 9, and he's made it his mission to spare other people the pain his family endured. Gaynor is concerned with the ubiquitousness of pesticides, herbicides, and other environmental toxins linked to cancer (the U.S. has made the use of DDT illegal, but regularly exports it to Third World countries for use on crops that are harvested and imported back to the States). He says, "even those of us who don't smoke, eat a high-fat diet, and don't work in a chemical plant are still living, at work and at play, on a profoundly soiled an carcinogenic planet."

The best defense against this, says Gaynor, is a diet high in phytonutrients and antioxidants, from the carotenoids in carrots and cantaloupe, to resveratrol found in red grapes, to zeaxanthin in tomatoes. After explaining--in non-intimidating terms--how the immune system functions and how the liver detoxifies the body, Gaynor gives a lowdown on the most powerful, proven nutrients for boosting immunity--and therefore preventing cancer. He's distilled the cancer-fighting research on fiber, vitamins, minerals, green tea, garlic, wheat grass, algae, omega-3 oils, and other nutrients and lists solid sources for each, along with recommended brands (including phone numbers and Web-site addresses) of supplements.

While going organic and consuming sufficient phytonutrients are integral parts of Gaynor's plan, he says that stress reduction can't be underestimated, either. "People who are under severe psychological pressure have measurably impaired immune systems," he says, and as a remedy, he advises yoga and meditation. He also covers cancer screenings and dietary and lifestyle tips for specifically preventing colon, lung, breast, and prostate cancers. Highly recommended.