Treating disease with the whole foods we eat -- one of the principles behind angiogenesis -- has garnered much attention lately, from walnuts slowing the growth of prostate cancer to the active ingredient in chili peppers lowering blood pressure.

The same analogy rings somewhat true in a recent study that tracked the incidence of lung cancer among 450,000 European adults, along with the variety of fruits and vegetables they consumed, their medical histories, jobs, physical activity and alcohol and tobacco use.

Although quitting smoking goes a long way toward shrinking one's risks of lung cancer, what about those who love it despite all the risks? Eating a diverse variety of vegetables and fruits was associated with a declining risk of lung cancer among smokers.

Merely eating a salad and a piece of fruit every day isn't nearly enough to do the trick, however. Patients were tracked over the course of the nine-year study and categorized based on the diversity of fruits and veggies they ate. Smokers who consumed the most -- at least 23 and as many as 40 -- over a two-week period stood a 27 percent greater chance of sidestepping squamous cell lung cancer, the kind that amounts to some 30 percent of all lung cancers, compared to those who ate the least (nine or fewer).

Although scientists didn't pinpoint a magic ingredient that protects the lungs of smokers from cancer, they did admit the combination of chemicals interacting in the human body may have been key, again, supporting the theory of angiogenesis.

If you've been considering adding variety to your diet, do your best to seek out affordable locally grown and organic foods as often as possible for your good health.

Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention August 31, 2010 Free Full Text PDF

Bloomberg Businessweek August 31, 2010