Tomatoes Help with Prostate Cancer
Research [Jounal of the National Cancer Institute] shows that eating more tomatoes and tomato-based products could help prevent prostate cancer in men. Studies have shown that men who eat more than 10 servings per week have 35 percent lower risk of developing prostate cancer. It was originally thought that lycopene, an antioxidant carotenoid component of tomatoes, watermelons and grapefruit that gives them their color, is what carries the cancer-fighting property. High levels are not only associated with low prostate specific antigen levels, but are also thought to also lower the cancer risk for stomach, lung and breast cancer. Now it is known that lycopene is only one of the major components in tomatoes that carry cancer fighting properties, and it is recommended to consume the actual tomato rather than supplementing with only the lycopene.
A University of Illinois study found that two-and-a-half cups of fresh tomatoes, one cup of tomato sauce, or one-half cup of tomato paste daily is sufficient to get the cancer fighting benefit. Cooked preparations make the anti-cancer components in tomatoes more bio-available (more easily absorbed). As a bonus, it was found in that study that adding two-and-a-half cups of raw broccoli or one-and-a-half cups of cooked broccoli adds to the benefit. It is thought [according to the University of Illinois Study] that the enzymes in the broccoli further help the body to break down carcinogens in the body. Keep in mind that tomatoes are acidic in nature, and care should be taken for those with a history of stomach ulcers or gastro-esophageal reflux.
Source:Sciece Daily – January 6th 2007
Harvard Health Publicaitons Online, Harvard Medical School– March 2002
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