Tomatoes,
Is There Anything They Can't Do?
By
Ross Bridgeford
9th July 2005
A review of recent studies on lycopene has been undertaken by
the University of Manitoba confirming beliefs that has shown that
lycopene, found in tomatoes, has great anti-carcinogenic and anti-atherogenic
effects (Omoni and Aluko, 2005).
The review confirms that high consumption of tomatoes and other
foods containing lycopene can have a great effect on protecting
the body's defence against cardiovascular disease (CVD) and can
also reduce the risk of several types of cancer (prostate, breast,
lung and digestive tract in particular).
Dozens of studies have successfully related the
risk of cancer and dietary intake of lycopene – including,
most impressively, a study by Giovannucci et al. (1995) who found
that men who ate
10 or more servings per week of tomato were 34% less likely to
develop prostate cancer. The large sample size (48,000 men) monitored
over four years makes this study highly valid and its findings
very notable!
Where Does Lycopene Come From?
Similar to EFAs, the body cannot synthesize lycopene and thus
relies upon us to provide it through our dietary choices. Tomatoes
are by far the major dietary source of lycopene, however, other
sources include watermelon, apricots, pink grapefruit, guava and
papaya.
The positive health benefits of lycopene are believed
to be due to its high antioxidant properties. On entering the
body, lycopene
increases tissue and blood lycopene levels and acts as an antioxidant – therefore
reducing the oxidative damage to lipids, proteins and DNA. This
reduced damage then reduces the risk for illness that is related
to oxidative stress such as cancer and CVD.
The clear message to come from this synthesis is that there are
definite links between the benefits of lycopene and the reduction
of risk related to cancer, CVD and other degenerative diseases.
Tomatoes, although slightly high in sugar, should be incorporated
into our daily diets as frequently as possible!
References
Omoni, A. O. and Aluko, R. E. (2005) The anti-carcinogenic and
anti-atherogenic effects of lycopene: a review. Trends in Food
Science and Technology 1-7
Giovannucci,
E., Ascherio, A., Rimm, E. B., Stampfer, M.J., Colitz, G.A., & Willett, W. C. (1995). Intake of carotenoids and retinol
in relation to risk of prostate cancer. Journal of the National
Cancer Institute, 87, 1767 – 1776.
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