Eat tomatoes to prevent breast, prostate and types of cancer

Tomato has been descried as one of the most healthy fruits because of its lycopene content which is an effective antioxidant property.

Researchers have found that consumption of food which is rich in lycopene reduce the chances of having various types of cancer, especially breast and prostate cancer. Lycopene helps prevent prostate, breast, lung, and stomach cancers by reducing LDL ("bad") cholesterol and lowering blood pressure.

Food For Life Cancer Project entitled “How Lycopene Helps Protect Against Cancer" reports that lycopene is one of the free radical-fighting antioxidants. Free radicals are damaging molecules that float around in the body disrupting cells and promoting disease. Antioxidants, such as lycopene, destroy free radicals so they can't attach to cells and wreak havoc on the immune system.

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism shows how analysis of 70 postmenopausal women for 20 weeks demonstarted the potential of lycopene to reduce breast cancer risk.

In the stydy, for the first 10 weeks, the women were required to follow a tomato-rich diet. This involved consuming a minimum of 25 mg of lycopene each day. Lycopene is an antioxidant found in tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables.
For the remaining 10 weeks, the women followed a soy-rich diet. This required them to consume at least 40 g of soy protein daily. All women were asked to refrain from eating any soy or tomato products 2 weeks prior to each diet.
Postmenopausal women showed a 9 percent increase in levels of adiponectin - a fat and blood sugar regulating hormone - after following a tomato-rich diet for 10 weeks, lowering their risk of breast cancer.

Results revealed that women who consumed tomato-rich diet showed a 9 percent increase in their levels of adiponectin - a hormone that plays a part in the regulation of fat and blood sugar levels. However, the women consume soy-rich diet showed reduction in adiponectin levels. Low adiponectin levels are linked to increased risk of obesity and insulin resistance.

Fruits and vegetables that are rich vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals such as lycopene provide numerous health benefits and can help prevent the chance of having some ailments.