When you bite into a juicy tomato or enjoy a bowl of pasta with marinara sauce, you may be providing your body with more than a delicious treat. Lycopene, which is found in tomatoes, may be an important factor in reducing a man's risk for developing prostate cancer.
Lycopene and Prostate Cancer
Evidence on the subject is mixed, but multiple studies have suggested that men who eat a lot of tomatoes as part of a healthy diet are at lower risk for prostate cancer. According to some early research, men who consume the most tomato products may have a 35 percent reduced risk of developing the disease at all — and a 53 percent reduced risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer. One recent study, from the University of Illinois at Chicago, suggested that tomatoes may be especially beneficial for African-American men, who are among those at highest risk for prostate cancer.
"Certainly, the majority of the data indicate that tomatoes and lycopene may confer risk reduction. It is also suggested that tomatoes and lycopene may have the most benefit against the more aggressive types of cancer," says Roberta Anding, MS, RD, an instructor at the Baylor College of Medicine and an American Dietetic Association spokeswoman.
Antioxidants such as lycopene help protect cells from damage caused by extra oxygen in the cells, called free radicals. Free radicals can protect the body by destroying harmful substances, but sometimes they can begin destroying healthy cells as well. Antioxidants can help prevent free radicals from damaging healthy cells and impairing the immune system, which may explain how they help protect the body from prostate cancer.
Lycopene can also provide your body with other defenses, including boosting heart health, eye health, and immunity, and controlling cholesterol levels.
Tomatoes for Cancer Nutrition
Lycopene isn't only found in tomatoes, but they are among the best sources of the antioxidant. In fact, lycopene is a carotenoid, meaning it is what gives many fruits their red or pink color — including apricots, pink grapefruits, papaya, watermelon, guava, and strawberries. Eating these fruits can also provide men with lycopene's defense against prostate cancer.
Tomatoes, rather than a lycopene supplement, seem to be more effective in preventing prostate cancer. And cooked tomatoes are even better than the fresh fruits, although experts aren't sure why.
"Lycopene is actually better absorbed and used by the body with cooking. So tomato sauces and even ketchup would be rich sources," says Anding. It may have something to do with the release of lycopene when tomatoes are cooked and processed, which affects the way the body can absorb it and use it to fight off prostate cancer.
Eat Tomatoes for Prostate Cancer Prevention
Unlike a pill or a supplement, you don't have to worry about safety and side effects with tomatoes. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is a safe method of trying to prevent prostate cancer.
So what should men concerned about prostate cancer do with this information? If you do have food allergies, lycopene is also available in supplement form. Otherwise, try to plan your menu around tomatoes and cooked tomato products. At least two servings each week of tomato sauce is your best nutritional bet at preventing prostate cancer, but get tomatoes any way you can to protect your prostate, boost overall good health, and add delicious variety to your meals.
Last Updated: 12/29/2011