It stops cancer cells. Protects against one of the most dangerous tumors
3:28 PM EDT, October 9, 2023
Can tomatoes prevent prostate cancer? Dr. Michael Mosley, a television personality and creator of the Fast 800 diet, and Prof. Richard can Breemen of Oregon State University, agreed on this in the latest podcast for the BBC. They named tomatoes as "key" for prostate health.
The Impact of Lycopene on the Prostate
Dr. Mosley drew attention to personal fears associated with prostate cancer and emphasized that numerous evidence indicates the beneficial effects of eating tomatoes on reducing the risk of this disease.
Professor Van Breemen pointed to the exceptional power of lycopene contained in tomatoes as an antioxidant, which may play a key role in preventing cancer. However, he noted that despite numerous studies on lycopene over the last 20 years, many issues still require additional analysis.
Among the available and optimistic studies, the professor pointed out a long-term study involving doctors, which showed that those who consumed the most lycopene were less likely to develop prostate cancer.
Discussing the issue of prevention, van Breemen emphasized that the prostate is an organ with limited DNA repair capabilities compared to other organs. Over time, these imperfections can lead to the development of tumors. Lycopene, in the expert's opinion, may play a key role in minimizing initial DNA damage.
The latest study published in the journal Nutrients in 2022 confirmed the beneficial effects of lycopene on health, especially in the context of preventing prostate cancer. However, as the scientists emphasize, further research is needed to determine the recommended daily dosage of lycopene for preventive purposes.
Cooked Tomatoes
Experts unanimously emphasized that consuming tomatoes in a cooked form - even as a tomato sauce - is most beneficial in terms of lycopene delivery. Heat treatment indeed increases the availability of lycopene contained in the tomatoes (and facilitates its absorption by the body).
However, this does not mean that we should abandon raw tomatoes. They also contain valuable lycopene - the only difference is that we will assimilate it in a slightly smaller amount.
