Tomatoes And Cancer Prevention

The tomato, or Solanum lycopersicum,is one of the most abundant yet overlooked plant foods that have the ability to ward off disease. In 2012 alone, about 162 million tonnes of tomato were produced worldwide as they form a staple part of many diets and cuisines spanning from Asia to the Americas. Tomatoes are of particular value because of their high levels of phytochemicals. The phytochemicals which tomatoes are specifically high in are vitamin C, folic acid, potassium and carotenoids – the most important of which is lycopene. These carotenoids are essentially what give each fruit and vegetable their distinctive color which is bright red in the case of the tomato. 

Carotenoids And Lycopene

Carotenoids and lycopenes work through many ways, however their primary mechanism is as anti-oxidants. Antioxidants essentially scavenge the body of harmful substances called free radicals which cause numerous chronic diseases. By capturing these 'reactive oxygen species', lycopene inhibits further damage to DNA strands, proteins and fats that lead to the negative attributions of the aging process. As well as its antioxidant properties, lycopene also works in four other ways.

• Lycopene assists in cell communication at areas called 'gap junctions', junctions which are vital for cells to know when to stop growing, something pivotal for preventing tumor and cancer development.
• Lycopene works as a regulatory agent for the endocrine system and in this way controls hormonal and other chemical activity in the body.
• Lycopene affects the immune system in such a way that it helps rid the body of harmful substances, such as early cancer cells and invasive microorganisms.
• Lycopene also is involved in cell reproduction and thereby can prevent the development of cancer cells themselves.

Skin Cancer

The preventive effect of lycopene for skin cancer is well known and probably the best established anti-cancer effect of this phytochemical. Lycopene works via decreasing the sensitivity of skin to the sun damage through its anti-oxidant mechanisms mentioned above. Prevention of UV damage to the skin reduces the risk of skin cancer substantially. It is advisable to consume more tomato-based products when you are having a holiday in the sun!

Prostate Cancer

Since tomato and lycopene consumption was first established as having a correlation with decreased cancer risk, there have been numerous studies demonstrating their benefits. One study involved investigating 1,806 prostate cancer cases and 12,005 controls and formulating an index by using the three most important dietary factors associated with prostate cancer. 

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Another study used men with recently diagnosed prostate tumors who were given 15 mg of lycopene twice daily for three weeks before the surgical removal of the tumor. In the lycopene group, the tumors were found to be less invasive and significantly smaller than those in the control. The tumors were also classified as being lower-grade and levels of a tumor marker called PSA, or prostate specific antigen, fell in the supplemented patients whereas In the control group the figure actually rose. Other human studies have also validated these data coming up with similar results.

Lycopenes From Tomatoes Are Active Against The Range Of Various Cancers

Breast And Cervical Cancer

Today, breast cancer is in fact the most common form of cancer affecting women and the most prevalent cause of death amongst female cancer patients. Researchers and scientists have estimated that 40% of all breast cancer cases could be prevented merely by including more plant-based foods in one’s diet. Alongside broccoli, onions, carrots, garlic, chili peppers and various fruits, the tomato is one of the most potent in its anti-cancerous effects. One study highlighted that breast cancer cells treated with lycopene resulted in the improvement of DNA repair, reduction and deceleration of cancer cell replication and increased death of cancer cells. Lycopene has also been shown to reduce the amount of oxidative stress in the breast tissue itself and to stimulate the natural anti-oxidant enzymes in this tissue.

Lycopene has also been indicated in reducing women's risk of developing cervical cancer. 

Lung And Colon Cancer

Lycopene has also proved promising in the prevention of lung cancer as lung tissue has high oxidative stress exposure when we breathe. This carotenoid has been shown to reduce the DNA damage in lung cells that could otherwise lead to cancer. Another study highlighted that those individuals with the highest concentration of lycopene in their blood were 28% less likely to develop lung cancer.

Prevention of colon cancer too has been associated with lycopene intake. It has been clearly demonstrated that supplementation of lycopene 30 mg/day in individuals with a family history of colon cancer decreases IGF-1 concentrations which could potentially stimulate cancer cell growth in the region. This effect through supplementation could similarly be achieved by simply consuming more cooked tomatoes or tomato based products, as just one glass of tomato juice (250 ml) contains 25 mg of lycopene.

Lycopene Absorption

Probably one of the most important things to note when looking to naturally increase your lycopene intake is that eating raw tomatoes is ineffective at boosting serum levels of lycopene by itself. This is simply because the fiber content of the tomato interferes with lycopene bioavailability and absorption in the human body. So, the best way of getting the most out of your tomatoes is to cook them in some way or buy them in processed form. Pasta sauces, tomato based curries, and even juicing are all excellent ideas and, in addition adding things like chili sauces, ketchup, or more general tomato sauces to your foods will certainly bring the figure up. Some examples: 125 ml (or ½ cup) of pasta sauce provides 27 mg of lycopene, 2 tablespoons of chili sauce provides on average 6.7 mg of lycopene and 2 tablespoons of tomato paste provides 13.8 mg. On the other hand, 1 medium raw tomato consumed whole will provide a mere 3.7 mg of lycopene as your body will not absorb it all.

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Plant based diets involving a vast array of fruits and vegetables are in general superior for the disease prevention. This comes as good news to all the vegetarians out there, however the most important thing to remember is that the preparation of the vegetable or fruit is what is vital in getting the benefits from it. Studies have shown that supplementation of lycopene is also a viable method. However, if you're not keen on spending money for something which you can buy at your local grocery store or supermarket, then start eating tomatoes – you won't regret it.