Tomatoes Can Lower Your Risk of Cancer

There may be some confusion here as to the tomato. It is, scientifically speaking, a fruit but many people refer to it as a vegetable. But because millions of cooks use it as a savory component of their meal preparation, the humble tomato most often gets called a vegetable. But that doesn’t matter. We all know the red [mainly] tomato and enjoy it in so many different ways. It can be eaten raw or cooked and can appear in a wide range of sauces and spreads. The humble tomato is everywhere.

And millions of people grow their own. In backyards and on walls, in window boxes and hydroponic tanks, people grow their own tomatoes. And those who use their own home grown compost are not only producing tasty, chemical free produce but helping save the planet at the same time. Mind you the heavy hitters in the world of health and science such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture have not made any definitive statement on the organic versus conventionally grown fruit and vegetables. But anyone who has ‘tasted’ the fruit right off the tree will tell you fresh is best and if those tomatoes have been grown in your garden and are popped into your salad an hour after picking, then there’s no argument.

But what is the relationship between tomatoes and a reduction in the risk of cancer? In some studies there was no immediate positive result. However, for those people who had a diet high in fruit and vegetables – including tomatoes – their weight was well managed and with a healthy weight, their risk of cancer was reduced. So you can see it’s a win-win situation. A healthy diet including tomatoes will establish and maintain a healthy weight and that is a wonderful foundation for warding off ill-health including the onset of cancer.

It’s recommended that you eat tomatoes whole as opposed to tomato juice or tomato pastes or sauces. But eating tomatoes in any way is good. They can be part of your sandwich, salad or salsa. Just put them there.

One ingredient of a tomato is lycopene and is the factor which gives tomatoes their red color. The more lycopene the better as some studies show it can reduce the incidence of prostate cancer. A combination of tomatoes and oily fish is believed to form a great partnership in lowering the risk of several cancers. And remember that tomatoes are loaded with Vitamin C as well so you can give yourself a super healthy fix with such a diet. Five portions of fruit and vegetables a day does not have to be the maximum.

But the tomato offers so much for your overall good health. It has loads of Vitamin C and antioxidants which help your heart. The antioxidant beta-carotene helps the immune system and that is so important in promoting healthy cells. If you cook tomatoes, cooking in oil is better than in water because in oil the lycopene and beta-carotene break down and are easily absorbed into the body.

They’re cheap, available all year round, taste and look delicious and they help boost your health.