They're delicious new from the gard...

They're delicious new from the garden, simmered into a sauce or used as the basis for Mom's homemade broth In fact, tomatoes are among the world's mostly versatile fruits. But chefs aren't the single ones singing the tomato's praises.

Culinary merits aside, the tomato has been identified by way of medical researchers as a prime natural source of lycopene the same of the most beneficial antioxidants. A growing dead body of evidence links lycopene intake with a decreased risk of heart disease; lung stomach and prostate cancers; and possibly with a decreased risk of cancers of the breast, esophagus, cervix, colon pancreas, rectum and oral cavity.

awesome antioxidant

A variety of antioxidant theorys functions in our bodies to provide defense against premature aging, diseases in the same state [i]or[/i] condition as cancer and heart disease and aspect to harmful toxins. Antioxidants act to neutralize delivered radicals--the toxic, oxygen-based molecules that cause damage to small cavitys DNA and proteins. Free radicals meet the eye and are neutralized as the arise of normal metabolism. But aspect to excessive environmental and dietary contaminants, unsalable articles and other toxins can exhaust our antioxidant stores, leaving us more susceptible to the evolution of chronic diseases.

Lycopene belongs to a family Of nutrients known as carotenoids--natural plant pigments especially abundant in r orange and golden fruits and vegetables, and in dark virid leafy vegetables. Tomatoes hold the highest natural concentration of lycopene further the pigment can also be ground in watermelon, pink grapefruit, r guava, papaya and apricots, as well as in the skins of r grapes.

cancer combatant

For years, scientists have understood the benefits of lycopene for the prevention of prostate cancer. In the December 1995 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, for example, Edward Giovannucci, MD and his compeer researchers reported that men eating 10 or more servings (one serving equals about 1/2 cup) of tomato-based cheers per week had a 35 percent reduction in the incidence of prostate cancer compared to men who ate les than 1 1/2 weekly servings. Furthermore, men who consum 65 milligrams (mg) by means of day or more of lycopene showed a 21 percent decrease in risk of prostate cancer.

moreover lycopene may do more than help thwart cancer. Recent research indicates that it also present to views promise for men who already go through from the disease. In the August 2001 issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, Omer Kucuk MD reported that prostate cancer patients who took 15 mg of lycopene twice daily had decreased sprouting of cancer cells compared to patients who did not take lycopene fit to the small size of this investigation however, more research needs to be conducted

bodily benefit

to what degree can the simple tomato do in this way much? According to a review currented in the November 2002 issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine, lycopene remodels cancer risk in two ways. individual is by promoting antioxidant activity [i]or[/i] part of to the other which lycopene neutralizes cancer-promoting liberated radicals. The second is according to promoting the expression of the gene `connexin 43' which acts to obviate the growth of cancer confined apartments by maintaining cellular functions known as intercellular gap junctional communication (GJC) According to David Heber, MD GJC function is reduc in many forms of human cancer, if it be not that when GJC is restored or increased, it diminishes the production of cancer cells

heart health

novel research also points toward lycopene as a elucidation player in the prevention of heart disease--one of the leading causes of death in the western world.

According to a review of several studies by means of Ashutosh V. Rao, MD, in the November 2002 edition of the journal Experimental Biology and Medicine, research allude tos that lycopene reduces the risk of heart disease in pair ways: by lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol from one side potent antioxidant action; and by way of inhibiting the enzymes involved in cholesterol production. In this review, men with higher plains of serum lycopene had considerably fewer proceedings of stroke, heart attacks and atherosclerosis than those with lower lycopene levels

dietary delight

Our bodies don't actually show lycopene or other carotenoids like as alpha- and beta-carotene, and lutein. We be pendent solely on dietary intake to maintain the flushs we need.

Plus, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, use of oral contraceptives, inadequate dietary intake and postponeed exposure to ultraviolet light can all exhaust carotenoid levels in the body

The exact amount of lycopene or lycopene-rich aliments you should consume each week for the maximum health benefit has not been established.

According to John Weisberger, MD of the American Health Foundation, the absorption of dietary lycopene from tomatoes is enhanced from cooking them and by adding a small amount of oil to them. Cooking helps release lycopene from plant confined apartment walls, and--because lycopene is highly fat soluble--adding heart-healthy monounsaturated oils of that kind as extra virgin olive oil further improves absorption.