Study: Eating Tomatoes Can Lower Risk of Prostate Cancer

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Eating 10 portions of tomatoes every week can lower men’s risk of developing prostate cancer by almost 20 per cent, suggests a study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology.

Researchers at three British universities compared the diets and lifestyle of 1,806 men aged between 50 and 69 with prostate cancer and those of 12,005 cancer-free men.

Men who had an optimal intake of selenium (found in bread and pasta), calcium and the antioxidant lycopene, found in tomatoes, had a lower risk of prostate cancer.

Tomatoes and its products – such as tomato juice and baked beans in tomato sauce – were shown to be most beneficial, with an 18 per cent reduction in risk found in men eating over 10 portions a week.

Lycopene fights off toxins that can cause DNA and cell damage.

“Our findings suggest that tomatoes may be important in prostate cancer prevention,” reported the lead researcher. “However, further studies need to be conducted to confirm our findings, especially through human trials. Men should still eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, maintain a healthy weight and stay active.”

There’s no advice from the experts on whether a Bloody Mary can count as one (or more) of the 10 portions.