Prostate Cancer can affect a man of any age, thus, it’s important for men to start becoming more vigilant about eating a more healthy diet as a way to minimise the risks, and increase prevention of the disease. In a study conducted by Harvard University, it was noted that men who included at least 10 (or more) tomato-based products in their weekly diet, showed a reduced risk of prostate cancer by as much at 34%.
Tomatoes contain a powerful antioxidant known as Lycopene – red carotene and carotenoid pigment which also gives the tomatoes their colour.According to the American Cancer Society, people who eat a diet rich in Lycopene products show a reduced risk of certain kinds of cancers such as prostate, lung, and stomach cancer. However, many studies have mixed results and until further testing is completed there is no absolute proof that Lycopene aids in preventing cancer.
How to naturally increase Lycopene in your diet
There are many benefits to having a diet enriched with Lycopene and as mentioned above the health benefits of Lycopene outweigh excluding it in your diet. There are many vegetables and fruits that aid in reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, and other illnesses. However, tomatoes with their strong content of Lycopene should be included as part of a man’s regular diet.
Ways of increasing Lycopene in a diet can be tried with the following:
- Switch from a generic tomato sauce and ketchup to one that uses organic tomatoes.
- Red tomatoes should be favoured over other varieties of tomato because they have a stronger concentration of Lycopene.
- Processed tomatoes are just as beneficial as raw tomatoes since the Lycopene is more easily absorbed by the body.
- Men should try to increase the quantity of tomato-based products they include in their weekly diet with such items as tomato sauces, tomato soup, and other products with tomato paste.
