Tomatoes have effects such as aiding in weight loss, eliminating fatigue, stimulating appetite, improving protein digestion, and reducing bloating and indigestion. In the hot summer, a dish of sugar-coated tomatoes, chilled in the refrigerator, is an absolute appetite stimulant~ But, did you know that some people are not suitable for this cold dish? Let's take a look at who they are.
Nutrition Unveiled: Are the redder tomatoes better at preventing cancer?
Currently, there is no very effective treatment for cancer, so people often "turn pale at the mention of cancer." In recent years, more and more products claiming to prevent or cure cancer have appeared. Among the anti-cancer or health foods recommended by various world organizations, tomatoes are always at the top. In numerous epidemiological surveys and animal experiments, the excellent performance of tomatoes in cancer prevention and treatment has been found to be mainly due to lycopene.
How does lycopene prevent and fight cancer?
First, through a series of biochemical reactions, lycopene can promote the differentiation of cancer cells (transforming them in a benign direction) and inhibit their proliferation.
Second, it can enhance the human immune system. Lycopene can promote the secretion of some cytokines with anti-cancer effects, such as interleukin-2, and activate the lytic effect of lymphocytes on cancer cells; the activated lymphocytes can then release cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor, which have a killing effect on tumor cells.
Third, lycopene has a strong antioxidant effect. The aging, damage, and mutation of cells are all related to the action of free radicals, and antioxidants (such as lycopene) play an important role in effectively clearing free radicals, thereby exerting a whole-body health effect, which includes playing a significant role in cancer prevention.
So, are the redder tomatoes better at preventing cancer?
The redder the tomato, the better, which means it contains more lycopene. Processed tomatoes are better than fresh ones because lycopene is more easily absorbed. Research shows that a diet rich in lycopene can reduce the risk of bladder, lung, prostate, skin, and stomach cancers, as well as intestinal diseases, and helps to delay skin aging.
What foods can tomatoes be paired with to help prevent cancer?
Researchers at the University of Illinois and the University of Columbus provided many convincing pieces of evidence during animal experiments that consuming tomatoes together with kale could inhibit the development of prostate cancer. They injected the same number of prostate cancer cells subcutaneously into the lower abdomen of 206 male rats, then divided them into groups and observed the development of prostate cancer in the rats for 22 consecutive weeks. They added 10% tomato to the diet of the first group of rats, 10% kale to the second group, and 10% tomato and 10% kale to the third group.