By Emily Miller
A recent study done at the universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Bristol suggests that men who eat over 10 portions of tomatoes every week can lower their risk of prostate cancer by 20 percent.
Prostate cancer happens to be the second most common cancer among men worldwide.
It is estimated that about 233,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the United States for 2014 with estimated 29,480 cancer-related deaths.
About one in seven men will be diagnosed with some form of prostate cancer during his lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society.
In order to help combat prostate cancer, medical experts have recommended eating a balanced diet that is sufficiently high in vegetables and fruits while being reasonably low in processed foods, red meat, salt and fat.
Experts also urge men to eat a wide variety of vegetables and fruits to stay active and maintain a healthy weight.
During this study, researchers from the University of Bristol analyzed the lifestyles and diets of 20,000 men in the United Kingdom between the ages of 50 to 69 years old.
This specific age range was selected, as the average age at the time of prostate cancer diagnosis is about 66 years old. It is relatively rare to be diagnosed before the age of 40.
In the study, researchers observed men who consumed more than 10 portions of tomatoes every week in the form of baked beans, tomato juice, and fresh tomatoes saw a reduction of 18 percent in the risk of prostate cancer.
It was also discovered that eating at least five servings of vegetables and fruits every day reduce the risk by at least 24 percent, when compared to men who consumed just two-and-a-half servings and/or less.
Researcher Vanessa Er, associated with the School of Social and Community Medicine of Bristol University, said their findings indicate that tomatoes are importing in preventing prostate cancer.
However, Vanessa said that most studies in the form of human clinical trials are needed to confirm the new findings. Men who consume a variety of vegetables and fruits stay active and maintain a healthy weight, she added.
Tomatoes’ cancer-fighting properties are said to be due to the antioxidant lycopene that has the ability to protect against damage to cells and DNA.
The UK researchers also studied two other dietary components that were linked with the risk of prostate cancer:
· Selenium – found in flour-based foods like pasta and bread
· Calcium – found in dairy products like cheese and milk
The researchers observed that men who indulge in optimal intake of the above three dietary components recorded a lower risk of prostate cancer.
However, it is not recommended that men simply rely on these three dietary components to better their health while reducing their risk of prostate cancer. Individuals should opt for a healthy diet of fresh vegetables and fruits along with regular exercise. This will improve the overall health of a man.
