Tomatoes are very effective against breast cancer
HEALTH BENEFITS, NUTRITION FACTS AND RESEARCH
Health benefits of tomatoes:
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, cholesterol and blood pressure reducing and anti-mutagenic and help with digestion
Tomatoes are a source of:
vitamin A from beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and cooper
Cancer-fighting compounds of tomatoes:
Lycopene:
- slows down the growth, invasion and migration of human breast cancer cells and increases their cell death
- protects against cancers as a result of its antioxidant properties
- lycopene content increases during cooking, especially together with oil
Melatonin:
- suppresses cancer cells growth, slows down their invasion and causes their death
- shows anti-cancer and anti-oestrogenic effects
- increases tumour regression in cancer patients as it interacts with the immune system, chemotherapy and anti-cancer drugs
- promising agent for the prevention and treatment of several cancers
- enhances medicinal and reduces the side effects of chemotherapies or radiation
- leads to many positive effects to protect the body and cells from damage
- improper administration can be harmful
Naringenin:
- has the ability to repair DNA
- shows anti-cancer, anti-growth and anti-carcinogenic effects
- might be a potential agent for the prevention of breast cancer metastasis and to treat cancer progression and metastasis
NOTES:
Slowly cooked tomatoes are recommended as this increases the absorption of lycopene.
