For years, middle-aged and older men have been urged to embrace tomatoes in their diets for protection against prostate cancer. A new study suggests that tomatoes may also help in protecting postmenopausal women from breast cancer.
In the study, 70 women ate tomato products with at least 25 mg of lycopene daily over the course of 10 weeks. After a two-week wash-out period, they followed a soy-rich diet for 10 weeks. While on the tomato-heavy diet, the women’s levels of adiponectin rose. This hormone helps to regulate fat and blood sugar in beneficial directions, especially in leaner women.
The study is preliminary, but the risks of consuming fresh and cooked tomatoes daily seems extremely low. What a tasty way to improve your odds!
[Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Dec. 18, 2013]
