For years researchers have known that a diet rich in tomatoes could lower a person’s risk of heart disease–but now a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism reveals there’s a new reason to load up on this key vegetable.
Working on behalf of Rutgers University, lead researcher Adana Llanos says that eating a tomato-rich diet could decrease a woman’s breast cancer risk by 12.4 percent.
For Llanos, she believes this may be one way to counteract the negative effects of having a higher body mass index–a key factor that raises a woman’s risk of breast cancer.
“Eating fruits and vegetables, which are rich in essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals such as lycopene, conveys significant benefits,” says Llanos. “Based on this data, we believe regular consumption of at least the daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables would promote breast cancer prevention in an at-risk population.”
Why Tomatoes Matter in Your Diet
Investigating the effects of tomatoes on a woman’s cancer risk, Llanos and her team of researchers recruited 70 women described as “postmenopausal”–an important stage of life when a woman’s breast cancer risk typically increases.
Then, during the following 10 weeks, researchers asked them to follow a diet rich in tomatoes. Researchers also asked them to consume a minimum of 25 mg of lycopene daily, an important antioxidant commonly found in tomatoes. Their hormone levels were also tracked.
After the 10 weeks had elapsed, researchers then asked them to follow a diet rich in soy, asking them to consume at least 40 g of soy protein per day.
And the result, researchers say, was significant.
After the women followed the tomato-rich diet for 10 weeks, their levels of adiponectin increased by 9 percent. Adiponectin is a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and fat levels, and when increased, helps women regulate their weight more effectively.
But when they ate a diet rich in soy, these levels actually decreased–a factor that could increase their risk of obesity, and further down the road, breast cancer.
“The advantages of eating plenty of tomatoes and tomato-based products, even for a short period, were clearly evident in our findings,” says Llanos. “The findings demonstrate the importance of obesity prevention.”
Although in years past researchers believed soy may reduce a person’s breast cancer risk, due to anecdotal evidence that Asian women who ate high amounts of soy, this study shows that it may not necessarily be a good thing–after all, it raises adiponectin levels. For women, loading up on tomatoes instead may provide better protection against breast cancer.
“Consuming a diet rich in tomatoes had a larger impact on hormone levels in women who maintained a healthy weight,” says Llanos.
What You Should Do
To lower your risk of breast cancer, switch soy for a couple of handfuls of tomatoes instead. Best way to enjoy: Tomatoes are a great accompaniment in salads of sandwiches, but also taste delicious in stews.
Readers: Do you eat a lot of tomatoes in your diet? Why or why not?
Sources:
Diet Rich in Tomatoes May Lower Breast Cancer Risk – MedicalNewsToday.com
Study: Tomato-Rich Diet Decreases Breast Cancer Risk – Endocrine.org
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