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Lycopene for prostate care
Is it true that tomato ketchup is good for older men and anyone concerned about their prostate? How can this be?
Plants have developed their own protective substances called phytochemicals and one of these is lycopene which is found in tomatoes. It is twice as potent as the cancer-protecting beta-cartotenes and 100% more bioavailable if you cook it which is the only reason why tomato ketchup gets a recommendation on the health pages.
The research underpinning the role of lycopene in prostate protection was reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute of America after scientists found that men who ate 10 or more servings of tomatoes and tomato-based foods on a regular basis had a 45% lower risk of prostate cancer than those who did not. For the record, nobody defined the word regular so you will have to work out for yourself how much is enough. And although lycopene is better known for its action on the prostate, it can also protect women against oestoporosis.
Israeli researchers, who have bred a hybrid tomato that contains four times the normal dose of lycopene, also report that its action is enhanced in the body by the presence of vitamin E so take the two together but avoid vitamin E if you are on blood-thinning heart medication such as warfarin.
*Nobody is making a combined Lycopene and vitamin E supplement yet so you will need to combine them yourself. Lyco-mato costs £10.99 for a month’s supply. To mail order call 0800-0837040. Vitamin E is widely on sale in all good health stores.