Lycopene And Cancer

Lycopene looks like a promising antioxidant in cancer prevention, at least for some cancers.

Diet information from a group of 130 prostate cancer patients was compared with information from 274 people who didn't have cancer. Researchers found that as more lycopene and other antioxidants (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin) were found in the diet, the risk of developing prostate cancer was reduced.

When comparing those with the most lycopene in their diet with those having the least, the lycopene eaters had their risk reduced by over 80%!

The research was done by a team at Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Australia.

The other big performer was the carotenoid, beta-cryptoxanthin. It can be found in citrus fruits, papaya, and other fruits and vegetables, as well as yellow animal products like egg yolk and butter.

Lycopene is a valuable antioxidant with a lot of studies behind it. As such, it is recommended for those wanting to keep their bodies in top condition. Whilst there is a growing body of evidence that links it to preventing chronic diseases like some forms of cancer, it should be noted that a lot more studies need to be done before the link can be considered definitive.

But there's no reason not to include tomato rich foods as part of your daily diet. Most of the current studies have actually been on tomato rich foods and drinks, rather than supplements. This is one case where whole foods are definitely best, at least at this stage of our knowledge.