Father’s Day: How Tomatoes Help Fight Prostate Cancer

Father’s Day: How Tomatoes Help Fight Prostate Cancer

This Father’s Day let’s talk about men’s health. One of the most pressing health issues for men is prostate cancer, with more than 1.3 million men diagnosed each year. Use this month as motivation to take preventative steps to reduce your risk of getting prostate cancer, including getting screened at age 50, and following a healthy and balanced lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

Fruits and veggies contain fiber and antioxidants that have been shown to help fight cancer and keep you healthy. One of the most potent antioxidants out there is called lycopene, which is the powerful pigment responsible for giving tomatoes their bright red color. According to several scientific studies, people who consume more tomato products have a reduced risk of developing prostate cancer, likely due to the powerful combination of lycopene, vitamin A, and vitamin C that occurs naturally in tomatoes.

While fresh tomatoes are relatively high in lycopene, the compound becomes more bioavailable as tomatoes are cooked, meaning your body can absorb more and take advantage of its anti-cancer properties. Why is this? Heat changes the structure of the lycopene molecule, making it easier for the body to take in, and helps break down cell walls, which frees lycopene and allows it to be absorbed.  A recent study found that men who ate cooked tomatoes five to six times per week had a 28% decreased risk of developing prostate cancer versus those who didn’t. Eating tomato products such as tomato sauce, tomato juice, tomato soup, canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and salsa is a great way to ensure you are getting in plenty of cancer-fighting lycopene.

How exactly does lycopene exert its cancer-fighting powers? Scientists have proposed several possible methods, including stopping the growth of cancerous cells in the prostate, controlling proteins that suppress tumors, and preventing damage to DNA that can have lasting impacts on the body. While lycopene is powerful on its own, tomatoes contain other anti-carcinogenic compounds, like vitamin A, vitamin C, and fiber. That’s why you’re better off getting lycopene from dietary sources like tomatoes, rather than from a supplement.  

In addition to cooking, adding a little bit of oil to your tomatoes can boost your ability to absorb lycopene even more. This is because lycopene is a fat-soluble compound, and the fat in oil helps lycopene get broken down to a form usable by the body. A serving of whole wheat pasta with tomato sauce and a side salad with olive oil and vinegar is the perfect prostate-cancer-preventing meal!

It’s so important for men to be aware of the most common conditions that can threaten health, both in Movember and beyond. Prostate cancer is a frightening possibility, but early detection and prevention is key in reducing your risk. Along with screenings and a healthy diet and exercise plan, incorporating cooked tomato products into your meals several times a week is an excellent way to make sure you are maximizing your dose of cancer-fighting lycopene.

 

 

 Get your SWAG!

 

 

Go Red for Movember!

Go Red for Movember!

Canned tomatoes can be a great benefit to men’s health. Go red for Movember and learn more about the power of tomatoes in our battle against prostate cancer.

It’s Movember – which means during the month of November, we are bringing awareness to men’s health. According to the Movember website, approximately 10.8 million men across the globe have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. That does not even include other health implications like testitular cancer and men’s suicide.

The Movember organization has many ways to support the movement of men’s health and the research involved in the fight against cancer. You can grow a mustache and start a fundraiser of your own, build a team and run/walk 60 miles in the month, or host an event to raise money for the cause. You can also take the fight into your own hands by building a lifestyle that benefits your overall health. Did someone say, eat more canned tomatoes? Let’s dive into the risks of cancer, why tomatoes are important for cancer prevention, and how you can go red for Movember. 

What increases your risk of cancer? 

While cancer can develop as a result of age or family genetics, there are also other potential factors that can be avoided or reduced. Some of the most studied risk factors for cancer are age related risk, alcohol, chronic inflammation, tobacco use, obesity, diet and cancer causing substances. The National Cancer Institute suggests that limiting your exposure to some of these lifestyle behaviors and maintaining a healthy weight can help to lower your risk of developing certain cancers. Diet can be incredibly impactful and a focus on choosing foods rich in antioxidants and vegetables has been associated with reducing cancer risk [1]. In fact, tomatoes, especially canned tomatoes, are a very popular source of antioxidants rich with beta-carotene and lycopene [2]. 

Tomatoes have a powerful team. 

Tomatoes have an incredible team of nutrients to provide our bodies with cancer fighting benefits. They are full of antioxidants which are known for their ability to neutralize free-radicals. It is possible for the body to create some antioxidants, but for the most part you have to get your antioxidants from food sources [1].

The antioxidants that are present in tomatoes are lycopene, beta-carotene and vitamin C [4]. This team of nutrients is what leads scientists to believe that tomatoes can be impactful in the fight against cancer. 

Fun fact: the red color of tomatoes is due to its lycopene content.

Canned tomato products like pizza sauce, ketchup, tomato paste, and tomato soup possess a more bioavailable form of lycopene due to the processing of these products [3]. This means that our bodies are better able to absorb these nutrients. While more studies are needed, lycopene has been associated with up to a 40% reduction of risk of aggressive prostate cancer [3]. Interestingly, one study showed that eating 2-4 servings of tomato sauce per week reduced the risk of prostate cancer by one-third [3].

Creative ways to go red for Movember

If you’re looking to add more canned tomatoes into your meal routine, we have you covered! Here are some of our favorite ways to use this produce item. 

 

Learn more about Movember with these resources:

References:

  1. National Cancer Institute – Risks for Cancer, November 9, 2022 from https://www.cancer.gov
  2. National Cancer Institute – Antioxidants and Cancer Prevention, November 9, 2022 from https://www.cancer.gov
  3. A Review of Epidemiologic Studies of Tomatoes, Lycopene, and Prostate Cancer. Experimental Biology and Medicine, November 9, 2022 from doi:10.1177/15353702022270100
  4. Healthline – Tomatoes, November 10, 2022 from https://www.healthline.com

 

Get serious about men’s health by focusing on disease prevention

Get serious about men’s health by focusing on disease prevention

Happy Movember! This month, we’re getting serious about men’s health by focusing on disease prevention. One of the most pressing health issues for men is prostate cancer, as more than 1.3 million men are diagnosed each year. Here at Tomato Wellness, we understand the importance of preventing this disease, which is why eating more canned tomatoes can be a huge step in the right direction! Tomatoes contain an antioxidant called lycopene which is proven to reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer, and while fresh tomatoes are relatively high in lycopene, the compound becomes more bioavailable as tomatoes are cooked. This means that eating canned tomatoes is a great way to ensure you are getting in plenty of cancer-fighting lycopene. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s celebrate Movember and men’s health in the healthiest way possible with some delicious recipes and juicy science tidbits!

RD of the month

The Amazing Ellie Krieger Celebrity Chef/Registered Dietitian is our Tomato Wellness Registered Dietitian for #Movember 2021, and she is excited to share some of her favorite delicious recipes starring tomato products. Click here to learn why she loved tomato products, and a recipe round-up of a few of her greatest dishes that feature these pantry staples!

Top recipes

  • Parmesan Crusted Pork Loin becomes tender and juicy in your slow cooker. This has a Parmesan crust and tomato sauce from stewed tomatoes and tomato puree for a delicious family meal.
  • Two of our all-time favorite foods combined! This Shakshuka Pita Pizza recipe by Ellie Krieger is a well-balanced dinner that your whole family will love. It also includes a bounty of lycopene!

Tomatoes in the news

  • Who knew tomatoes were full of anti-cancer properties? Learn more about what science has to say when it comes to canned tomatoes and prostate cancer.
  • Learn how to make time-saving family meals using your pressure cooker, slow cooker, and your freezer. Putting dinner on the table night after night for your busy family just go a whole lot easier!
Fight Prostate Cancer for Movember, Thanks to Tomatoes

Fight Prostate Cancer for Movember, Thanks to Tomatoes

Fight Prostate Cancer for Movember, Thanks to Tomatoes

You can help fight prostate cancer this Movember thanks to tomatoes! Learn about the cancer-fighting properties of lycopene, and how you can paint your plate red to boost health.

By Sharon Palmer, RDN

Guys, it’s that time of year to grow out your mustachios in honor of Movember, the month-long event which raises awareness of prostate cancer. Growing out your mustaches helps to “change the face of men’s health.” This serves as a reminder to support the men in your life—grandfathers, fathers, husbands, partners, brothers, sons, and friends—by fighting prostate cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the U.S. So, get on board and join the Movember movement so you can help support research to fight prostate cancer. There are plenty of ways you can get involved besides growing out your moustache, including “Move for Movember” by committing to walk or run 60 miles over the month, hosting an event, or spreading the word.

Paint Your Plate Red to Fight Prostate Cancer

One way you can help battle prostate cancer is with your own healthy lifestyle. According to the National Cancer Institute, your best odd chances for reducing the risk of prostate cancer is to enjoy a healthy lifestyle: avoid smoking, maintain a healthy weight, eat a healthy diet, and exercise regulalry. In addition, it’s important for men to be aware of the benefits of early detection and treatment for prostate cancer.

And you can go beyond those no-nonsense tips to look at specific foods that may help protect you against prostate cancer—specifically tomato products, which are rich in lycopene and a symphony of cancer-protective nutrients, making them one of the most promising foods to help protect the men in your life against prostate cancer. Researchers have been studying the prostate-cancer fighting potential of tomatoes for decades, discovering that people who consume more tomato products, such as tomato soup, marinara sauce, canned tomatoes, salsa, and tomato juice, tend to have a lower rate of prostate cancer. Indeed, numerous studies have demonstrated that tomato product consumption may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer development.

Why do tomato products fight prostate cancer? Scientists believe that it boils down to the powerful arsenal of nutrients in tomatoes—vitamin C, vitamin A, fiber, potassium and carotenoids—working together in the tomato. The most abundant carotenoid in tomato products is lycopene, the pigment responsible for the deep red color of ripe tomatoes. Tomato products—the second most popular vegetable in the country—account for more than 80 percent of the lycopene in the American diet. And lycopene from processed tomatoes—canned tomatoes, pasta sauce, salsa, and soup—is more bioavailable than in fresh tomatoes.

One study found that eating ten or more servings of tomatoes per week cuts prostate cancer risk by 18% (Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers Prevention, 2014). And a recent review further supports tomato products and lycopene in reducing the risk of prostate cancer progression and death (World Journal of Urology, 2017). In a new study on tomato consumption and prostate cancer risk, scientists discovered a dose response for cooked tomato products—higher total consumption of cooked tomato products and sauces was linked to lower risk for developing prostate cancer (Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis, 2018).

 

Go Red to Fight Prostate Cancer for Movember

So, this November (or Movember!), paint your plate red with healthy, cancer-fighting tomatoes with these tips:

  • Include a number of tomato products on your shopping list, such as marinara sauce, canned tomatoes, tomato paste, salsa, tomato juice, and tomato soup.
  • Put plenty of cultural, tomato-based foods on the menu, including enchiladas with red sauce, tacos with salsa, pasta with marinara sauce, and curry with canned tomatoes.
  • Heat up a pot of soup, chili, or stew and pour in a can of diced tomatoes.
  • Ask for an extra side of marinara when dining out—it’s great for pasta, pizza, and dipping.
  • Put the healthy in pizza with a veggie-rich recipe slathered with red sauce.
  • Start your meal off right with a bowl of classic tomato soup.
  • Skip the out-of-season fresh tomatoes this time of year, and turn to canned tomatoes for cooking up side-dishes, salads, casseroles, and appetizers.

Try one of my favorite recipes highlighting tomato products, this Chipotle Tomato Rice Power Bowl. Join Tomato Wellness in the fight against cancer. To learn more about health benefits, cooking tips and recipes featuring tomato products, visit http://www.tomatowellness.com.

Learn how to make this recipe with my easy video here.

Chipotle Tomato Rice Power Bowl

 

Put the power of a zesty tomato rice to work in this delicious, fiesta bowl, filled with piquant flavors, such as chipotle, kale, black beans, avocados, sweet corn, cilantro, and an herbal dressing. This meal-in-a-bowl is great for meal prepping for the week, packing away in lunchboxes, or creating build-your-own dinners for the whole family.

Chipotle Tomato Rice:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 ½ cups medium grain brown brown rice, uncooked
  • 1 15-ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 vegetable broth bullion cube
  • ½ teaspoon chipotle powder or seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon salt (optional)

Toppings:

  • 2 cups kale, chopped
  • 1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed, drained
  • 1 cup frozen sweet corn, thawed
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 small avocado, sliced into 8 slices
  • 1 bell pepper (orange, yellow, red, or green), thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
  • ½ cup vegan ranch dressing (Southwest flavored or chipotle flavored)*

 

Instructions

To make Chipotle Tomato Rice:

  1. Place olive oil in a medium pot and heat.
  2. Sauté onion and garlics in oil for 9 minutes.
  3. Add brown rice and brown for 2 minutes, stirring.
  4. Add crushed tomatoes, water, bullion cube, chipotle seasoning, and salt (optional).
  5. Stir well, cover with a lid, and bring to a simmer. Cook over medium heat about 1 hour, until liquid is absorbed and grains are tender. May add additional water to replace water lost to evaporation as needed.

To make Chipotle Tomato Rice Power Bowls:

  1. Place one-fourth of the rice (a scant 1 cup each) into 4 individual serving bowls (or meal prep containers). Note: May serve rice hot, warm, or chilled in this recipe, as desired.
  2. Top each bowl of rice with: ½ cup chopped kale; 1/3 cup black beans; ¼ cup corn; ¼ cup cherry tomatoes; 2 slices avocado; ¼ bell pepper; 1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds; 2 tablespoons vegan ranch dressing.
  3. Serve immediately.

 

Notes:

*Make your own vegan ranch with my recipe here: https://sharonpalmer.com/vegan-ranch-dressing/

Nutrition information per serving: 415 calories, 14 g total fat, 2 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 237.5 mg sodium, 64 g carbohydrate, 15 g fiber, 3 g sugar, 15 g protein

Makes 4 servings

Sharon Palmer

Sharon Palmer

RDN, The Plant-Powered Dietitian

Recipe and Image by Sharon Palmer, RDN, The Plant-Powered Dietitian.

Sharon Palmer has created an award-winning career based on combining her two great loves: nutrition and writing. Sharon is an accomplished writer, editor, blogger, author, speaker, and media expert. In particular, her expertise is in plant-based nutrition, cooking, and sustainability. Sharon has authored over 950 articles in a variety of publications,

including Better Homes and Gardens, Prevention, and LA Times. Her book The Plant-Powered Diet: The Lifelong Eating Plan for Achieving Optimal Health, Beginning Today (The Experiment, July 2012) was a critical success, which was followed by her second book Plant-Powered for Life: Eat Your Way to Lasting Health with 52 Simple Steps & 125 Delicious Recipes in July 2014. In addition, she has contributed to several book chapters on nutrition and sustainability. Sharon serves as the editor of the acclaimed health newsletter Environmental Nutrition, and nutrition editor for Today’s Dietitian. And she still has time to blog every day for her popular online community (35,000 members strong) at The Plant-Powered Dietitian. Sharon also serves as a judge for the prestigious James Beard Journalism Awards, and is currently attending graduate school at Green Mountain College in Vermont in order to obtain a Master Degree in Sustainable Food Systems. Living in the chaparral hills overlooking Los Angeles with her husband and two sons, Sharon enjoys tending to her own organic garden, visiting the local farmers market every week, and cooking for friends and family.

www.sharonpalmer.com
sharon@sharonpalmer.com
@SharonPalmerRD