Studies show that fruit and vegetables, especially tomatoes, play a special role in prostate health. A large Harvard study showed that men who ate ten or more servings of tomatoes or tomato products per week had a 35 percent reduction in prostate cancer risk, so don't be shy about taking a few extra tomatoes from the salad bar or having a second helping of marinara sauce on your pasta. Tomatoes and all fruits are naturally high in fiber, with complex and intricate mixtures of vitamins and minerals. But the real credit probably goes to lycopene, the red pigment that gives tomatoes their color. It is a cousin of beta-carotene and an even more powerful antioxidant.
Most people have been enjoying spaghetti with tomato sauce since childhood. Keep up the healthy habit and experiment with "grown-up" versions by adding garlic, onions, peppers, or other delights of the garden. Lycopene is best absorbed when the tomatoes have been cooked, meaning that spaghetti sauce, canned tomatoes, or tomato paste used in soup are all particularly good sources. Even ketchup contains some valuable prostate-protecting benefits, but make sure to add it to veggie-burgers or baked potato "fries" (sweet, russet, or new) instead of the usual suspects.
Each time you shop, throw a basket of strawberries in your cart. There's lycopene there, too. You can enjoy them on whole-grain pancakes, in your cereal, or even in a smoothie with bananas, orange juice, blueberries, or any of your other favorite fruits. Add a splash of soy milk for a creamy consistency.
Diets high in vegetables of all shapes, sizes, and colors have proven their worth in decreasing prostate cancer risk, so don't hesitate to try a new variety each week. Don't worry, the crust can be bought ready-made and, in just minutes, you'll have a warm, healthy meal. If you're feeling famished, your tomato soup need not be "smooth." Mix in chopped carrots, spinach, corn, beans, or little potato cubes into your bowl of lycopene liquid. Or, if smooth soup is still your favorite, throw a bunch of veggies such as celery, peppers, or squash into the blender and then add the puree for a powerful prostate protector. Add a whole grain roll, and you've taken your vitamins.
Prostate cancer is a dangerous disease. And be aware of cancer and breast cancer symptoms.
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