A tomato a day keeps wrinkles away
Scientists at the University of Manchester found that eating tomatoes may provide the best ingredients for a younger looking skin and a good protection from sun damage. The age-defying ingredient is lycopene, a natural pigment which gives tomatoes their colour. It also neutralises harmful molecules produced in skin exposed to the sun's ultra-violet rays. The highest levels of lycopene are found in processed or cooked tomatoes. So get that bottle of ketchup, paste, soup and juice!
During the test period of 12 weeks, 10 women given five tablespoons (55g) of standard tomato paste with 10g of olive oil every day. The effects on their skin were compared with 10 volunteers, aged between 21 and 47, eating just olive oil for the same length of time. Compared with the non- tomato eating group, the tomato paste eating woman had increased skin protection, as seen by a reduction in skin redness and 33 percent more protection against sunburn in the form of less redness. The researchers calculated that protection offered by the tomato paste to be equivalent to a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 1.3. The results also show less damage to mitochondrial DNA in the skin. This is believed to be linked to skin ageing. The details of the research were recently presented by Professor Mark Birch-Machin from Newcastle University at the Royal Society of Medicine in London.
Tomatoes may also kill prostate cancer cells
Work by Dr Mridula Chopra from the University of Portsmouth shows that lycopene inhibits the proliferation of prostate cancer lines. While further clinical trials are needed, Dr Chopra said further trials are need, but in the meantime he recommends eating three to four servings of processed tomato products per week for prostate health.
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