Tomato sauce was most strongly associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer. The protective effects were even stronger when the analysis focused upon the risk of more advanced or aggressive prostate cancer. The key ingredient was found to be the powerful antioxidant lycopene. Lycopene is an antioxidant that once absorbed by the body, helps to prevent and repair damaged cells. Antioxidants are compounds that fight free radicals in the body and have been shown to inhibit DNA oxidation that can lead to some cancers.
Antioxidants are the internal bodyguards that protect our cells from free radicals.
The degenerative effects of free radicals are not limited to cancer - they can also cause blockages in the arteries, joint deterioration, nervous system degradation and aging. Although other fruits including watermelon, pink grapefruit and papaya contain lycopene, tomatoes and tomato-based products account for 85 per cent of dietary lycopene in North America. Bright red, ripe tomatoes have more lycopene than green or yellow, unripe ones. Lycopene in tomatoes is converted by the temperature change involved in processing which allows the body to absorb it more easily. Given the health benefits of lycopene, scientists are now producing genetically-engineered tomatoes in order to increase the levels of lycopene.