Tomato, which is very versatile in nature, is said to be the fourth most popular vegetable in the U.S., ranked next to potatoes, lettuce and onions. Also referred to as "Love Apples", tomatoes have a number of health benefits associated with its consumption. A new study suggests that tomato-rich diet may lower breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women, especially those who are not obese.
The study recruited 70 postmenopausal women, and separately examined the effect of 10 weeks of consumption of a tomato-based diet and 10 weeks of consumption of a soy-based diet.
According to the study findings, an increased dietary consumption of tomato-based foods increased the level of adiponectin among all women with a stronger effect observed among nonobese women. Adiponectin is a hormone that regulates glucose levels as well as fatty acid breakdown. Note that adiponectin levels are inversely associated with breast cancer risk.
The soy-based diet was associated with a decline in adiponectin level, with a larger reduction observed among nonobese women.
The study's first author, Adana Llanos said, "Eating fruits and vegetables, which are rich in essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals such as lycopene, conveys significant benefits. Based on this data, we believe regular consumption of at least the daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables would promote breast cancer prevention in an at-risk population."
The study is published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
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