Higher levels of lycopene in the blood are linked to healthier blood vessels

Higher levels of lycopene in the blood are associated with lower stiffness in the arteries, says a new study supporting the heart health benefits of the carotenoid. Women with the highest levels of lycopene also had the lowest levels of oxidized LDL-cholesterol, according to a study with 264 women published in the journal Atherosclerosis. Oxidation of LDLs is thought to play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. Increasing LDL's resistance to oxidation is thought to possibly delay the progression of the disease.
Read article at nutraingredients.com

Tomatoes, watermelons and pink grapefruits are good food sources of lycopene.

Eating more tomatoes could help prevent scarring and adhesions associated with endometriosis

Tomatoes could hold key to treat painful condition suffered by women
article in the Telegraph

Extract:

"A chemical in the fruit which gives it its red colour has been found to help prevent scarring associated with endometriosis.

A study found that when cells taken from the internal scar tissue were exposed to lycopene in the laboratory they reacted positively.

Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant which mops up other oxidative chemicals that cause damage in the body.

In this case it was found to prevent adhesions, where scar tissue builds up in thin films or thick lumps and can cause internal organs to stick together after surgery or due to certain diseases like endometriosis which can lead to fertility problems.

The disease occurs when cells that usually line the womb are found elsewhere in the body.

The most common symptom of endometriosis is pain or discomfort in the abdomen.

Dr Tarek Dbouk, from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, said lycopene could become a safe and cheap treatment in these conditions.

In a laboratory study, presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine conference in San Francisco, the nutrient was found to cut the presence of proteins that cause tissue to form by between 80% and 90%.

Simply increasing the amount of lycopene in the diet through taking supplements or increasing the intake of tomatoes could become a preventative treatment before abdominal surgery and may lead to new treatments for endometriosis, he said."

In praise of tomatoes... Very good for your health...

Tomatoes: The humble superfood in your salad

Extract from the Telegraph:

"Pomegranates, pumpkin seeds, green tea, goji berries and, most recently, beetroot have all jostled for position at the top of the superfood tree. But never has the case for the superfood crown been argued more persuasively than it has now for the humble tomato.

In his new book, The Red Bodyguard, pharmacist Ron Levin has, for the first time, collated decades of research confirming the powerful health-giving credentials of this everyday fruit.

Tomatoes contain high levels of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that supports the immune system and helps maintain healthy skin and tissue lining. They are packed with antioxidant flavonoids and vitamin E, both of which are essential for heart health, and are a good source of potassium. One medium-size tomato provides 50 per cent of the recommended daily dose of vitamin C; they contain no saturated fatty acids, are low in salt, starch and sugars, high in dietary fibre and have a low glycaemic index.

But that's not all. Tomatoes are the richest source of an exceptionally potent antioxidant called lycopene - the pigment that gives them their deep red colour. A single lycopene molecule can neutralise 13 free radicals which, if allowed to build up, can cause cell damage and trigger cancer - that's twice the free radical busting power of beta-carotene, another powerful antioxidant."

A bowl of tomato soup every day can help boost fertility among men, scientists claim

Bowl of tomato soup a day 'boosts fertility' - Telegraph

Extract:

"A bowl of tomato soup every day can help boost fertility among men, scientists claimed yesterday.

They have discovered that lycopene, which gives tomatoes their bright red colouring, can turn sperm into super-sperm.

Researchers at the University of Portsmouth studied the effect of lycopene in the diet on a random group of six healthy men, with an average age of 42. The men were asked to consume a 400g tin of Heinz cream of tomato soup every day for two weeks.

The researchers, from the university's biomedical science department, said that during the two weeks, levels of lycopene in the men's semen rose between seven and 12 per cent, which was "significant".

They added that further studies should be carried out to discover whether the same boost would be seen in infertile men.

The results, published in the British Journal of Urology, said that infertile men have lower levels of lycopene in their sperm. The study suggests that higher levels of lycopene are associated with increased fertility."

Women whose fertility is low because of being overweight, can easily and safely lose weight by cutting down on salt (sodium) and salty food and therefore boost their fertility and improve their health at the same time.

I must say Heinz cream of tomato soup is absolutely delicious. - I'd love to eat it myself, but as it contains salt I have to avoid it because I am a steroid victim and therefore extremely sensitive to salt.



Lose weight by eating less salt! Go on! - Try it! - You will feel so much better!
How to Lose weight!

See my website http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/.html
(The site does not sell anything and has no banners or sponsors or adverts - just helpful information.)

Read my Mensa article on Obesity and the Salt Connection

See Sodium in foods and Associated health conditions

I can be contacted via my website if you need my further help. My help is free.

I watched The Truth About Food last evening on BBC2. It included food suggestions re. macular degeneration.

This is the website link for the programme I saw: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/humanbody/truthaboutfood/young/

In brief, the clearest, most definite things I learned from the programme:

Most detox diets are not worth bothering with. The expert explained that nutrition is far more complicated than is realised by the people who keep recommending detox diets.

Eating spinach helps to prevent "age-related macular degeneration", a major cause of poor eyesight and sometimes blindness. It can even repair some damage to the macula that has already occurred! - The nutrient involved is lutein. This nutrient is also contained in kiwifruits, leeks, peas, eggs, broccoli, etc. You can find them easily by using a search engine.

Eating tomatoes helps to protect your skin from UV damage by the sun. The nutrient involved in this protection is lycopene.


Lose weight by eating less salt! Go on! - Try it! - You will feel so much better!
How to Lose weight!

See my website http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/.html
(The site does not sell anything and has no banners or sponsors or adverts - just helpful information.)

Read my Mensa article on Obesity and the Salt Connection

See Sodium in foods and Associated health conditions

I can be contacted via my website if you need my further help. My help is free...