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I want my SUPER BROCCOLI too! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4502404.stm

Quote:

'Cancer-fighting tomato' on sale

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4896026.stm

A so-called super tomato bred to have unusually high levels of a substance which may cut the risk of certain cancers has been launched by Tesco. The supermarket giant says its Healthy Living Tomato on the Vine contains up to twice the level of lycopene found in other vine tomatoes. Lycopene is an antioxidant that is thought to halt cell damage in the body and it gives tomatoes their red colour. Cancer charities said eating any type of tomato was worthwhile.

Tomatoes are already known for their health benefits and have been linked with reducing the risk of prostate, colorectal and breast cancers. A study of thousands of men found that eating 10 or more servings of tomato sauce or tomatoes a week reduced prostate cancer risk by 45%. Other research has found that lycopene may be able to reduce the amount of so-called "bad" cholesterol and perhaps the risk of heart disease. Tesco produce technical manager Ian Reed said the super tomato was the first of a range of "functional foods" being developed by the supermarket.

He said: "The health benefits of anti-oxidants such as lycopene in our diets have recently attracted a lot of positive attention from both the medical and culinary worlds. "Functional foods such as tomatoes naturally have high levels of lycopene however this naturally-bred variety has even higher levels than standard ones and tastes great as well."

Varied diet

Dr Chris Hiley, head of policy and research at the Prostate Cancer Charity, said it was excellent that Tesco has recognised the importance of the disease. "Over recent years, prostate cancer researchers have repeatedly returned to questions about the role of the antioxidant, lycopene, in diet - particularly from tomato-based products - in light of its apparent association with a reduced risk of prostate cancer.

"Not all studies are positive, but many are. We still can't come to a firm conclusion that the risk of prostate cancer is reduced by increasing lycopene intake, but it is very clear that men should eat a varied and healthy diet, and tomato and tomato-based products have a place in that. Men should also eat a diet containing plenty of fruit and vegetables, reduce their intake of animal fat, particularly red meat, and keep their weight under control, she added.

Henry Scowcroft, Cancer Research UK's science information officer, said there was no clear evidence that eating more tomatoes or even the new "super-tomatoes" can decrease your prostate cancer risk. He added: "Tomatoes are also rich in many other important nutrients such as vitamins A C and E. So eating more of any type of tomato is worthwhile.

"There is plenty of evidence that a diet containing five portions of fruit and vegetables a day can lower your chances of cancer, heart disease and other conditions."

The new tomatoes will be sold in a pack of four or five costing £1.89.