Anticancer Benefits
Published
By Ana Sandoiu Fact checked by Jasmin Collier
New research finds that iron halves the absorption of lycopene. Lycopene is a carotenoid full of antioxidants that is present in tomatoes.
close up of hands eating spaghetti with meatballs
Adding iron-rich meat to tomato sauce might counter tomatoes’ health benefits.
Tomatoes offer a rich variety of health benefits.
These range from protecting against cancer and hypertension to maintaining the health of our heart, skin, and eyes.
Regarding cancer, previous studies have found a link between lycopene — which is a plant compound present in tomatoes — and a lower risk of prostate cancer, colon cancer, and lung cancer, among others.
Although consuming lycopene-rich foods is good for health, other nutrients that we combine them with may help or hinder their cancer fighting properties.
For instance, a small new study now suggests that consuming foods or supplements rich in iron may halve the benefits of lycopene.
Rachel Kopec, an assistant professor of human nutrition at Ohio State University in Columbus, was the lead author of the new study. The findings appear in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research
