Hello Kfbers, we have got a very important topic today on Know
Your Own Health.
For the newbies, KFB Health Talk is a column where health–related
issues are examined to help us get more conscious about our health.
Today, we are looking at how eating raw Tomatoes can cure prostrate cancer!
Just
like the name sounds, Cancer indicates danger, irrespective of the kind
of cancer being referred to. And unfortunately, it has become the most
common deadly disease gradually eating deep into the lives of many,
especially those above 40. Cancer is a class of diseases characterized
by out-of-control cell growth. Cancer harms the body when damaged cells
divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors.
These Tumors can grow and interfere with the digestive, nervous, and
circulatory systems and they can release hormones that alter body
function. The most common type of cancer suffered by men is called the
Prostrate Cancer.Prostate cancer, also known as carcinoma of the
prostate, is the development of cancer in the prostate, a gland in the
male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing;
however, some grow relatively fast. The cancer cells may spread from the
prostate to other parts of the body, particularly the bones and lymph
nodes. It may initially cause no symptoms.
In later stages it can cause
difficulty urinating, blood in the urine, or pain in the pelvis, back or
when urinating. Among the Factors that increase the risk of prostate
cancer include: older age, a family history of the disease, and race.
About 99% of cases occur in those over the age of 50. Other factors that
may be involved include a diet high in processed, red meat, or milk
products or low in certain vegetables.However, testimonials and research
have proved that foods like red tomatoes helps to reduce the risk of
prostate cancer to a very high extent.
According to a prostrate survivor
who narrated his ordeal with prostate to this reporter,he says “I was
once diagnosed of having traces of prostate cancer to the tune of 9% and
was placed on some medications to help eradicate the cancerous growth
since it was still at its very minimal stage and was also advised that
if no improvement occurs before 3 months, then I should prepare my mind
to have an operation.
So I started taking the medications and after 2
months, I went back for the test and realised it had gone up to 15%
despite the medication, so I was advised to opt for an operation but
having lost a friend through same operation, I was sceptical about it
until my brother recommended I add red raw tomatoes to my diet. I
started taking tomatoes daily. When I finally went for another test, it
had reduced again to about 5 % or so, I continued with the tomato diet
until there was no traces of it again my system”.
The man aged 52 years
old narrated his experience although he affirmed it was not a medical
advice for him to take the tomato but a suggestion from a brother that
turned out to save his life. Tomatoes are often considered a vegetable,
though in actuality they are a citrus fruit. Tomatoes are an incredibly
versatile food. They are delicious eaten raw, in salads or on
sandwiches, and take on a wonderful sweetness when cooked.
One medium
whole tomato contains around 22 calories, 0 grams of fat, 5 grams of
carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fibre, 1 gram of protein and 6
milligrams of sodium. It also provides 40 percent of the recommended
daily allowance of vitamin C, 20 percent of the RDA of vitamin A, 2
percent of the RDA of iron, and 1 percent of the RDA of calcium.Numerous
studies have concluded that the more tomatoes people eat the lower
their risks of certain cancers, especially lung, stomach and prostate
cancers.
A substance called lycopene, which is responsible for tomatoes
red color, is thought to be the reason for this cancer protective
effect. According to American Cancer Society,
“Lycopene is an antioxidant compound that gives tomatoes and certain
other fruits and vegetables their color and People who have diets rich
in tomatoes, which contain lycopene, appear in some studies to have a
lower risk of certain types of cancer, especially cancers of the
prostate, lung, and stomach. A major claim for lycopene’s benefits is
in the prevention and treatment of cancers of the lung, prostate,
stomach, bladder, cervix, skin, and, especially, prostate. In support of
these claims regarding cancer, proponents note that lycopene is a
powerful antioxidant, a compound that blocks the action of free
radicals, activated oxygen molecules that can damage cells, and that
several scientific studies have found lower risk of cancer among people
who eat lycopene-rich foods.
Tomatoes are the most concentrated food
source of lycopene, although apricots, guava, watermelon, papaya, and
pink grapefruit are also significant sources. Studies that looked at
lycopene levels in the blood found that levels were higher after people
ate cooked tomatoes than after they ate raw tomatoes or drank tomato
juice. This suggests that lycopene in cooked tomato products such as
tomato sauce or paste may be more readily absorbed by the body than
lycopene in raw tomatoes.
Eating lycopene-rich vegetables and fruits
together with a small amount of oil or fat (for example, salad oil or
cheese on pizza) increase the amount of lycopene absorbed by the
intestines. Lycopene is also available in soft-gel capsule and liquid
supplements. Dosages vary according to manufacturer”.