Eat Tomatoes to Protect Against Heart Attack and Stroke

According to Dr. Fuhrman, carotenoids are a family of over six hundred phytochemicals, including alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin. Carotenoids are abundant in green and yellow-orange vegetables and fruits and help to defend the body’s tissues against oxidative damage, oxidative damage from free radicals contributes to chronic diseases and aging.¹

The levels of carotenoids in your skin and in your blood are a good indicator of your overall health because the levels parallel the levels of plant-derived phytochemicals in general. In fact, Dr. Fuhrman uses a carotenoid skin testing method to non-invasively track his patients’ progress as they adopt a nutritarian diet. Low blood levels of total carotenoids, alpha-carotene, and lycopene have been linked to premature death; of all the carotenoids, very low blood lycopene was the strongest predictor of mortality.²

Lycopene is the signature carotenoid of the tomato. The lycopene in the American diet is 85 percent derived from tomatoes.³ Lycopene is found circulating in the blood and also concentrates in the male reproductive system, hence its protective effects against prostate cancer. ⁴ In the skin, lycopene helps to prevent UV damage from the sun, protecting against skin cancer. ⁵ Lycopene is known for its anti-cancer properties, but did you know that lycopene has also been intensively studied for its beneficial cardiovascular effects?

Read more at DiseaseProof.com

 
References

1. Krinsky NI, Johnson EJ. Carotenoid actions and their relation to health and disease. Mol Aspects Med 2005;26:459-516.
2. Shardell MD, Alley DE, Hicks GE, et al. Low-serum carotenoid concentrations and carotenoid interactions predict mortality in US adults: the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Nutr Res 2011;31:178-189.
3. Canene-Adams K, Campbell JK, Zaripheh S, et al. The tomato as a functional food. J Nutr 2005;135:1226-1230.
4. van Breemen RB, Pajkovic N. Multitargeted therapy of cancer by lycopene. Cancer Lett 2008;269:339-351.
5. Rizwan M, Rodriguez-Blanco I, Harbottle A, et al. Tomato paste rich in lycopene protects against cutaneous photodamage in humans in vivo. Br J Dermatol 2010.

Dr. Fuhrman Invites You on The Dr. Oz Show

SUCCESS STORIES NEEDED

Women who have lost more than 50 pounds and achieved a

favorable weight following Dr. Fuhrman's "Eat To Live" plan!

Dr. Fuhrman will be appearing on a segment of The Dr. Oz Show which will be taped next Friday, May 18, 2012 from 3:00 - 5:00p.m.

At this taping, Dr. Fuhrman will be discussing his "Eat To Live" diet plan.  Dr. Fuhrman needs up to 15 women, ages 25 to 55 who have lost more than 50 pounds and achieved a favorable weight, to be featured on the show.  Also, you must have "before" and "after" photos that you are willing to share.

If you meet this criteria, or know someone who does, and would like to be considered, please email your contact information and before/after photos to pr@drfuhrman.com or call 800-474-9355 ext. 237 or 908-237-0200 (during regular business hours).

If you can appear in person at the taping, Dr. Fuhrman will arrange for your transportation and hotel in NYC.  If you cannot appear in person, Dr. Fuhrman would still like to share your story and pictures.

Deadline for submission is Monday, May 14, 2012, before noon!

Shared with: the healthy home economist