Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men around the world, but a new study suggests that eating 10 or more portions of tomatoes a week significantly lowers the risk of developing this disease.

Share on Pinterest Men who ate over 10 portions of tomatoes per week experienced an 18% reduced risk for prostate cancer, according to the new study.

With higher rates in developed countries, many experts believe prostate cancer is linked to a Westernized lifestyle and diet. The new study, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, helped the researchers better understand whether following current dietary and lifestyle recommendations reduces risk for this type of cancer.

It is the first study to develop a prostate cancer “dietary index” that includes dietary components linked to reduced prostate cancer, including selenium, calcium and lycopene-rich foods.

Tomatoes are one such food rich in lycopene, which is a carotenoid that gives fruits and vegetables a red color. The naturally occurring chemical has previously been linked to improved blood vessel function in cardiovascular disease patients, as well as an effective treatment for high cholesterol.

According to the researchers – led by Vanessa Er from the University of Bristol in the UK – lycopene also fights off toxins that can damage DNA and cells.

In total, she and her team – which also included researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford – assessed the diets and lifestyles of 1,806 men with prostate cancer who were between the ages of 50-69, and compared these with 12,005 men without cancer.

Results showed that men who ate over 10 portions of tomatoes and tomato products, such as tomato juice and baked beans, had an 18% reduced risk for developing prostate cancer.

Commenting on these results, Er says: