It has long been known that postmenopausal women are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. But now, new research suggests that adopting a diet rich in tomatoes may reduce this risk. This is according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
According to the National Cancer Institute, women in the US have a 12.4% risk of developing breast cancer at some point in their lives. This risk increases with age, with women over the age of 50 having a 1 in 42 chance of developing the disease.
According to the study researchers, led by Adana Llanos of Rutgers University, postmenopausal women increase their risk of breast cancer further as their body mass index (BMI) climbs. But this latest study suggests that this risk may be reduced simply by adopting a different diet.
To reach their findings, the investigators analyzed 70 postmenopausal women for a period of 20 weeks.
For the first 10 weeks, the women were required to follow a tomato-rich diet. This involved consuming a minimum of 25 mg of lycopene each day. Lycopene is an antioxidant found in tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables.
For the remaining 10 weeks, the women followed a soy-rich diet. This required them to consume at least 40 g of soy protein daily.
All women were asked to refrain from eating any soy or tomato products 2 weeks prior to each diet.
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