Combining red and green produce could help men combat prostate cancer, a study has found.
US researchers have found that when broccoli and tomato are eaten together their tumour-fighting properties are more effective than when eaten in isolation.
Scientists at the University of Illinois claim that different compounds in the vegetables work together to fight the cancer cells via different biological processes.
The university’s professor of food science John Erdman said: “Studies have shown that men who regularly eat servings of fresh tomatoes have up to a 40 per cent reduced risk of developing prostate cancer, while the sulphur compounds in broccoli are known to be a mechanism that delays cancer growth. They are quite different agents and do not have to be eaten together, but their effects seem to be very complementary.”
Erdman added that cooked tomatoes may be more effective than raw tomatoes.
So far the research has been restricted to testing on rats implanted with prostate cancer cells.
Julie Sharp of Cancer research UK said the effect on humans is inconclusive but emphasises that a balanced diet, rich in a variety of fresh produce can help reduce the risk of getting cancer.
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