Cancer is a leading cause of death in the US, killing 1 in 4 Americans each year. Diet may be linked to about one-third of cancer cases. Tomatoes contain the phytochemical lycopene, which research shows may reduce cancer risk, especially prostate cancer risk. Lycopene is absorbed better when tomato foods are cooked with oil. The document recommends including several servings of tomato foods like fresh tomatoes, canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato soup each week to help decrease cancer risk.

1. Diet and Cancer
TOMATOES and Cancer
Why should I be concerned about cancer?
Cancer is the second most common cause of death in
the US. It kills 1 out of every 4 Americans each year.
How is diet related to cancer?
Diet may be linked to as much as one-third of all
cancer cases in the US. Recent research has
shown that components of plant foods called
phytochemicals may decrease cancer risk. FAST FACTS...
What are phytochemicals? The scientific term for tomato is
“Phyto” comes from the Greek word for plant. “lycopersicon,” meaning “wolf peach”.
Phytochemicals are natural parts of plants that may
help prevent chronic diseases like cancer. There are more than 10,000 varieties of the
tomato!
How do tomato foods decrease cancer risk?
Tomatoes are red because they contain lycopene, a The tomato is a cousin of the eggplant,
phytochemical that may reduce the risk of prostate potato, and red pepper.
cancer. Tomato paste is the richest source of lycopene
Never refrigerate fresh tomatoes because
because pasting releases lycopene. You absorb
cold temperatures reduce taste!
lycopene better if you cook your tomato foods with
oil. 68% of chefs use canned tomatoes for
quality, convenience, and consistency.
TOMATOES in YOUR diet...
Include several servings of tomato foods per week. One
serving is 1/2 cup of canned tomatoes, tomato sauce,
pizza sauce, or tomato soup and 3/4 cup of tomato juice.
Tomato Foods Vitamin C mg/
serving*
Tomato, fresh, cooked, 27
1/2 cup Prepared by J. Lynne Brown, Ph.D., R. D.
Tomato, canned, 1/2 cup 19 Associate Professor Food Science
Tomato soup, 1/2 cup 18 Layout and Design by Dave Varley
c The Pennsylvania State University 2004
Tomato sauce, 1/2 cup 16
Pizza sauce, 1/2 cup 12 College of Agricultural Sciences
*Average milligrams per 1/2 cup tomato food Agricultural Research and Cooperative Extension