Organic Ketchup Protects Against Cancer

Monday, January 10th 2005

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Organic varieties of tomato ketchup contain three times as much of a cancer-fighting chemical called lycopene as non-organic brands.

In the US, tomato ketchup comes in purple and green varieties as well as the traditional red. Betty Ishida and Mary Chapman at the Agricultural Research Service in Albany, California, US, wondered if the colouring might be indicative of low levels of lycopene, the pigment that makes tomatoes red.

The chemical has been shown to help protect against breast, pancreatic, prostate and intestinal cancer, especially when eaten with fatty foods. There is also evidence that lycopene can reduce the risk of heart attacks (New Scientist print edition, 23 December 2000).

The researchers tested lycopene levels and antioxidant activity in 13 ketchup brands: six popular ones, three organic, two store brands and two from fast-food chains. Purple and green ketchups had a similar lycopene content to their plain red counterparts.

But organic ketchups excelled, with one brand containing 183 micrograms of lycopene per gram of ketchup, about five times as much per weight as a tomato. Non-organic brands averaged 100 micrograms per gram, with one fast-food sample containing just 60 micrograms per gram.

If you want high lycopene levels, says Ishida, the rule of thumb is to pick the darkest red ketchup.

Journal reference: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (DOI: 10.1021/jf0401540)

Footnote from Ideal Health

The following products are all useful for Cancer:

Astra Forte
Alkalising Greens
Antioxreds Powder
Apricot Kernels
Carotenoid Complex
Cell Food
Complete Antioxidant
Enzogenol with ACE and Selenium
Family C - 300 grams
Ezziac Tea
pH Balancing Simplified & pH Test Strips
Protech Prostate Formula

Related health information can be found here:

Acid and alkaline forming foods
Antioxidants
Cancer
DIM to assist in cancer prevention
Green Tea as a medicinal beverage
Immunity
Nutrient use for specific cancers
Soy isoflavones for disease prevention
The Good Health Diet
The Prostate Gland

Related articles can be found here:

Current Combined HRT Use Doubles Risk of Breast Cancer

Dietary Fiber Lowers Colon Cancer Risk

Esophageal and Gastric Cancer in Population Tied to a Few Main Risk Factors

Lifestyle Changes May Prevent or Reverse Prostate Cancer

Second Prostate Cancer Gene Found

Smoking Increases Risk of Familial Pancreatic Cancer

Women Unaware of Viral Link to Cervical Cancer

If you need help or advice, you are welcome to email our naturopathic team with your health question.

Disclaimer: The health information presented here has been written for the New Zealand health consumer. It is of a general nature and is only intended to provide a summary of the subjects covered. The information is not intended to be comprehensive or to provide medical advice to you. While all care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, no responsibility or liability is accepted, and no person should act in reliance on any statement contained in the information provided. All health ailments should be treated by a qualified health professional.

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