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Tomato dishes 'may protect skin' | Tomato dishes 'may protect skin' |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Pizza and spaghetti bolognese could become new tools in the fight against sunburn and wrinkles, a study suggests. | Pizza and spaghetti bolognese could become new tools in the fight against sunburn and wrinkles, a study suggests. |
A team found adding five tablespoons of tomato paste to the daily diet of 10 volunteers improved the skin's ability to protect against harmful UV rays. | A team found adding five tablespoons of tomato paste to the daily diet of 10 volunteers improved the skin's ability to protect against harmful UV rays. |
Damage from these rays can lead to premature ageing and even skin cancer. | Damage from these rays can lead to premature ageing and even skin cancer. |
The study, presented at the British Society for Investigative Dermatology, suggested the antioxidant lycopene was behind the apparent benefit. | The study, presented at the British Society for Investigative Dermatology, suggested the antioxidant lycopene was behind the apparent benefit. |
This component of tomatoes - found at its highest concentration when the fruit has been cooked - has already been linked to a reduction in the risk of prostate cancer. | |
Now researchers at the universities of Manchester and Newcastle have suggested it may also help ward off skin damage by providing some protection against the effects of UV rays. | Now researchers at the universities of Manchester and Newcastle have suggested it may also help ward off skin damage by providing some protection against the effects of UV rays. |
Anti-ageing paste? | Anti-ageing paste? |
They gave 10 volunteers around 55g of standard tomato paste - which contains high levels of cooked tomatoes - and 10g of olive oil daily. A further 10 participants received just the olive oil. | They gave 10 volunteers around 55g of standard tomato paste - which contains high levels of cooked tomatoes - and 10g of olive oil daily. A further 10 participants received just the olive oil. |
Eating tomatoes will not make you invincible in the sun, but it may be a useful addition to the sun protection tool box Professor Mark Birch-MachinNewcastle University | Eating tomatoes will not make you invincible in the sun, but it may be a useful addition to the sun protection tool box Professor Mark Birch-MachinNewcastle University |
After three months, skin samples from the tomato group showed they had 33% more protection against sunburn - the equivalent of a very low factor sun cream - and much higher levels of procollagen, a molecule which gives the skin its structure and keeps its firm. | After three months, skin samples from the tomato group showed they had 33% more protection against sunburn - the equivalent of a very low factor sun cream - and much higher levels of procollagen, a molecule which gives the skin its structure and keeps its firm. |
"The tomato diet boosted the level of procollagen in the skin significantly. These increasing levels suggest potential reversal of the skin ageing process," said Professor Lesley Rhodes, a dermatologist at the University of Manchester. | "The tomato diet boosted the level of procollagen in the skin significantly. These increasing levels suggest potential reversal of the skin ageing process," said Professor Lesley Rhodes, a dermatologist at the University of Manchester. |
"These weren't huge amounts of tomato we were feeding the group. It was the sort of quantity you would easily manage if you were eating a lot of tomato-based meals." | "These weren't huge amounts of tomato we were feeding the group. It was the sort of quantity you would easily manage if you were eating a lot of tomato-based meals." |
There was a warning however that tomatoes should be viewed as a "helpful addition" rather than an alternative to sun cream. | There was a warning however that tomatoes should be viewed as a "helpful addition" rather than an alternative to sun cream. |
The study was both small and short, and the team are now looking at carrying out fresh research into the benefits of lycopene for the skin. | The study was both small and short, and the team are now looking at carrying out fresh research into the benefits of lycopene for the skin. |
Dr Colin Holden of the British Association of Dermatologists said: "While the protection offered by lycopene is low, this research suggests that a diet containing high levels of antioxidant rich tomatoes could provide an extra tool in sun protection". | Dr Colin Holden of the British Association of Dermatologists said: "While the protection offered by lycopene is low, this research suggests that a diet containing high levels of antioxidant rich tomatoes could provide an extra tool in sun protection". |
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