Praised for their cancer-fighting qualities, tomatoes and broccoli, when eaten together in a daily diet, may better shrink cancerous prostate tumors than when consumned alone.

But the big question: how much tomato and broccoli should a man eat to receive these possible benefits? A truckload? You'd be surprised.

Food scientists and nutritionists at the University of Illinois said their study with lab rats showed that when tomatoes and broccoli are eaten together, different compounds in each of the vegetables seemingly work on different anti-cancer pathways in the body.

John Erdman, a food science and human nutrition professor, and doctoral candidate Kirstie Canene-Adams fed a diet containing 10-percent tomato powder and 10-percent broccoli powder to lab rats implanted with prostate cancer cells.

Other rats received either tomato or broccoli powder alone, or a supplemental dose of lycopene, the red pigment in tomatoes thought by health experts to protect against cancer.

Another group of rats received finasteride, a drug prescribed for men with enlarged prostates, while a fourth group of rats was castrated to eliminate their testosterone, a male hormone believed by health experts to feed prostate cancer.

After 22 weeks, the researchers found that the tomato/broccoli combo outperformed all other diets in shrinking prostate tumors. Only castration did better, according to the results.

"As nutritionists, it was very exciting to compare this drastic surgery to diet and see that tumor reduction was similar," Canene-Adams. "Older men with slow-growing prostate cancer who have chosen watchful waiting over chemotherapy and radiation should seriously consider altering their diets to include more tomatoes and broccoli."

Common killer

Prostate cancer this year will strike more than 234,000 men, making it the second most common form of cancer behind skin cancer. About 30,000 of the men will die from the disease, but if the cancer is caught early, cure rates range as high as 95 percent.

As for the University of Illinois study, how much tomato and broccoli should a 55-year-old man, for example eat to receive the reputed cancer-fighting benefits?

Try 1.4 cups of raw broccoli, 2.5 cups of fresh tomato, or 1 cup of tomato sauce, or cup of tomato paste.

"I think it's very doable for a man to eat a cup and a half of broccoli per day or put broccoli on a pizza with 1/2 cup of tomato paste," said Canene-Adams, adding that when tomatoes are cooked, the water is removed and the healthful parts become more concentrated. "That doesn't mean you should stay away from fresh produce. The lesson here, I think, is to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables prepared in a variety of ways."

More kudos for nutrition

The latest study is more proof that healthy eating apparently beats back prostate and other forms of cancer. 

For example, another recent Erdman study shows that rats fed the tomato carotenoids phytofluene, lycopene or a diet containing 10 percent tomato powder for four days had significantly reduced testosterone levels. Most prostate cancer is hormone-sensitive, and reducing testosterone levels may be another way that eating tomatoes reduces prostate cancer growth, he said.

His colleague at the university, Elizabeth Jeffery, discovered sulfur compounds in broccoli enhance certain enzymes in the human body, which then act to degrade cancer-causing substances.

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, which helped pay for the recent study, lycopene in tomatoes has attracted a great deal of attention as a prostate cancer fighter. Tomatoes also contain vitamins A, B and C, potassium, iron and phosphorus.

Broccoli is known to contain phytochemicals called glucosinolates that may help enzymes flush carcinogens from the body. Broccoli also is an excellent source of vitamins A and C, as well as riboflavin, calcium and iron.

So if you're a man concerned about your prostate, or if you're a woman concerned about the men in your life, you can create a nice winter vegetable that's pleasing to the eye and good for the body with this recipe from the institute:

Broccoli Tomato Salad

4 cups broccoli florets
1 Tbsp. sesame seeds
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup finely diced green onion (white and green parts)
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp. rice vinegar
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh oregano or 1 tsp. dried
2 1/2 Tbsp. sesame seed oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Steam broccoli until barely tender but still crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a strainer or colander and rinse briefly under cold running water to stop cooking process. Drain well and allow to dry.

Meanwhile, toast sesame seeds. Heat a small skillet over medium-low heat. Add seeds and toast, shaking pan gently or stirring constantly, until lightly browned.

In a medium bowl, gradually whisk together mustard with the vinegar and oregano, then the oil. Add broccoli, tomatoes and onion, and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving plate and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over the salad.

Makes 8 servings.

Nutritional information per serving: calories, 65; total fat, 5 g; saturated fat, less than 1 g; carbohydrate, 5 g; protein, 2 g; dietary fiber, 2 g; sodium,  46 mg.

Nubella News, a division of Marketing Technology Solutions, Inc., offers content intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We encourage our readers to seek prompt medical care for health issues and consult their physicians before starting a new diet, fitness regimen, or medical treatment.