Purple Tomato Extended Lives of Cancer-Prone Mice

(HealthDay News) -- Tomatoes genetically modified to be rich in antioxidants called anthocyanins appeared to extend the life spans of cancer-prone mice, a European study finds.

The modified tomatoes were created by adding two genes (Delila and Rosea1) from the snapdragon flower. The anthocyanins, which belong to the flavonoid class of antioxidants, gave the tomatoes a peculiar purple color.

"The two genes we have isolated are responsible for flower pigmentation and, when introduced in other plants, turned out to be the perfect combination to produce anthocyanins, the same phytochemical found in blueberries," study author Eugenio Butelli, of the FLORA project, said in a news release.

Chemical tests revealed that the "purple tomato has a very high antioxidant activity, almost tripled in comparison to the natural fruit," making it very useful to study the effect of anthocyanins, Butelli said.

The researchers fed a powder obtained from the purple tomatoes to mice that lacked the p53 gene, which helps protect against cancer. These mice had an average life span of 182 days compared to 142 days for p53-deficient mice fed a standard diet.

The findings were published in the Oct. 26 issue of Nature Biotechnology.

The study authors emphasized this is a preliminary study, and much more research needs to be done before there's any possibility of human trials.

More information
The American Dietetic Association has more about antioxidants.

Health Tip: Choose Meats Wisely

(HealthDay News) -- Love to eat meat? As with any food group, there are good choices and bad.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers these suggestions on which meats to choose, and how:

• Select for low-fat meats and chicken, and avoid eating high-fat ground beef or chicken with the skin.


• Don't forget to count the fat and calories in cooking additives. For example, if you cook chicken in shortening, add the extra calories to your count.


• Include fish in your diet, especially those high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, trout and herring.


• Avoid organ meats such as liver, which are high in cholesterol.


• Also avoid processed meats such as hot dogs, ham, sausage and lunch meats, which can be very high in sodium and other additives.

Golden Rules for a HEALTHY DIET

Avoid stimulants such as sugar, coffee, tea and cigarettes, and limit alcohol.

• Avoid saturated (animal) fats and hydrogenated (processed) fats.


• Avoid simple (refined) carbohydrates, including white bread, biscuits, cakes and other processed foods.


• Avoid unnatural additives, flavorings and preservatives.


• Eat more beans, lentils, seeds, nuts and whole grains.


• Eat more vegetables, raw or lightly cooked (steaming is best).


• Eat several servings of fresh fruit every day.


• Wherever possible eat organically-grown, natural, unprocessed foods.


• Drink plenty of filtered water.


• Avoid these poisonous items in your diet and medications: aspartame, ritalin, Prozac, fluorinated water, vaccinations.