Plant-Based Diets, Men's Health, and Lycopene

Plant-Based Diets, Men's Health, and Lycopene

In previous posts we've seen the studies about plant-based diets and how it benefits men and women by reducing cholesterol, reducing high blood pressure, reducing inflammation, and more.

But, did you know there is a particular antioxidant that benefits men's health?

Prostate Health and Lycopene

First, lycopene is an antioxidant linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. The best sources of lycopene are tomatoes, watermelon, grapefruit, papaya, and red guava. In addition, some additional (but lower) sources of lycopene are red peppers, asparagus, red cabbage, and persimmons.

Lycopene is effective at preventing prostate cancer. Specifically, "Most in vivo studies have confirmed the anti-cancer activities of lycopene, particularly in prostate cancer."¹. Furthermore, lycopene helps improve treatment outcomes of other cancers.¹

How does lycopene affect prostate cancer and its spread? By its various methods, it has been concluded that "Lycopene can exert its anti-cancer effects through various pathways, including activating and inducing apoptosis, prevents metastasis and progression of prostate cancer by blocking the gap junction molecules and inhibiting the colony formation by decreasing the motility".². The studies have shown that lycopene in various forms will help prevent prostate cancer.

In conclusion, eat fruits and vegetables with red colors! These high-in-lycopene fruits and vegetables offer numerous benefits, taste great, and can be added to all types of dishes from breakfasts to main meals to snacks!

And eat tomatoes! The vegetable with the highest lycopene content is tomatoes. It has been shown that cooked tomatoes, such as those found in tomato paste, tomato sauce, and sun-dried tomatoes, have significantly higher concentrations of lycopene compared to raw tomatoes. So cooking tomatoes can increase the bioavailability of lycopene!

Eating a vegan diet can help reduce the symptoms of disease and can improve many other health conditions. It's also vital to eat a balanced vegan diet for optimal nutrition and for optimal vitamin and mineral absorption.

When you shop at Garden of Vegan, you get delicious meals and sides with high amounts of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and grains with high nutrient content. In addition, Garden of Vegan is 100% certified organic, gluten-free, preservative and additive-free, and 100% plant-based. So you can improve your diet by getting the healthiest organic, plant-based meals delivered directly to your home or office.

We aim to make getting healthy easier! Get started with healthy meals, side, and snack deliveries, or our super-fresh produce boxes. We also have meal plans for every lifestyle.

How can Garden of Vegan improve your health?

Garden of Vegan can help you with your health goals by making it easier for you to eat healthy nutritious foods:

1. Garden of Vegan delivers healthy, plant-based ready-made meals across Australia. Leave the food cooking and nutrition to us!

2. Garden of Vegan also delivers healthy sides, pantry items, and fresh produce boxes.

3. Garden of Vegan also has many meal plans to help you achieve your health goals.

So when you don't have the time or energy to prepare healthy food, let us help you improve and maintain your health and heart health. All Garden of Vegan delicious meals, sides, and produce boxes are certified organic and dairy-free, gluten-free, additive-free, and preservative-free. So you know you will be getting delicious meals, sides, and snacks that are super healthy as well.

Unable to cook healthy food and you are an NDIS participant? No problem! Garden of Vegan works with the NDIS program too.

Garden of Vegan's customers, including NDIS participants, can rest assured that our organic meals, produce, and pantry items are 100% organic and nutritious! And, NDIS participants only pay for the food cost component of the meals they order. You can learn more about Garden of Vegan NDIS plans and healthy meal delivery by filling out our NDIS form and we'll reach out to you as soon as possible.

We want people to be healthy! We are continually changing our menus and expanding our nutrition information online! Join our Newsletter and read our blog.

Additional health information from Garden of Vegan

Garden of Vegan Vitamin Guide:
Learn more about healthy foods and how you can increase your vitamin intake with healthy meals, sides, sauces, desserts, and pantry items at the Garden of Vegan Vitamin Guide.

References:
1. The Anti-Cancer Activity of Lycopene: A Systematic Review of Human and Animal Studies - National Institute Health
2. Potential inhibitory effect of lycopene on prostate cancer - Science Direct (Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy)