¼ lb (1 stick) butter or margarine
1 c chopped celery
1 c chopped onion
½ c chopped carrots
1/3 c flour
2 (1-lb 12-oz) cans whole tomatoes, drained and chopped
½ tsp curry powder
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp basil
1 tsp marjoram
1 bay leaf
4 c chicken broth
1 pint whipping cream (2cups)
½ tsp paprika
¼ tsp white pepper
Salt to taste
Melt butter or margarine in a large saucepan. Sauté celery, onion and carrots until tender. Stir in flour. Cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add tomatoes, sugar, basil, marjoram, bay leaf and chicken broth. Cover and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Discard bay leaf. Puree 1/3 of the mixture at a time in blender. Add cream, paprika, curry powder and pepper. Stir to blend. Add salt to taste. Serve hot or cold. Makes 8 servings.
 |
| Tomato bisque garnished with green onions |
Wikipedia has this to say about lycopene: "Given its antioxidant properties, substantial scientific and clinical research has been devoted to a possible correlation between lycopene consumption and general health. Early research suggested some amelioration of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, and even male infertility.
There have been several studies produced that analyze the anti-cancer properties of lycopene, although research has been primarily inconclusive. Evidence for lycopene’s benefit was strongest for cancers of the lung, stomach, and prostate gland.
Lycopene is not modified to vitamin A in the body so can be accessible for other benefits such as antioxidation. The absence of the beta-ionone ring structure for lycopene increases its antioxidant action. Lycopene is also the most efficient oxygen and free radicals quencher and is the prime carotenoid in plasma and other tissues. Lycopene is also found in lung tissue and is valuable in protecting lymphocytes from NO2 damage found in lung cancer. Lycopene also may help decrease the impact of oxidative load from pylori infections in the stomach. The tomato-derived carotenoid lycopene may reduce risk of cancer by activating special cancer preventive enzymes such as phase II detoxification enzymes, which remove harmful carcinogens from cells and the body.
In one study of lycopene as a inhibitor of human cancer cell proliferation, it was found that unlike cancer cells, human fibroblasts were less sensitive to lycopene, and the cells gradually escaped growth inhibition over time. In addition to its inhibitory effect on basal endometrial cancer cell proliferation, lycopene also was found to suppress insulin-like growth factor-I-stimulated growth. Insulin-like growth factors are major autocrine/paracrine regulators of mammary and endometrial cancer cell growth. Therefore, lycopene interference in this major autocrine/paracrine system may open new avenues for research on the role of lycopene in the regulation of endometrial cancer and other tumors.
In different studies however, lycopene was even found to have an inhibitory effect on cataract development and several different kinds of cancer cells including breast and endometrial cancer cells, prostrate carcinoma cells, and colon cancer cells."
Sloane-Kettering has this to say: "A natural pigment synthesized by plants and microorganisms, lycopene is used primarily as an antioxidant and also to prevent and treat cancer, heart disease, and macular degeneration. Lycopene has antioxidant activity and is classified as a nonprovitamin A carotenoid, other examples being lutein and zeaxanthin. Alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin are classified as provitamin A carotenoids because they can be converted into retinol. Small clinical trials suggest possible benefit against exercise-induced asthma, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and cancer, but no optimal dosage has been established.
Epidemiologic studies suggest an inverse relationship between lycopene consumption and risk of cancer, particularly lung, stomach, and prostate and estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR)-positive breast cancers."
Functions of Lycopene
* Lycopene increases gap-junctional intercellular communication, and this action is believed to be responsible for enabling the transfer of growth-regulatory signals.
* Lycopene has been hypothesized to prevent carcinogenesis and atherogenesis by protecting critical cellular biomolecules, lipids, lipoproteins, proteins, and DNA. Though the exact mechanism of action has not been defined, researchers have found that patients with prostate cancer were found to have low levels of lycopene and high levels of oxidation of serum lipids and proteins.
* Strong evidence exists from numerous studies which associate high serum or plasma lycopene with decreased risks of cancer of the lung, stomach, gastrointestinal tract and cancers of the colorectum.
* Recent studies have also reported a decrease in the risk of total cardiovascular disease with higher concentrations of plasma lycopene.
* Other studies have shown an inverse association between plasma lycopene and mortality in patients with prior cancers particularly in Oral, Pharynx, or Larynx Cancers.
Foods high in lycopene:
Tomatoes; Apricots; Pink grapefruit; Watermelon; Guava, rosehips.
Curcumin
As of 2008, clinical trials in humans were underway, studying the effect of curcumin on numerous diseases including multiple myeloma, pancreatic cancer, myelodysplastic syndromes, colon cancer, psoriasis, and Alzheimer's disease.
The Linus Pauling Institute gives information regarding promising studies of curcumin on Alzheimer's Disease, colorectal cancers, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Curcumin is found in the spice turmeric. Turmeric is found in varying amounts in curry powder.
0 comments:
Post a Comment