Tomatoes And Vascular Disease
If you have any inkling for gardening, one of the rites of summer is growing your own tomatoes and enjoying their delicious and wholesome freshness right out of your garden. In addition to the pleasure of eating the fruit, tomatoes are also a good source of vitamins and antioxidants (lycopene).
Now, researchers have isolated a chemical from tomatoes that they believe could help treat and prevent vascular disease. The compound, 9-oxo-octadecadienoic acid, has been found to reduce the abnormally high presence of lipids, including cholesterol, to circulate in the blood. The condition is known as dyslipidemia.
Dyslipidemia has no apparent symptoms, and people can suffer from it without any sign or knowledge of the condition. However, dyslipidemia can result in a number of chronic health problems, including vascular disease (atherosclerosis), heart disease, and stroke. Prevention of these diseases is best accomplished by reducing the buildup of lipids in the blood, and tomatoes may be an ally in this battle.
It is already known that tomatoes have many healthful qualities, and in the current study, which was published in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, researchers focused on 9-oxo-octadecadienoic acid. According to the findings, the acid was found to assist in the oxidation and breakdown of fatty acids. This, in turn, helps in the regulation of lipid metabolism in the liver.
The data suggests that the compound, and ultimately the consumption of tomatoes, has anti-dyslipidemia properties and may therefore be a potential way for doctors to treat and prevent vascular disease. Consumption of tomatoes also represents an ideal approach to vascular health because it a natural way of prevention that addresses the condition through diet.
The findings are particularly relevant because vascular disease is generally associated with excessive weight gain, and obesity is a growing problem in this country, and for that matter, around the world. Currently, obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in this country. Nearly 60 million American adults 20 years of age or older are considered obese, and 9 million children and teens between the ages of 6 and 19 years are overweight. Being overweight can increase your risk for numerous chronic conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and vascular disease.
Vascular disease is any condition that affects your circulatory system, which includes your arteries, veins, and lymph vessels. If you have questions or concerns, speak with your doctor. For more information about vascular disease, visit the website for the Vascular Disease Foundation.