You may have heard a lot about
lycopene in the news over the past 5 years. This nutrient is primarily associated with tomatoes, and has profound anti-cancer and antioxidant capabilities. As a new feather in the hat of the tomato, researchers found that tomato consumption decreases platelet activation. Platelet activation plays a huge role in the precipitation of a heart attack (see my "Cholesterol Overview" article on the articles page).
The decrease in platelet activation was seen with consumption equivalent to just 2 tomatoes, and the effects were most profound in people with high homocysteine and C-reactive protein--both of which predict heart disease! Link to
tomato study.
