Pizza—a health food?

That's happy news to the average American who devours 46 slices a year. The secret is in the sauce. Cooking tomatoes releases lycopene, the substance that gives them their cheery red color. The body easily absorbs lycopene, which is linked to a lower incidence of heart attack and many cancers. In one study, men who ate 10 servings of tomato-based foods a week shrank their risk of prostate cancer by 50 percent. In a similar study, women were found to be less likely to have a heart attack or to develop cancer of the bladder, pancreas or digestive track.

And there's this to consider: tomatoes also are a super source of vitamins A and C. So splash on the sauce, soup or even ketchup. Just go easy on the cheese if you're a pizza lover.

More lycopene:

• Spicy Tomato Sauce
• Mrs. Potenza's Easy Casserole
• Frittata with Tomatoes & Potatoes
• Tomato, Spinach & Bean Soup