ARF / 5-A-Day: Kickin' Out Cancer Soup!

Ahh, tomatoes and peppers. Most gardens are filled with them nowadays! We all know how good veggies in general for you, but just HOW good tomatoes and other red vegetables (like red peppers) are for you, especially in the fight against cancer, is incredible! These are truly some anti-oxidant powerhouses, containing lycopene (a major cancer fighter), and are stellar candidates for the ARF / 5-a-Day Tuesdays event! Of course, the wonderful Sweetnick's is hosting this healthful round-up.
I just have to take a minute and say thanks to everyone who participates for making the foodie community more aware of just how much we can do to prevent cancers from taking control of our systems! As a granddaughter of two great men who suffered from different cancers (one who beat the pants off bladder and prostate cancer twice, and is thankfully still in remission; the other unfortunately succumbed to lung cancer after a lifetime of smoking), I know how important it is to treasure each day we have and to value the power we do have over our own health and bodies!

• Research shows that lycopene in tomatoes can be absorbed more efficiently by the body if processed into juice, sauce, paste and ketchup.
• The chemical form of lycopene found in tomatoes is converted by the temperature changes involved in processing to make it more easily absorbed by the body.
• In the body, lycopene is deposited in the liver, lungs, prostate gland, colon and skin. Its concentration in body tissues tends to be higher than all other carotenoids.
• Habitual intake of tomato products has been inversely associated with the risk of cancer of the digestive tract among Italians.
• In one six-year study by Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, the diets of more than 47,000 men were studied. Of 46 fruits and vegetables evaluated, only the tomato products showed a measurable relationship to reduce prostate cancer risk. As consumption of tomato products increased, levels of lycopene in the blood increased, and the risk for prostate cancer decreased.

*All trivia courtesy Lycopene.org (now defunct)

This is a great vegan creamy-smooth soup filled with the rich flavours of roasted tomatoes and red peppers and the mellow sweetness of onion. It's the perfect dinner for the cold winter nights ahead, and the servings are HUGE (about 2 cups each!) so even Andrew was satisfied after one bowl and some crackers with peanut butter the last time we made this. Snce I'm a bottomless pit, I had a Stickling's Bakery spelt bagel and my favourite apple butter with my share.

Kickin’ Out Cancer SoupServes 2
2 POINTS each for Weight Watchers
3 cups tomatoes, chopped
2 cups red peppers, chopped
½ large white onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic, unpeeled
2 cups hot vegetable broth
Salt and pepper

1. Preheat oven to 375F, line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
2. Place vegetables and garlic on sheets, roast 45 minutes.
3. Squeeze garlic pulp into blender, scrape in tomatoes, peppers and onion.
4. Blend slightly, add broth, salt and pepper.
5. Blend until smooth.
6. Serve hot.

Amount Per ServingCalories: 131.8
Total Fat: 1.4 g
Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
Sodium: 969.7 mg
Total Carbs: 29.2 g
Dietary Fiber: 6.3 g
Protein: 4.5 g