E2G EAT TO GROW
droplet-associated protein, or PLIN, controls
fat metabolism and storage. Unfortunately,
this protein coats or covers fat droplets to
protect them from being broken down by the
enzyme lipase. Lastly here, but distinctively,
these researchers also point out that the
anti-fat/anti-obesity effects of green tomato
extract was also attributed to its ability to
activate the AMPK pathway. AMPK—short for
AMP-activated protein kinase—serves as the
body’s master regulating switch that controls
cellular energy balance. Based on new and
emerging research, AMPK actually recali-
brates innate multifaceted genetic programs
that amplify signals, which prompt the body
to also accelerate fat-burning activities.
Additionally, a strong body of research indi-
cates that AMPK, when activated, enhances
fat-burning activities by decreasing the
activity of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, an enzyme
that plays a key role in fatty acid synthesis or
formation.
As a note here, the ratio of alpha-tomatine
to dehydrotomatine range from 10.9 to 12.5
micrograms per gram in tomatoes and from
2.3 to 7.8 grams in the other plant tissues.
Overall, researchers estimate that immature
green tomatoes contain about 500 milli-
grams of a-tomatidine; however, at maturity
or when green tomatoes ripen, that one
kilogram of fresh green tomatoes produces
about 0.5 grams of tomatine.
Tomato Juice And Muscle
Preservation
Comparably to the above findings, research-
ers at Stockholm University reported that five
weeks of drinking 150 milliliters (about five
ounces) per day of tomato juice standard-
ized with 15 milligrams of lycopene (another
active ingredient in tomatoes), substantially
reduced levels of 8-dihydro-2’-deoxygua-
nosine (8-oxodG), a key marker of oxidative
stress and muscle damage. Studies indicate
that this inflammatory chemical can elevate
at levels from 42 percent to 82 percent above
normal during periods of an intense workout.
Amazingly, these researchers discovered
that after five weeks at the dose ranges cited
above, that the activity of 8-oxodG was barely
detectable. From all indications, tomato juice
appears to turn off inflammatory signals
that inhibit muscle recovery and accelerates
muscle fatigue. Conversely, researchers at
the Catholic University School of Medicine in
Rome discovered that the compound found
in tomato’s lycopene down-regulates signals
transmitted by well-known internal pathways
that amplify inflammatory responses known
as nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB), activated pro-
tein-1 (AP-1), and mitogen-activated protein
kinase (MAPK).
34 april 2017 | ironmanmagazine.com