Common kitchen staple may sharpen your brain, and it only takes 2 tablespoons

A small study conducted in Spain has found a possible link between consuming tomato paste and improved cognitive function. The research, which involved 42 healthy adults aged 40 to 55, found that participants who ate about two tablespoons of tomato paste every day for three months scored slightly higher on tests of concentration, processing speed, and associative memory compared to when they followed a diet low in lycopene, the red antioxidant pigment found in tomatoes and other fruits.

During the tomato paste phase, participants consumed approximately 35 grams of the paste per day, which is equivalent to 0.5 grams per kilogram of body weight. Afterward, they scored an average of 7.2 points higher for concentration, 8.3 points higher for processing speed, and 0.8 points higher on a test matching faces with names. Blood tests also showed a borderline increase in BDNF, a protein involved in brain-cell growth and adaptability.

The trial used a randomized crossover design, meaning participants served as their own comparisons before and after eating the tomato paste. Brain scans in a small subset of participants also showed changes in resting connectivity, which is how different brain regions work when a person is not focused on a specific task. However, the researchers noted that the small sample size means it does not prove a meaningful brain benefit.

The study, published in the journal Antioxidants earlier this year, did not show that tomato paste prevents cognitive decline or disease, but it offers an early look at how lycopene-rich tomato foods may affect the brain. The researchers called the findings preliminary and said larger studies are needed to confirm the results.

A physician who was not involved in the study, Dr. John Showalter, said that the results fit into a larger body of research suggesting that people need naturally red foods in their diets. He noted that the low-lycopene phase of the study may be the most telling comparison, as it suggests that restricting lycopene-rich foods may leave the brain functioning less well.