If you’re thinking of ditching that left-over spag bol – don’t. Reheat it to a high temperature, add some oil and you’ll be giving yourself a healthier meal than you can imagine.

That is because the magical nutrients and antioxidants in tomatoes survive even the hardest cooking and, in fact, get stronger with it, scientists have found.

Processing tomatoes into purees or sauces was already known to enhance their anti-cancer properties.

Now US researchers from Ohio State University have discovered that a combination of intense heat and fat can increase it even more.

They have come up with a recipe for super-healthy tomato toppings that fight cancer.

The processing technique alters the structure of the tomato molecule, lycopene, so that it is more easily transported into the bloodstream and body tissues.

Previous research has shown that lycopene, a powerful antioxidant which gives tomatoes their red colour, can help prevent cancers.

It may also help fight heart disease and diabetes and it has an especially potent effect on prostate cancer.

A trial showed that people had more lycopene in their blood after eating the specially processed sauce than they did after consuming ordinary tomato sauce.

While heat is vital to the process, it is also important to add some fat because it helps absorbs the molecules better.

Via news.sky.com