Tomatoes are effective in treating depression Researchers at China's Tianjin Medical University have found that eating a tomato a day can cure depression.  Researchers analysed the mental health records and diet habits of 1000 people over the age of 70 and found that those eating at least two tomatoes a week were happier, 46 percent less likely, in fact, to suffer from the blues than those who ate them less than once a week. Tomatoes are one of the best sources of lycopene, an antioxidant that gives them their deep red colour. Lycopene is known to reduce the risk of prostate cancer and heart attacks. However, the research team led by Dr Kaijun Niu said they could not be sure if lycopene affected the mind directly or through simply protecting against the depression caused when people develop diseases. The findings lend to overwhelming opinion in the health community that those who live a healthy lifestyle by eating fresh fruit and vegetables are less likely to be in the ‘high-risk’ category for mental and physical illness.