Tomatoes:
Organic Superfoods with Antioxidants
Tomatoes are a natural, organic food with antioxidants in high levels, particularly the antioxidants anthocyanins, and the flavonoids quercetin and kaempferol. Organic tomatoes are also a rich source of vitamins and minerals necessary for a healthy body. The antioxidants and flavonoids are an ideal source chemicals that help prevent natural damage to cell and cell walls from free radicals. Additionally, these antioxidants seem to be ideal for reducing the risks of cardiovascular diseases, cancers and even various dementias including Alzheimer’s disease.
Food with Antioxidants for Cancer Prevention and Cardiovascular Health
Organic tomatoes, a food with antioxidants, are a rich source antioxidants and flavonoids that are known to reduce the risk of some cancers and also cardiovascular diseases. An interesting study in a 2008 edition of Nature Biotechnology reviews a study by Eugenio Butelli of the John Innes Centre in England and his colleagues from Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands, indicates that cancer-prone mice live considerably longer than control groups using regular tomatoes, and test groups using a genetically modified purple tomato with exceedingly high levels of antioxidants. The mice that received the higher dosages of anthocyanins all lived considerably longer than their counterparts in the control groups.
Although many people will not eat genetically modified tomatoes or other fruits or vegetables, it is interesting to note that with this high level of anthocyanins (not found naturally at these levels) had a significant impact on the life expectancy of cancer-prone mice.
Other plants with high levels of anthocyanins include grapes, blackberries, and blueberries (wild blueberries have one of the highest levels of antioxidants). The implications for the human population are intriguing nevertheless.
Are Organic Tomatoes Really Better?
Most of the evidence indicates that organic, raw tomatoes are indeed an important source of antioxidants. Cooking, canning and preservatives all lower the effectiveness of the plant’s antioxidants. The results from a 10-year study indicate that the levels of flavonoids (antioxidants) are indeed considerable higher in organic tomatoes. Actually, the number is staggering. In the study groups, organic tomatoes showed an increased level of antioxidants – 79% higher levels of quercetin and 97% higher levels of kaempferol than in tomatoes grown using pesticides and nitrogen-based fertilizers.
So, to answer the question, yes, emphatically, yes, organic tomatoes are better than tomatoes grown with pesticides and modern chemical fertilizers.
Learn about Nutritional Food Supplements from Kylea
Contraindications for Tomatoes
Tomatoes are part of group of plants known as nightshades. Originally, these plants were poisonous to humans and many animal species. With thousands of years of horticulture and genetic modification (natural selection and recently, genetic engineering), these plants have lost most of their toxic or poisonous attributes. Some individuals with food allergies may be intolerant of tomatoes.
Recipe: Review the Video Clip from Balanced Health for Healthy Organic Pizza – we use organic tomatoes and other healthy ingredients for a healthy alternative to an American favorite food.
Related Links:
 |
Learn about the Health Benefits of Tomatoes, a Food with Antioxidants & Quercetin – Watch the Video from The Balanced Health Show |
 |
|
Review the Video Clip from Balanced Health for Healthy Organic Pizza |
|
Tomatoes:
Organic Superfoods with Antioxidants
Tomatoes are a natural, organic food with antioxidants in high levels, particularly the antioxidants anthocyanins, and the flavonoids quercetin and kaempferol. Organic tomatoes are also a rich source of vitamins and minerals necessary for a healthy body. The antioxidants and flavonoids are an ideal source chemicals that help prevent natural damage to cell and cell walls from free radicals. Additionally, these antioxidants seem to be ideal for reducing the risks of cardiovascular diseases, cancers and even various dementias including Alzheimer’s disease.
Food with Antioxidants for Cancer Prevention and Cardiovascular Health
Organic tomatoes, a food with antioxidants, are a rich source antioxidants and flavonoids that are known to reduce the risk of some cancers and also cardiovascular diseases. An interesting study in a 2008 edition of Nature Biotechnology reviews a study by Eugenio Butelli of the John Innes Centre in England and his colleagues from Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands, indicates that cancer-prone mice live considerably longer than control groups using regular tomatoes, and test groups using a genetically modified purple tomato with exceedingly high levels of antioxidants. The mice that received the higher dosages of anthocyanins all lived considerably longer than their counterparts in the control groups.
Although many people will not eat genetically modified tomatoes or other fruits or vegetables, it is interesting to note that with this high level of anthocyanins (not found naturally at these levels) had a significant impact on the life expectancy of cancer-prone mice.
Other plants with high levels of anthocyanins include grapes, blackberries, and blueberries (wild blueberries have one of the highest levels of antioxidants). The implications for the human population are intriguing nevertheless.
Are Organic Tomatoes Really Better?
Most of the evidence indicates that organic, raw tomatoes are indeed an important source of antioxidants. Cooking, canning and preservatives all lower the effectiveness of the plant’s antioxidants. The results from a 10-year study indicate that the levels of flavonoids (antioxidants) are indeed considerable higher in organic tomatoes. Actually, the number is staggering. In the study groups, organic tomatoes showed an increased level of antioxidants – 79% higher levels of quercetin and 97% higher levels of kaempferol than in tomatoes grown using pesticides and nitrogen-based fertilizers.
So, to answer the question, yes, emphatically, yes, organic tomatoes are better than tomatoes grown with pesticides and modern chemical fertilizers.
Learn about Nutritional Food Supplements from Kylea
Contraindications for Tomatoes
Tomatoes are part of group of plants known as nightshades. Originally, these plants were poisonous to humans and many animal species. With thousands of years of horticulture and genetic modification (natural selection and recently, genetic engineering), these plants have lost most of their toxic or poisonous attributes. Some individuals with food allergies may be intolerant of tomatoes.
Recipe: Review the Video Clip from Balanced Health for Healthy Organic Pizza – we use organic tomatoes and other healthy ingredients for a healthy alternative to an American favorite food.
Related Links:
|
Learn about the Health Benefits of Tomatoes, a Food with Antioxidants & Quercetin – Watch the Video from The Balanced Health Show |
|
|
Review the Video Clip from Balanced Health for Healthy Organic Pizza |
|