Healthy Life Food: TOMATOES

Tomatoes are filled with lycopene which is an antioxidant that protects cells from oxygen damage, certain cancers, and heart disease. Some of the cancers it helps fight are breast, lung, prostate, colorectal, and pancreatic.

Because the lycopene, which is a carotenoid is absorbed into the body with fats, it's better eaten with certain fats like olive oil, avocados and the like. When buying tomato products try to purchase the darker red organic products, they contain up to three times the lycopene that you get with regular brands.

Tomato cooked with broccoli gives a super double dose of nutrients to protect against and fight prostate cancer. Green Tea is also a super partner with tomatoes to protect against prostate cancer.

Tomatoes that are cut and cooked will make the lycopene more readily available to combine with the good fats to absorbed into the body.

Tomatoes are also very high in vitamins C and A. Vitamin A has a lot of beta-carotene that neutralizes the free radicals that cause illnesses and disease. They also have fiber which is good for maintaining blood sugar levels, helping in the fight against colon cancer, and lowering high cholesterol.

One study also showed that women who ate oil based tomato products at least twice a week had about a 34% lower risk of heart disease. Women who ate seven to ten servings of just tomato
products had a 29% lower risk to those who ate just one to two servings.

Drinking tomato juice also helps with stopping blood clots. One serving of tomato juice per day takes care of this. The juice is also an inflammatory. It's recommended for people who smoke and those not active for long periods at a time while flying, it's good also for those with diabetes type 2.

Tomatoes are also rich in vitamin K which is very good for the bones.

To greatly increase the level of vitamin C, and decrease the inflammation and stress on the arteries and cells from free radicals that occur from oxidation, is having two servings of gazpacho soup a day.

Tomatoes have folate and can help protect against colon cancer. They also contain riboflavin and studies have shown that helps reduce the incidence of migraines. Diabetics also benefit from the chromium which helps keep blood sugar steady.

Choose tomatoes that are deeper red in color as this indicates more lycopene. They should be smooth without wrinkles or bruises. Store them at room temperature. When ready to use they should have a wonderful smell and give slightly to the touch. If they ripened too fast and you're not ready to use them you can put them in the fridge for a couple days. If they are not ripe enough place them into a paper bag with an apple and they will ripen quicker.

Tomatoes have a high acid content and should never be cooked in anything aluminum. The acid breaks down the aluminum and it leaks into the food which is very unhealthy and bad tasting.

Here is the nutritional value for one cup of tomatoes,