According to recent research, the humble tomato may be a superstar at preventing disease. An article printed in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine and reviewed by Medical News Today, says the tomato is one of our richest sources of antioxidants and may be able to help prevent a host of serious disorders, including cancer and cardiovascular disease.
It is particularly interesting to note that one of the key antioxidants in tomatoes, lycopene, has been shown to be even more effective after cooking and processing than before. This is in contrast to so many other fresh fruits and vegetables, whose antioxidants and other health promoting ingredients have diminished effectiveness after cooking or processing.
There is an abundance of evidence suggesting that we need to dramatically change our diets and lifestyles in order to live longer, happier lives. For so many Western cultures, this is very difficult to achieve. Our hurried lifestyles and the quick and easy access to processed foods make it hard to adopt the diet we know would be best for us. We use tomatoes in so many ways already, making it a point to add more of them to our diet may be an easy way to start on the road to a healthier diet.
What's Inside a Tomato?
Aside from lycopene, tomatoes also contain other benefits, such as antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. In addition, researchers have found evidence to suggest there is a relationship between tomatoes and a decreased risk of contracting certain cancers, skin damage from ultraviolet light, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and even cognitive dysfunction.
According to Britt Burton-Freeman, PhD, MS, and Kristin Reimers, PhD, RD, the researchers who conducted the study and authored the original article, spreading the word about tomatoes "may be one simple and effective strategy to help individuals increase vegetable intake, leading to improved overall eating patterns, and ultimately, better health."
The Importance of a Colourful Diet
This study of the health benefits of tomatoes came on top of the latest update of the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010. The USDA update is especially significant because it highlights the vital importance of fruits and vegetables, suggesting that they should make up half of our daily food intake. The guidelines also mention that we should consume red, green and orange coloured fruits and vegetables.
The "colour theory" of nutrition has enjoyed popular support by health practitioners for years. It is encouraging to see that it is now officially recognised as being of nutritional and preventive value. Most of us would agree that a "health food diet" that included a plate of spaghetti with a nice tomato and vegetable sauce and a colourful side salad would not be a difficult diet to stick to and one the whole family would enjoy.
Originally published on Mar 18, 2011
