Healthy Secrets of the Tasty Tomato

It’s not too late to enjoy the sweet burst of a fragrant ripe tomato before its peak season ends! Although these round, shiny fruits are available all year long, the best time to savor their flavor and reap the most health benefits is from August to September. Whether you enjoy stacking slices of a plum red tomato on your salad or snacking on its bite-size cherry counterpart, your body will love this tasty and tart nutrition powerhouse!

A ripe rainbow of varieties

If you stroll down to your local farmer’s market you may find yourself picking through a rainbow-colored variety of tomatoes. Perhaps you prefer a beautiful multi-colored striped heirloom or a baby yellow teardrop tomato hanging on its fragrant green vine? Even with all the multi-faceted varieties that are currently in season, one common factor is that they all pack a treasure trove of powerful phytonutrients!

Load up on lycopene

Over the past several years, countless studies have demonstrated the potency of the carotenoid known as lycopene. Lycopene has shown to be effective in reducing the risk for multiple cancers, including prostate, colorectal, breast, and pancreatic cancer. The Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention published an analysis of 21 studies, which confirmed that consumption of tomatoes, especially cooked tomatoes, provided protection against prostate cancer. The men who ate the highest amounts of raw tomatoes were found to have an 11 percent reduction in risk for prostate cancer; cooked tomato products yielded a 19 percent reduction in prostate cancer risk. Even eating just one 6-ounce serving a day of raw tomato demonstrated a reduced prostate cancer risk by 3 percent—not bad for one extra tasty addition to your sandwich!

Chew on this: Fat helps increase the absorption of lycopene, so the next time you slice some juicy pieces onto your whole grain sandwich spread a tablespoon of creamy avocado for a healthier bite! Avoid unwanted chemicals by choosing organic tomatoes when possible.

Up the antioxidants, protect your heart

In addition to its fantastic phytochemicals, tomatoes are chockfull of the antioxidant vitamin C and high concentrations of beta-carotene. Just one cup of fresh tomato will give you nearly 58% of the daily value for vitamin C, 22% of the DV for vitamin A, and almost 8% of the DV for fiber. Tomatoes are also rich in potassium, niacin, B6, and folate. That bowl of homemade tomato sauce not only satisfies your belly, but it may also protect your heart. Potassium helps reduce blood pressure and risk for heart disease, while B6 and folate work synergistically to decrease levels of the dangerous chemical homocysteine in the blood. A study in the Journal of Nutrition, found that women with the highest intake of lycopene-rich tomato-based foods had a significantly reduced risk of heart disease. This 4.8 year prospective case-controlled trial involved nearly 40,000 middle-aged and elderly women in the health study. It was found that as the women's blood levels of lycopene increased, their risk for cardiovascular disease dropped. So add a chopped tomato to your breakfast egg scramble for an antioxidant punch that will keep you heart pumping strong!

Bonus Tip: Not only can foods like the tomato bolster your heart, but also healing herbs can lend a hand. Super Clarity is an herbal blend of Chinese healing herbs that helps support heart health.

Tasty Selection and Storage Tips

Your local farmer’s market will often provide you with the most fragrant and ripe tomato varieties, but if the grocery store is your preferred destination, seek out tomatoes with a deep, rich color, which indicates greater taste and a higher lycopene content. Avoid tomatoes that look cracked, wrinkled, or bruised. A sweet fragrance also lets you know that it will be a hit at your next dinner party! Storing tomatoes at room temperature and out of direct sunlight is best for maintaining freshness. If, however, you need to expedite their ripening, place the tomato in a paper bag with an apple or banana. The ethylene gas emitted by these fruits will hasten the tomato’s ripening. Chopped tomatoes and sauces keep well in the freezer for future use.

Word to the wise: It is best to avoid using aluminum cookware with tomatoes since the acidity of the fruit and metal may interact to result in possible health risks.

I hope you and your friends will enjoy the delicious health benefits of tomatoes all summer long! You can discover more about tomatoes and other longevity foods in The Natural Health Dictionary, a comprehensive guide that answers all your questions about natural remedies, healing herbs, healthy foods, vitamins, and supplements. You may also be interested in Secrets of Longevity: Hundreds of Ways to Live to Be 100, which is now available on Kindle.

I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

—Dr. Mao

This blog is meant to educate, but it should not be used as a substitute for personal medical advice. The reader should consult his or her physician or clinician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field is ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.

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