By Michelle Fabio

Super tomatoes have arrived.

British supermarket chain Tesco claims that its “Healthy Living Tomato on the Vine” has up to twice the level of lycopene as an ordinary vine-ripened tomato.

Lycopene, which is what makes tomatoes red, is nature’s most powerful antioxidant; studies have shown that increased lycopene consumption can lead to decreased risks of heart disease as well as certain types of cancers, including breast, prostate, and colorectal.

Lycopene may also lower the amount Read the rest of this entry »

By Michelle Fabio

By polling a panel of experts, the popular Internet source of medical information, WebMD has compiled a list of the six healthiest foods women can eat, which they have termed “Super Foods.”

And tomatoes come in as Super Food #4.

Tomatoes, along with watermelon, grapefruit, and red navel oranges, are praised for providing lycopene, which aside from possibly protecting against prostate cancer in men, also has health benefits for women.

According to NYU Read the rest of this entry »

By Michelle Fabio

In the first part of the Tomato Allergies series, we discussed how to identify and diagnosis a tomato allergy.

Now what if it turns out there is such a reaction to tomato products? What’s a tomato lover to do?

One option is to turn to Nomato products: tomato-free sauce, ketchup, barbecue, and salsa.

Nomato tomato-free products were born when a woman named Norine started “experimenting with various vegetables and seasonings” because her granddaughter Hannah was allergic to tomatoes and couldn’t so much as have Read the rest of this entry »

By Michelle Fabio

If you’re reading this site it’s probably because you love tomatoes (although surely some tomato haters must have guilty pleasures too).

Sadly, though, some people cannot enjoy the tomato no matter how much they would like to because of a food allergy.

How do you know if you’re allergic to tomatoes?

Allergic reactions to tomatoes could include tingling of the lips or in the mouth or even a red, itchy rash. In extreme cases, anaphylactic shock, in which breathing becomes difficult, can occur—this of course requires immediate medical attention.

If you suspect a tomato allergy, you should Read the rest of this entry »

By Michelle Fabio

Researchers at the Center for Research and Advanced Studies in Irapuato, Mexico have reported that they have successfully produced transgenic tomato plants that produce an HIV protein called Tat, which is normally produced soon after infection with the HIV virus; the Tat protein allows the virus to replicate in host cells as well as infect new cells.

As the presence of anti-Tat antibodies have shown to stop the progression of AIDS, scientists are seeking to develop a vaccine based on the protein.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Michelle Fabio

As reported in the November-December issue of the Journal of Food Science, a University of California-Davis study has found that among the four commercial farms participating, organically-produced tomatoes were higher in sugars, soluble solids, consistency, and acidity than their processed counterparts—all positive qualities in tomato production.

On the other hand, the organic tomatoes also tested lower in red color, Vitamin C, and phenolics, which are potential antioxidants.
Read the rest of this entry »