By Michelle Fabio

Scientists in England have created a tomato that they say may be even more healthy than the traditional red variety.

By injecting genes from the snapdragon flower, including the all-important antioxidant pigment called anthocyanin, researchers at the John Innes Centre, Norwich have created purple tomatoes that research suggests provide more health benefits than red tomatoes.

Along with giving snapdragons, blackberries, and cranberries their rich colors, anthocyanin is also believed to inhibit cancer cell growth, help eyesight, and fight cardiovascular, age-related degenerative diseases, diabetes, and obesity.

In the experiments by Read the rest of this entry »

By Michelle Fabio

We all know that tomatoes are one of the healthiest foods out there, but just how healthy are they?

An average tomato has just 21 calories, and here is a quick glance at the nutritional information of a tomato, including calories, fat, carbohydrates, sugars, and of course Vitamin C: Read the rest of this entry »

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 a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, researchers at Ohio State University found that orange “Tangerine” tomatoes contain lycopene that is more easily absorbed into the body than red tomatoes.

Why should we care?

Lycopene is a powerful nutritional antioxidant that reduces the amount of damage done to body cells by oxygen that could lead to cancers and heart disease.

Although red tomatoes have lycopene in higher concentrations, individuals in the study that were given spaghetti meals made with orange tomatoes absorbed up to two and a half times more lycopene into their bodies than those who had the red tomato pasta sauce.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Amelia Tucker

One of the things that tie backyard gardeners together is the desire to eat the freshest and healthiest produce they can.

If you are buying your tomato from someone else, how do you know if it is organic?

• Buy locally
• Know your tomato’s history
• Check the sticker number

Read the rest of this entry »