Tomatoes: The ‘Superfood Cure-All’

In her July 1 article, Tomatoes: The Superfood Cure-All, Lisa Collier Cool, a health writer, asks, “ Who knew that the secret to everything from disease prevention to glowing, healthy skin could be found in the world’s most popular fruit–tomatoes?” Lisa says tomatoes are a nutritional powerhouse, due in part to their high amount of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that gives tomatoes their red colour, and can lower the risk of heart disease, improve vision, lower cholesterol, and decrease the risk of cancer. Sudipta Talapatra, a nutritionist in Kigali, said tomatoes are known for their outstanding antioxidant content, their rich concentration of lycopene, an antioxidant effective in maintaining the strength, thickness and fluidity of cell membranes, which regulate the flow of nutrients in and out of cells. Tomatoes are also an excellent source of free radical-scavenging vitamin C and vitamin A as well as bone-healthy vitamin K. They are a good source of molybdenum which is an important component in; heart-healthy potassium, vitamin B6, folate, and dietary fiber; blood sugar-balancing manganese, according to whfoods.com, a nutrition web site.“Tomatoes are a good source of heart-healthy magnesium, niacin, and vitamin E; energy-producing iron, vitamin B1, and phosphorus; muscle-building protein, and bone-healthy copper,” the web site says.Tomato reduces the risk of heart diseases by providing antioxidant support and by regulating fats in the bloodstream. Lycopene, the red pigment present in tomatoes, lowers the risk of certain types of cancer especially lung, stomach and prostate cancer, Sudipta says. Eating tomatoes with olive oil helps lycopene to be better absorbed by the body. The lycopene in tomato boosts collagen that keeps the skin firm and youthful.w