In a way, it is their rich color that makes tomatoes so
valuable to a healthy diet. The substance responsible
for the red coloration of tomatoes is known scientifically
as lycopene. This important compound is thought to be
a strong antioxidant, with the ability to neutralize the
free radicals that can cause damage to cells. These free
radicals are thought to play a role in cancer, and therefore
tomatoes are thought to be important in the prevention
of many kinds of cancer.
As a matter of fact, lycopene is thought to be twice
as effective as many other kinds of antioxidants,
and it has been shown to play a role in the prevention
of such common cancers as prostate cancer, lung cancer
and breast cancer. In addition, lycopene is thought
to help to inhibit the aging process, allowing tomato
eaters to remain active longer.
How to choose the best tomatoes
To get the greatest amount of benefits from tomatoes
it is important to choose them carefully. The ripest
and reddest tomatoes not only contain the highest amounts
of lycopene, but they also are thought to contain the
greatest amount of beta carotene, another vital nutrient.
Tomatoes are healthy when eaten raw, but they are also
one of those rare foods whose nutritional value is actually
enhanced by the cooking process. The valuable lycopene
is contained in the cell wall of the tomato, and therefore
cooking it in a bit of healthy oil will help to more
fully release this important nutrient. In addition,
cooking the tomato in a healthy oil like olive oil will
help the body to better absorb the lycopene in the tomato.
While it is important to choose the richest, reddest
tomatoes to enjoy their many health benefits, it is
not necessary to always buy your tomatoes fresh. While
fresh tomatoes are often better tasting, tomatoes are
one of those fruits that ship very well, and they do
not lose any of their vital nutritional value when they
are shipped. Tomatoes also retain their nutritional
value through the high heat processing they undergo,
meaning that tomato sauce, canned tomatoes and stewed
tomatoes are all valuable sources of antioxidants and
other valuable nutrients.
|
