Tomatoes
Tomatoes are rich in antioxidants that improve your immune system and may slow degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, and cancer. They also help your body produce carnitine, an amino acid that helps you burn fat.
One tomato supplies 40% of your recommended Vitamin C. It also provides smaller amounts of Vitamin A, potassium and iron.
Tomatoes are high in Lycopenes, which are toxic to cancer cells, and helps stop cholesterol from being deposited on artery walls – but tomatoes must be cooked or processed to release the lycopene. Tomato sauce, ketchup, and tomato juice, are great examples of lycopene rich foods.
New research is beginning to indicate that tomatoes may be used to help prevent lung cancer. Two powerful compounds found in tomatoes-coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid-are thought to block the effects of nitrosamines. These are compounds that not only are formed naturally in the body, but also are the strongest carcinogen in tobacco smoke. By blocking the effects of these nitrosamines, the chances of lung cancer are reduced significantly.
Makes spaghetti look a whole lot better, doesn’t it? Freshly made sauce – not jarred with all those nasty chemicals in it! Look for my recipe in the recipe section.
And home grown tomatoes are late summer treat. Heck, one good beefsteak can be a lunch all by itself!
Tomato Juice
Is a blood thinner and reduces the stickiness of blood platelets which lead to clogged arteries. A cup of tomato juice a day is one of the best heart protection things you can do.
Warning: Avocados, bananas, eggplant, pineapple, plums, tomatoes, and walnuts contain large amounts of serotonin. Which normally is a good thing. Serotonin is the feel good chemical. But – eating them seventy-two hours before a carcinoid tumor test can create a false-positive result. Carcinoid tumors sometimes arise from tissues of the endocrine or gastrointestinal systems and secrete serotonin, a chemical that causes blood vessels to expand or contract. Because serotonin is excreted in the urine, these tumors are diagnosed by measuring the serotonin levels in the urine, and eating these foods before such a test can indicate tumors when in fact none are present. These foods should be avoided before undergoing such a test.
