Battling Cancer

In praise of the tomato.

You already know it’s high in lycopene which helps the fight against, stomach, colon and prostate cancer.

But how else do tomatoes affect your cancer battle?

Per the American Dietetic Association: “Antioxidants are dietary substances including some nutrients such as beta carotene, vitamins C and E and selenium, that can prevent damage to your body cells or repair damage that has been done.”

Basically an antioxidant is capable of counteracting the normal damaging effects of oxidation by neutralizing free radicals in the body. The balance of antioxidants to oxidants is disturbed by poor diet, smoking, disease, normal aging, x-rays and many other things. When an antioxidant neutralizes a free radical, the antioxidant becomes oxidized and the body needs to be resupplied with antioxidants.

From the U.S. Department of Agriculture: “Antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E, help protect healthy cells from damage by free radicals. Normal body functions such as breathing or physical activity, and other lifestyle habits, such as smoking, produce substances called free radicals that weaken healthy cells. Weakened cells are more susceptible to cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer.”

But from the Florida Tomato Growers here are some basic tomato facts:

• One medium tomato (148 g) contains only 25 calories
• And supplies 40 percent of the U.S. recommended daily allowance (U.S. RDA) of vitamin C, 20 percent of vitamin A, some of which is in the form of beta-carotene.
• Tomatoes also contain 1g of dietary fiber, about as much fiber as a slice of whole wheat bread.
• Tomatoes provide potassium, iron, phosphorous and some B vitamins.
• They are low in sodium and contain no cholesterol.

Nutritional Value of a Tomato:

• Serving Size — 5.5 ounces (148 grams)
• Calories — 35
• Protein –1 gram
• Carbohydrates — 6 grams
• Fat — 1 gram
• Sodium — 10 milligrams
• Potassium — 360 milligrams
• Dietary Fiber — 1 gram

Tomato Trivia: Did you know a tomato should never be stored below 55 degrees Farenheit?

It kills the flavor enzymes and causes the water inside to expand, producing a mealy taste.

Killer Tomato Recipes:

First check out Martha Stewart’s EveryDay Foods– Garden Goodies: Tomato Fest!

Now how about some Shrimp Stuffed Tomatoes from Every Day with Rachael Ray!