Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain anti-oxidants that absorb free radicals

Beafsteak, Cherry, Vine and Pear are among the many different types of tomatoes you can buy. Eating tomatoes raw, from a tin or cooked are very beneficial to you in your everyday diet, as they contain many vitamins such as A,C,E and K. In eating tomatoes, you are absorbing the many vitamins and flavonoids that can help in combating the harmful effects of free radcials that cause cell damage.

Tomatoes also produce Lycopene

Lycopence is the stuff that makes ripe tomatoes red, it is a chemical which is well known to be active in the fight against prostate cancer and heart disease. Eating tomatoes cooked, say in a little olive oil, rather then eating them raw allows more of the Lycopene to be absorbed into your bloodstream, the Lycopene is contain in the cell walls of the tomato and more of it is released when cooked slightly, but on the other hand, eating tomatoes raw, contain more vitamin C then either cooked or tinned tomatoes. Tomatoes are also known to be cholesterol free, they also contain calcium and potassium.

Eating large amounts of tomatoes, they say, can help improve your skin texture and colour

They are also good blood purifiers and the Vitamin K in the tomato helps in the fight against hemorrhages. So by eating ketchup, tomato sauce and the tomato paste on top of that pizza, helps your body in the fight against many dieases. So we can now say that eating pizza is good for us!!

Tomatoes are such a versatile vegetable, they are available all year round and can also be grown very easily in your garden or on your balcony in a grow - bag. There are many differant ways to eat them as well, one way is by just adding a dash of olive oil, a sprinkle of sea salt and a few basil leaves, you can turn a tomato into a great and simple salad. Tomatoes on toast is another favourite way of eating them or blend them into soup. This is what Joseph Campbell did in 1897, he introduce us to the tinned condensed tomato soup which set him on the road to wealth, and the company we know and love today.

How to tell if a tomato is fresh

To see if a tomato is fresh, first check to see if the stem and leaves are green, the smell of a tomato comes from the stem and the leaves, rather then the tomato itself. Select tomatoes that are round, full and feel heavy in size with no blemishes or bruises. The skin should be taut not shrivelled. Store your tomatoes at room temperature and not in the fridge as they will go soft very quickly.

Under ripe tomates are great for making chutneys, soups and also tomato juice, which is known to be a excellent hangover cure. And lastly for the fun side, you can simply grow loads of tomatoes and then fly off to Valencia in Spain, to take part in their annual tomato- throwing fight!