There is an ongoing debate on whether the tomato is a fruit or vegetable. Tomatoes are actually a very healthy fruit, but are commonly mistakenly classified as a vegetable. The French refer to tomatoes as “pommes d'amours”, or “love apples” due to their rich red color. If you are not a tomato fan, you should start including more tomatoes in your diet because of all the recent evidence of its many health benefits. A Harvard Medical School study showed that the lycopenes in tomatoes lowered the risk of prostate cancer. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant, and prevents the uninhibited growth of cells that may develop into tumors. Tomatoes may even slow the growth of already existing cancers. In a study of 700 participants with lung cancer at the Cancer Research Center in Hawaii, researchers found that consuming tomatoes nearly doubled the participants' survival time after their diagnosis. The best sources of lycopene are tomatoes and red grapefruits. Lycopene is also thought to reduce the cell degeneration that takes place with aging, and reduce risks of cervical cancer. The most positive results are seen from cooked tomatoes with a little olive oil. When eating pasta, always choose tomato sauce and olive oil instead of the high fat creamy sauces to go with it. Make a delicious and healthy mixed vegetable stew cooked in tomato juice. Puree fresh tomatoes in a blender and use in stews, or to make baked vegetables and chicken, or for spaghetti sauce. Tomatoes are also high in vitamins A and C, potassium, and water. Eating tomatoes can help ward off cancer, increase immune function, and improve eye health. Carotenoids found in tomatoes can protect the eye from developing macular degeneration that impairs eyesight in the elderly. Among the other advantages of tomatoes is that tomatoes are fat free and very low in calories. __
