The Super Powers of the Tomato

If you live in New Jersey you are no stranger to the Jersey tomato. We claim to have the best tasting tomatoes in the world. The mixture of sandy and clay soil make ideal growing conditions. You may know that tomatoes are good for you, but good is truly an understatement. You may also not be aware that tomatoes were once considered poisonous.

Those of us who pride ourselves on how good New Jersey tomatoes are might find it hard to believe that the plant originated in South America. The Spanish conquistadors loved it so much that they took it back to Europe with them. Somewhere along the line it became an ornamental house plant and was not considered edible. In fact, because of its distant relation to nightshade (a plant that produces highly toxic berries) it was thought to be poisonous.

Here’s where New Jersey and the tomato come together. In 1820 Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson of Salem County brought the tomato plant to local farmers. Legend has it that on Sept 26, 1820, he proved tomatoes were not poisonous when he stood on the steps of the Salem County Courthouse and ate a whole basket of the delicious red fruits in front of hundreds of onlookers.  Much to their surprise, the Colonial didn’t die and the local farmers have been growing tomatoes ever since.

Tomatoes are not only great tasting; they are great for your health too! Tomatoes contain lycopene, and lots of it. Lycopene is an antioxidant. This antioxidant flushes out free radicals and protects healthy cells from diseases like cancer. The more lycopene a food contains the more free radicals the body can flush. It is not only the high levels of lycopene that make this fruit down-right awesome for you: it’s the beta-carotene, potassium, magnesium, niacin, folate and Vitamin B6. This combination of nutrients makes the tomato a cancer fighter and a big help in preventing heart disease.  Research shows that men who consume 10 servings of tomatoes a week reduce their risk of prostate cancer by a whopping 45%. Similar studies show similar results for rectal colon, lung, breast, and endometrial cancers. There is even research that indicates tomatoes can help people stay active longer. The fruits and vegetables with the highest level of antioxidants and nutrients are, as usual, organic!

So slice ‘em, dice ‘em, pile them on your pizza or burger. Chop them up and add some extra to your salsa or just cut them in half and add a small amount of salt or eat them just the way they are. My personal favorite is sliced tomatoes with some mozzarella cheese, olive oil, vinegar, basil, and a sprinkle of sea salt top.

Is there a fruit or vegetable you think needs special attention? Let us know your favorites. We would love to write more about the benefits of nature’s market.

Written by Joann Agoglia

Edited by Rob Marshall