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Health Benefits
Tomatoes are linked to all sorts of health benefits high in phyto-nutrients vitamins A,C,E and K. Flavonoids which are natures anti inflammatory, potassium, they are naturally low in sodium, saturated fat, cholesterol, and calories.
Tomatoes also provide thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, magnesium, phosphorus and copper, all of which are necessary for good health.
Lycopene present in tomatoes is an anti oxidant which gives them the red appearance but also present in a lesser degree in orange and other varieties is attracting plenty of attention for its ability to fight free radical damage in the body which can harm your cells. Lycopene may also help ward off cancers ( breast cancer, stomach cancer, prostate cancer), reduces bad cholesterol, protects against UV rays and age related macular degeneration.
When taken with a Mediterranean diet including Olive Oil and Herb Allies like Oregano, Marjoram, Parsley and Thyme, these herbs have a huge arsenal of health benefits, to add to your healthy eating.
The very best way to eat tomatoes is raw straight from the plant if you want the vitamin C and other health benefits that cooking destroys.
How To Grow Your Own.
You can grow tomatoes in a bucket if you haven’t got a vegetable garden.
I do not use any products to protect my tomatoes other than my arsenal of Plant Allies and the best for me this year has been Nasturtiums, they have a peppery, mustard taste and feed nutrients into the ground that aid and protect many plants in the garden.
Nasturtiums have long been used for respiratory and urinary tract infections. Benzyl isothiocyanate inhibits or kills Gram-positive and negative bacteria and fungi. It is interesting to note that the nasturtium action is exclusively on the lungs, kidneys, bladder, and also acne. Nasturtium plays a key role in the Wala acne preparations for topical use.
In the past I have used Calendula and Marigolds very successfully. This year I thought I would see how Nasturtium goes because it has done such a fantastic job of keeping my lemon tree free of pests. What I did notice was as the tomatoes grew the very tops where the Nasturtiums hadn’t reached yet was the only part of the plant that was plagued by white fly , as the Nasturtiums caught up with the tomatoes the white fly disappeared.
I have a great spot to grow tomatoes and they often grow higher than the shed wall they are up against. This is an ideal position to grow my tomatoes as they get full sun and shade as the day progresses. To prepare the soil all I do is bury my vegetable scraps there, the worms do the rest. I find it only takes about 4-6 weeks for all the vegetable scraps to disappear, egg shells take longer.
I have also read that tomatoes do best if planted in a different place each year. Not so for me, this is the best place year after year, what I will say however that giving them a break from that position for a year and then coming back, they have performed magnificently.
Cook your tomatoes to boost the healthy effect.
The lycopene in the cell walls of tomatoes is fully released when cooked and because lycopene is fat soluble I recommend using Olive Oil.
References:
https://www.webmd.com/cancer/f...
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