Unlocking the power of tomatoes with an easy recipe to boost your immune system
I’m crazy about good healthy foods, especially when it’s easy to cook, provides great health benefits, and adds to our immune system. I was very surprised during the COVID-19 epidemic that despite the millions the government spent on keeping us safe, there was no health messaging regarding our immune system and how to support it. None.
Why eat tomatoes?
I’ve long been a fan of tomatoes, but only recently learned about some of the medicinal benefits of eating tomatoes and why they should be a part of a healthy diet. They are packed with nutrients and loaded with vitamin C.
The nutrient that excites me is lycopene, a powerful antioxidant.
Lycopene gives tomatoes their red colour and remember they are a fruit, not a vegetable. Research shows that tomatoes also help prevent the growth of cancer cells through their antioxidant properties. Tomatoes also contain phytosterols which help prevent colon, prostate, and breast cancers. It doesn’t just stop there either, lycopene can help protect DNA, give our skin a lot of love by protecting it against the sun, promote eye health and has been shown to support visual acuity. Even better, studies show that cooking tomatoes makes lycopene more available for your body and is associated with a lower prostate risk in men. Wow even more it’s also beneficial for cardiovascular health in both men and women.
The bottom line is that tomatoes contain many nutrients and phytonutrients including vitamins A, C, potassium, and lycopene. Adding tomatoes to your diet can improve heart health, reduce cancer risk, and promote better digestion. Wow, what’s not to like?
So I’ve been adding cooked tomatoes to my family meals for some time and now I’ll show how easy and quick it is.
How to cook tomatoes:
Take a good-sized tomato or several and cut it in half. In a small baking dish lay out the tomatoes cut side up. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and/or add some dried herbs. Then, bake in the oven for 10-15 mins, along with whatever else you are baking that evening. Yum delicious and wholesome.
P.S. As a side note, olive oil is also an amazing ingredient that helps the body absorb more of the lycopene.
What a wonder this lycopene is! and to think it comes from red fruits and especially tomatoes 🍅
Richard Sinke
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