Tomatoes
Several studies have linked tomatoes, especially cooked tomatoes, to a reduced risk of prostate cancer and cancers of the digestive tract, skin, lungs, bladder, breasts and cervix. Lycopene, a phytonutrient in the carotenoid family, is believed to be responsible for the cancer protection and is made available to your body when tomatoes are heated with a small amount of oil, like in soups and sauces. It is also a powerful antioxidant that acts to stabilize cancer-causing free radicals in the body. Lycopene may also protect against heart disease by preventing the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol. As I mentioned before, tomatoes are super-low in calories, with just 20 in a half-cup serving. That's about 7 cherry tomatoes, 1 small raw tomato or 2 cup of cooked tomatoes. One serving contains 1.5 grams of fiber, no fat and just 10 milligrams of sodium. I'm sure you're familiar with the more common vine-ripened cherry, beefsteak, and roma tomato varieties-and I think they're great-but I want to highlight the best tomatoes of the season: the Heirlooms. These old-time varieties will challenge your standards of beauty, ripeness, and perfection. They range in color from almost white, to green-on-green striped, to purple and pink and they come in freaky shapes and sizes varying from marble-sized to artichoke-sized. They're so ugly that they're beautiful. And the flavor will make your taste buds dance on your tongue! July, August, and September are great months to buy Heirloom varieties of tomatoes. Never buy tomatoes that are displayed in a refrigerator; the cold destroys the texture and flavor of the fruit. Heirloom tomatoes are very delicate because their skin is so thin, which tends to give them a very short shelf life, so try to eat them on the same day you buy them. They will be soft (you don't want firm Heirlooms) with a taut skin surrounding squishy insides. Don't be afraid of imperfections, either. For common tomato varieties, look for those that are firm, free of blemishes, and heavy for their size. Always store tomatoes at room temperature; never put them in the refrigerator unless they're on the verge of spoiling. As you probably know, tomatoes taste great raw, cooked, or dried. This month, try my recipes for Heirloom Tomato Caprese and Penne with Pesto.
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've developed a new-found appreciation for tomatoes since I started growing my own this year. My little potted tomato garden has been an unfruitful labor of love, and I've realized that I just can't duplicate the flavor or the selection of the amazing berries that Gelson's offers. Regarded as both poisonous and as an aphrodisiac at different points in history, my favorite fruit is currently being billed as fattening! At 20 calories each, I can assure you that tomatoes are not to blame for our current weight problem and they happen to be chock full of nutrients that help fight cancer and heart disease.