There are many health benefits from eating natural grown tomatoes. They contain compounds which are proven to help prevent heart disease, cancer, and cataracts just to name a few.

Tomatoes contain large quantities of Vitamin C providing up to 40% of the RDI (Recommended Daily Intake), up to 20% RDI for Vitamin A, 8% RDI of Potassium, and between 7 – 10 % RDI of Iron.

The red colouring of the tomato is called Lycopene. It is a type of carotenoid anti-oxidant that has been found to contain up to twice the punch of more well known anti-oxidant beta-carotene. Lycopene has been found to offer some protection against a growing list of cancers which include prostate cancer in men, breast cancer in woman, pancreatic, endometrial and lung cancer.

Recent research is beginning to show that 2 other compounds found in tomatoes may help to fight lung cancer as well. Coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid are thought to be able to block the effects of nitrosamines which are the strongest carcinogenic found in cigarette smoke. By blocking the effects of nitrosamines the chances of developing lung cancer are significantly reduced.

What tomatoes contain the most Lycopene? This is easy. Choose the most brilliant red, natural home grown chemical free or organic tomatoes. These contain up to 3 times the amounts of these cancer – fighting carotenoids, and even more are released through cooking them with some olive oil. Also, when the tomatoes have been cooked in some olive oil, your body absorbs the Lycopene much better.