Tomatoes are one of nature’s most versatile fruits. They can be used in a multitude of heart healthy recipes, but did you know that they have many other not so well-known health benefits? Nutrition (and Tomato Expert) Tyler Tolman explains a bit more about the amazing tomato and why it should be on our shelves:
The American Heart Association promotes Tomatoes for a healthy heart. Tomatoes also have 4 chambers and are red just like the Heart. I once read an article that stated just the smell of a garden-fresh tomato can start a process of clearing arterial plaque from the body… Wow. That’s awesome!
One serving (one cup) of red, ripe, raw tomatoes are a good source of Vitamins A, C, K, folate, and potassium. Tomatoes also provide thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper.
When European explorers first brought tomatoes back from the new world they called them “Love Apples”. At this time many people believed they were poisonous because they are related to the nightshade family and in fact, the leaves and roots are poisonous – but the Tomato itself is quite a different story.
Tomatoes are well known for their ability to protect the heart with their concentration of Lycopene, they also lower bad cholesterol and because of their 9,000+ phytonutrients. They are also a great support to the immune system.
Tomatoes’ lycopene also makes skin less sensitive to UV light damage, one cause of fine lines and wrinkles.
According to the Harvard University Medical School, 72 different Studies show that when eating 10 servings of tomatoes per week you cut the risk of Prostate Cancer by 50%! By adding tomatoes to your diet, you’re also reducing the risk of stomach, lung, breast, colon, mouth or throat cancer as well.
One of my Favorite Snacks
Get some Sunbread or Essene bread (sprouted bread)
Cut a few thick slices of tomato over some spinach.
Add avocado, a little purple onion and some Bragg’s Amino’s. YUMMMMY!!
Give it a try. I know it will keep you and your family kickin’ a little longer.
Now for some personal Stuff
One of the coolest experiences I’ve had was sitting with a group of people after 7 days of Juice fasting. We each had 1 tomato each with our own plates and knife. Each of us sat there and cut the tomato into small pieces like little wedges, then we put just a dab of extra virgin olive oil and sprinkled salt on it. We sat around talking about how amazing it was going to be to eat for the first time.
A lot of people are unaware that we are not just a physical body, but we have a mental body, emotional body, and even etheric (energy body) and we were about to feed all of them.
So we sat there and thought about where the tomato came from, what it might affect within us and the travel it may have gone through to get to this point. Then we smelled it (I mean really sat there and smelled it) Now our Salivary glands are flowing with anticipation, then we each had a little chat about what we were grateful for and then we slowly started to offer each piece of this tomato into our Temples (bodies :0) Wow, the flavor was amazing!! I felt feelings of Love, bliss, joy and orgasmic big bangs going on in my brain! We all looked at each other like OMG!
Long story short, we could barely finish each piece.! ‘Really? Are you kidding me. 7 days of juice and your FULL from one tomato?’
Final Thought About Tomatoes
I’m reminded of a story in The Bible, (don’t quote me, I’m just going by memory) it says Christ was preaching and many people gathered, when it came time to eat they gathered the Bread and Fish and realized there were only a small number of baskets and they would not be able to feed everyone. Christ said give me the Loaves and Fish and I will break bread and every person shall eat and be full… I really think that he showed them how to feed not just their physical body but their entire BEING.
Anywho, Eat a Tomato!
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