Eating tomatoes can keep you youngTomatoes were first cultivated in 700 AD by Aztecs and Incas.Explorers returning from Mexico introduced the tomato into Europe, where it was first mentioned in 1556.The French called it "the apple of love", the Germans "the apple of paradise, "Tomatoes are rich in vitamins A and C and fiber, and are cholesterol free.An average size tomato (148 gram or 5 oz) boasts only 35 calories.Furthermore, new medical research suggests that the consumption of lycopene-the stuff that makes tomatoes red may prevent cancer.Lycopene is part of the family of pigments called carotenoids, which are natural compounds that create the colours of fruits and vegetables.For example, beta carotene is the orange pigment in carrots.As with essential amino acids, they are not produced by the human body.Lycopene is the most powerful antioxidant in the carotenoid family and, with vitamins C and E, protects us from the free radicals that degrade many parts of the body.While it has long been credited with cutting cholesterol and preventing some cancers, the fruit now appears to have two more health giving benefits.
