How to Grow Tomatoes at Home
Feeling green-fingered? You don't need a large estate to grow your own tomatoes, just a sunny patch...
Five Facts about Tomatoes & Lycopene
Tomatoes are one of the top sources of lycopene, the pigment that gives red and pink fruits their colour and is linked to a range of health benefits.
- Lycopene, a type of organic pigment that falls into the category of carotenoids, is related to beta-carotene (found in carrots and sweet potatoes) which gives certain fruits and vegetables their red-orange hue.
- Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that has been linked to health benefits ranging from heart health to protection against sunburn and certain types of cancers.
- Tomatoes are the biggest food source for lycopene and the riper the tomato, the more lycopene it contains. Tomato products contain varying levels of lycopene per 100 grams: sun-dried tomatoes: 45.9 mg, tomato purée: 21.8 mg, fresh tomatoes: 3.0 mg, tinned tomatoes: 2.7 mg.
- Steaming or boiling tomatoes are the best cooking methods to bring out more lycopene.
- Be aware that lycopene forms as tomatoes ripen. Commercially grown tomatoes that are picked green and ripen off the vine have significantly lower levels of lycopene than those that ripen fully on the vine.
