Tomatoes

Rich in antioxidants and lycopene, homegrown tomatoes are a seasonal treat.

Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and many antioxidant compounds including ascorbic acid, tocopherols, glutathione, polyphenols, tomatines and lycopene. If you’ve ever wondered where tomatoes get their rich red and pink colors, it comes from lycopene. This compound also offers potent antioxidant effects that reduce your risk of many health conditions. Cooked tomatoes offer more health benefits than raw tomatoes, because when you cook them with fats and oils, lycopene is more easily absorbed into the body. Although they are lower in lycopene, fresh tomatoes are also high in vitamin C and other antioxidants. No matter how you prefer to eat tomatoes, they are an excellent choice this spring! Need some new recipes for tomatoes? Try one of these suggestions below.

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