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Medicinal (Healing) Applications of Tomatoes

Summary

	Prevents/Heals Certain Types of Cancer
	Good for Coronary Heart Health
	Reduces high blood pressure (Hypertension)
	Prevents Diarrhea
	Soothes Eye Irritation
	Cleanses and revitalizes the skin
	Heals Sunburn
	Heals Wounds and Sores
	Supports Liver Health

Tomatoes and Cancer

According to the National Cancer Institute, there is now enough data to show that people who consume large amounts of tomatoes and tomato products have a significantly decreased risk for prostate, lung, and stomach cancer. There is some evidence that people who consume a lot of tomatoes may also have a lower risk of pancreatic, colorectal, esophageal, oral, breast, and cervical cancers.

We do not know for sure how or why tomatoes help against cancers. The consensus seems to be that lycopenes, bioflavonoids that are closely related to beta carotene, present in tomatoes are the natural cancer-fighting agents responsible. Cooking releases the fat-soluble lycopenes from the fruits' cells. In fact, cooking tomatoes rather than eating them raw has been shown to more than double the effectiveness of the lycopene tomatoes contain. A small amount of added oil, such as that in pizza or tomato sauce, intensifies the protective effect.

Numerous other potentially beneficial compounds are present in tomatoes, and, conceivably, complex interactions among multiple components may contribute to the anticancer properties of tomatoes.

According to Dr. Giovannucci of Harvard Medical School who has done extensive studies on the beneficial effects of tomatoes, "with the consistently lower risk of a variety of cancers that is associated with higher consumption of tomatoes and tomato-based products adds further credence to the current dietary recommendations to increase fruit and vegetable consumption for people with cancer or as a preventive mechanism."

To learn more on the beneficial effects of tomatoes on cancer, see: Tomatoes and Cancer.

Coronary Heart Diseases

Studies have shown that consuming tomatoes and tomato products containing lycopene reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The tomato help to dissolve animal fat in foods such as in butter, cheese, eggs, pork, beef, and many deep-fried foods, thereby preventing hardening of the arteries.
Tomato is also useful in reducing high blood pressure, a major risk factor for coronary heart diseases and stroke.
Lycopene, present in abundance in red tomatoes, is a potent antioxidant. Recent research has demonstrated that lycopene is at least twice as effective as b-carotene in protecting blood lymphocytes from NO2 radical damage.

Lycopene is found to reduce LDL oxidation more effectively than beta-carotene. Scientists have found that a combination of lycopene with vitamin E prevents LDL oxidation more effectively than each substance separately.

A clinical study showed that Lithuanians who suffered a high rate of mortality from coronary heart disease has a low blood lycopene levels.

In one clinical trial, 6 healthy males were given 60 mg of lycopene daily for a three month period. Their plasma LDL cholesterol concentration reduced by 14%. Thus, in addition to protecting LDL from oxidation, tomato's lycopene also inhibits cholesterol synthesis.

According to Michael Aviram, Technion Faculty of Medicine and Rambam Medical Center of Haifa, Israel, "I highly recommend that humans supplement their diets with natural tomato lycopene, whether by increasing their consumption of tomatoes, ingesting an all natural supplement, or purchasing food products which use lycopene as a nutrition enhancing ingredient. Lycopene's benefit to the human heart is demonstrable, and outstanding."

See Lycopene to learn more about it.

Tomatoes Reduces High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Potassium is very important for the kidneys. Potassium was found to reduce high blood pressure. One jumbo tomato (approximately 3 inches in diameter and weighing about 7 oz.) contains nearly 450 mg. of potassium.

Hypertension Tomato Cocktail

Ingredients:

2 ripe jumbo tomatoes
1 tsp. ground tarragon
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. ground turmeric
1 tsp. ground basil
1 tbsp. of lemon juice
2/3 cup of spring or distilled water

Directions

Blend the ingredients thoroughly. Makes a zesty beverage that contains almost 1,200 mg. of potassium and only about 15 mg. of sodium. (80:1 ratio) It is great for hypertension.

Dried Tomato Prevents Diarrhea

In 1946, Dr. Lester M. Morrison of the Philadelphia General Hospital, described the successful use of tomato pomace in more than 100 cases of diarrhea in the American Journal of Digestive Diseases. He reported that diarrhea from simple, or non-organic cause can be stopped within 4 hours by the tomato treatment.

He used tomato pomace, prepared by dehydrating tomato pulp. Tomato pomace relieved diarrhea from food poisoning, mucous and spastic colitis, nutritional deficiencies, food allergy (other than that caused by tomatoes), and other causes. No toxic symptoms were observed from its use.

Add one tablespoon of tomato pomace to one glass of milk. Take this at two-hour intervals. Dr. Morrison reported that the diarrhea stopped within 12 hours of taking the first dose. Ulcer symptoms disappeared within one week. Tomato pomace was also found to relieve other gastric disturbances as heartburn, nausea, vomiting and belching.

Natural Prescriptions for Diarrhea

Drink the tea made by stirring the tomato pomace from a dozen dried slices of tomatoes into 2/3 cup of water. Increase the amount as needed.

Combine equal parts of dried tomato powder and dried apple powder. Mix it well. Add 2 level tbsp. of this mixture to 1 1/4 cups of warm water. Mix or blend well. Drink as needed.

Eye Irritation

To relieve bloodshot eyes, Chinese doctors suggest eating 1 or 2 fresh tomatoes first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Scientists believe that the Vitamin C and flavonoids in the tomatoes strengthen the blood vessels.

Tomato Cleanses and Rejuvenates the skin

Tomato is excellent for cleaning and rejuvenating the skin. We will give three applications: in a face peel, as a mask and in a cleansing grain. Later we will show how it can be used to restore skin damaged by sunburn.

Face Peels

Tomato is excellent for a face peel that loosens the top layer of dead skin cells and rub them off. It is good for all types of skins.

Rub tomato slices directly into your clean skin, concentrating on areas infested with blockheads. Tomatoes contain vitamin C, which has healing powers, and an acid that removes dead skin and unplugs pores, making skin soft and radiant.

Tomato Mask

Slice a ripe tomato as thin as possible. Lie down and close your eyes. Apply the slices to your face. Wait 10 to 15 minutes. Let the juices seep into your skin. After the 10 to 15 minutes are up, use a slice to rub the juices further into the skin. The tomato works as a face peel, removing all dead, dry skin and leaving your face soft, glossy, and smooth. Rub off the excess tomato, leaving the residue on your skin. The mild natural acidity of the tomato restores the ph balance of your skin.

Tomato-Almond Meal Grains

For tougher face cleaning applications a more abrasive and effective mixture may be needed.

Add almond slices into a blender. Pulverize. Add an equal amount of mashed ripe tomato. Mix well. Apply over the area of the skin you want.

This cleansing grain removes rough dead skin cells, and makes the skin smooth. It is also effective against blockheads. This will work against even the most stubborn areas around the nose and chin. It stimulates circulation and restores the color of sallow, tired skin.

Remove the mixture with cool water or wipe it off, leaving a coating of the natural oils and juices.

Caution:

	This is very abrasive. Use with caution.
	When skin is sensitive due to too much sun, eruptions, or abrasions, wait until the problems have gone.
	Use no more than twice a week, only once if it tend to irritate.

Healing Sunburn

Proponents say that tomatoes are useful for healing sunburn. Tomato can be used to transform a painful sunburn into a modest tan.

Soak peeled tomato slices in buttermilk. Apply them directly on the skin affected. It will close up the pores and relieve the pain.

Alternately, make a puree out of thinly peeled tomatoes. Add a little buttermilk (don't add too much; it will make the mixture runny.) Spread this mixture over the sunburned skin. This will give a tan over the spot where the sunburn used to be!

Heals Wounds and Sores

Tribal medicine men often prescribed poultices made from the leaves of wild tomato to heal wounds and sores. You can get the benefit of the wound healing property of tomato from the fruit also. Take a slice of fresh tomato; wrap it around the finger. Apply an adhesive tape to hold the tomato in place. Change the tomato slices 2-3 times a day. The infection (bad wounds and pus) will normally clear within 2-3 days.

Restores Vitality - For Persistent Fatigue

Hypoglycemic people (those who have low blood sugar) are beset with constant fatigue and lack of energy. Tomatoes are useful in rebuilding their strength. Tomato affect this process three ways:

	Tomatoes contain several naturally occurring sugars. These account for nearly 50 % of the total dry matter. Ripe tomatoes are especially high in glucose and fructose.
	Tomatoes stimulate liver mechanism. Doctors at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan reported that fresh tomato juice was extremely effective in accelerating the glycogen (blood sugar) formation in normal rabbits.
	Tomato seeds are a great source of protein. Scientists say that tomato seed protein is similar to that of sunflower and soybean.

Restores the Health of the Liver

Tomatoes play a key role in liver health.

Russian doctors prescribe tomatoes in the diets of factory workers exposed to toxic chemical. Tomatoes are useful detoxifiers because of the presence of chlorine and sulphur, two very important detoxifying trace elements. 100 grams of uncooked tomato contains 51 mg. of chlorine and 11 mg. of sulphur.

Natural chlorine helps to stimulate the liver. It assists liver in its task as an important filter for body wastes. Tomato also assists the liver in removing the toxic waste products from the system.

Sulphur helps to protect the liver from cirrhosis and other debilitating conditions.

Drinking fresh tomato juice can help to regenerate the damaged, destroyed or surgically removed liver.

Tomatoes help promote the health and well-being of liver. "A tomato a day, keeps the liver in good stay!," according to John Heinerman, noted author and herbalist.