Taking Advantage of Tomato Season

Summertime brings with it so many wonderful things including delicious in-season fruits and vegetables! Unfortunately, summertime also means our skin is most at risk for harmful UV exposure. In recent years though, research has revealed that there may be a link to the foods we eat and our skin health. That’s right, fruits and veggies may have the ability to act as nature’s sunscreen.

A 2017 study at the Ohio State University, for example, unraveled a possible link between eating tomatoes on a daily basis and a reduced risk of skin cancer. The study, which was published in the Journal of Scientific Reports, was conducted on mice. Half the mice were fed tomato powder, or dehydrated tomato, every day for 35 weeks, while the other half were not. Both groups were exposed to ultraviolet rays. There was a 50 percent decrease in skin cancer tumors in the male group that consumed the tomato powder compared to mice that didn’t consume the powder.

Researchers suggested that carotenoids – the pigmenting compounds that give tomatoes their bright color – may be responsible for the relationship between tomatoes and skin cancer. Lycopene, the primary carotenoid in tomatoes, is the most effective of these pigments, according to past research. It’s also important to note that the lycopene found in whole tomatoes has had greater impact on preventing redness after UV exposure than supplemental lycopene. This has led researchers to believe that there are other compounds in tomatoes that work synergistically to contribute to its powerful impact.

Jessica Cooperstone, the co-author of this study, has said that she’s excited about these findings because they support earlier research and illustrate the following statement: “Foods are not drugs, but they can possibly, over the lifetime of consumption, alter the development of certain diseases.”

Despite a low mortality rate, the American Cancer Society reports that non-melanoma skin cancers are the most common of all cancers, with more new cases each year than breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers combined. Nutritional interventions, therefore, are important to implement in order to reduce the cost and severity of treatment.

With tomatoes in peak season, this is the best time to enjoy them! If you’re not a fan of tomatoes, have no fear. There are creative ways to sneak them into your meals and smoothie so that you can reap all of their health benefits! You can also enjoy them year-round in processed tomato products such as canned tomatoes or tomato paste.

Try out these tomato recipes!

Feta and Roasted Cherry Tomato Dip. If flavor is what you’re after, this succulent, savory dip delivers big with tart tomatoes, salty feta, and punchy garlic screaming “umami” in every bite.

Smoky, Spicy Salsa. Infused with chipotle, jalapeño, and Chile de árbol, this deep, smoky salsa packs the heat! Enjoy with tortilla chips or add a dollop to tacos, fish, meats, bowls and more for a big hit of flavor.

Heirloom Tomato Soup. Warm, comforting, and full of nourishing veggies, this flavorful soup is perfect as a main dish, or as a side for dunk-able grilled cheesesandwiches.