Tomatoes For Type 2 Diabetes

I came across a short article in a recent AARP magazine concerning tomatoes. The tomato has been classified as a "Night Shade Vegetable" and I have also seen it called a "Fruit". Apparently it is BOTH.

It is reputed to guard against several types of cancer, and also to reduce your risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and yes, even DIABETES.

The tomato is probably best known as a source of Lycopene. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals in the body. Foods high in Lycopene have been shown to protect against a wide range of cancers, including prostate, lung and breast cancer.

Tomatoes also help prevent heart attacks, primarily by lowering cholesterol. In one study; drinking 13 ounces of tomato juice daily for three days, lowered LDL (The bad cholesterol) by almost 13%. Lycopene also plays a role in bone mass.

Another health benefit of tomatoes is 9-oxo-octadecadienoic acid which researchers in Japan found lowers cholesterol and fat in the blood stream.

Recommendations are for three or more servings weekly. IF you have a good high speed blender or a Vita Mixer, you might also try adding a whole tomato to your green smoothie. I also keep a quart of V8 juice on hand and try to drink a fruit juice glass of that daily. I know, I know, V8 is processed etc. however I feel on those eat and run days, it is better that a glass of concentrated orange juice which has too much sugar in it for Type 2 Diabetics.

Tonight's smoothie consisted of 2 stalks of celery, 1 medium carrot, 1 half crisp red apple, 1 packet of stevia, a handful of red grapes and 3 ice cubes. (Please stay away from artificial sweeteners like splenda, equal etc) SEE my other blog posts on the dangers of ASPARTAME.

I am trying to back off the added fruit a little and concentrate on the raw veggies.

Link to tomatoes and type 2 diabetes:

EXCERPT:

Tomatoes are rich sources of several nutrients, including lycopene and beta-carotene. But the benefit of consuming tomatoes may even extend into type 2 diabetes management, according to research published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition.
Iranian researchers tested this theory in assigning 32 type 2 diabetes patients to consume 200 g of raw tomato daily for eight weeks. Blood markers, including glucose, homocysteine, apolipoprotein, and blood pressure, were measured at baseline and at eight weeks.
Compared to baseline scores, systolic and diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased at eight weeks. Another notable change was an increase in apolipoproteinA-1, a main constituent of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (commonly referred to as “good cholesterol”).
Such changes in blood markers left the researchers to conclude that tomato consumption had “a favored effect” and “might be beneficial for reducing cardiovascular risk associated with type 2 diabetes.”

Dan

Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."
I Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.