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  • From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org, OWL-OldWaysLiving@yahoogroups.com
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] Organic Tomatoes Contain Higher Levels of Antioxidants
  • Date: Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:55:00 -0600


Organic Tomatoes Contain Higher Levels of Antioxidants Than Conventional
Tomatoes, Study Suggests
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120703120630.htm?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

ScienceDaily (July 3, 2012) — A study conducted at the University of
Barcelona shows that organic tomatoes contain higher levels of phenolic
compounds than conventional tomatoes. Phenolic compounds are organic
molecules found in many vegetables with proven human health benefits. The
UB's Natural Antioxidant Group, headed by lecturer Rosa M. Lamuela, had
previously demonstrated that organic tomato juice and ketchup contain higher
polyphenol content than juice and ketchup made from conventionally grown
tomatoes.

Lamuela points out that during the production process of ketchup and juice,
there are lower levels of polyphenols; therefore it was necessary to verify
that the differences observed in previous studies had their origin in the
tomatoes themselves and not in the technology used during the production
process. As lecturer Lamuela states, "it must be verified with raw material."

Polyphenols -- natural antioxidants of plant origin -- are considered to be
of great nutritional interest because its consumption is associated with
reduced risk of cardiovascular and degenerative diseases, and some forms of
cancer. The team behind the study has analyzed a variety of tomato called
Daniela and has determined its phenolic profile by using liquid
chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. With this method, the research
group of the UB could identify 34 different phenolic compounds in tomatoes.
According to Rosa M. Lamuela, "the benefit of taking polyphenols through
foods is that they contain a wide variety of such molecules, which are
increased." This would be more beneficial to health than the intake of
supplements. Tomatoes also contain lycopene and other carotenoids, and
vitamin C. Hence, according to Lamuela, "they contain many beneficial
compounds."

Organic or conventional crops?

Differences between organic and conventional tomatoes can be explained by the
manure used in both cases. "Organic farming doesn't use nitrogenous
fertilizers; as a result, plants respond by activating their own defense
mechanisms, increasing the levels of all antioxidants," explains the first
author of the article, Anna Vallverdú Queralt. "The more stress plants
suffer, the more polyphenols they produce," points out lecturer Lamuela.
Numerous scientific investigations show that the consumption of these
antioxidants has numerous health benefits. Researchers claim that more
studies of clinical evidence are still needed to be able to state that
organic products are truly better for our health than conventional ones.
Lamuela would like to carry out a study with humans comparing organic and
conventional tomato consumers.

Also participating in this research, published in the Journal of Agricultural
and Food Chemistry, are researchers Olga Ja?uregui, from the UB's Scientific
and Technological Centres (CCiTUB), and Alexander Medina Remo?n, who,
together with Rosa M. Lamuela and Anna Vallverdú Queralt, are from the UB's
Department of Nutrition and Bromatology, from the Reference Network on Food
Technology of the Government of Catalonia (XaRTA) and from the Institute for
Research on Nutrition and Food Safety (INSA-UB). This research group is also
affiliated to the Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of
Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn) and RETICS networks, from Carlos III Health
Institute.





  • [Livingontheland] Organic Tomatoes Contain Higher Levels of Antioxidants, Tradingpost, 07/03/2012

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