Unfortunately white bread is so easy to chew and digest, while appearing attractive we become engulfed by its deceptive ‘make up’ like we do when seeing celebrities all ‘dolled up’. The real deal behind white versus brown is brown beats white for more nutrients. Remember, the darker more chewy breads are less refined. The less refined the better for fibre to protect against high cholesterol, cancers and bowel related disorders such as diverticular disease, which commonly develops in the elderly. Improvement can be obtained with a more bulky diet of whole foods, which includes fibre carrying vegetables and grains. Often, we employ tomato pieces for a healthy sandwich.

The tomato provides us with ‘red love’. It always brings us the gift of lycopene, that successful antioxidant that acts as a ‘security guard’ against cancer. We’ve seen the glory films where tomato sauce is the substitute for blood. Did you know that tomatoes help thin the blood to ward away blood clots, which can be dangerous as triggers of heart attacks, strokes or pulmonary embolism (lung clot)? If you detest the tomato, well then there’s tomato soup or juice. Tomato paste on pizza or tomato sauce is ideal for children and adults with the ‘fast food enamoured taste buds’. According to current scientific studies, heating and processing of tomatoes doesn’t destroy lycopene.

Red is not the only colour, as they can be orange, yellow, purple, green or brown. South America enjoys the fried green tomato. Ensure inclusion of some fats when being presented with lycopene carrying foods, as lycopene is fat-soluble and needs fats in the diet to be absorbed. Avocados (excellent spread when mashed and used on bread or toast), seeds, nuts and eggs in salads can all be partners for tomatoes. Remember, health requires diversity in dietary selection to supply various protective nutrients, for our complex functioning bodies. Dark rye bread, whole-wheat and seeded loaves are a walk apart in nutrient delivery. Sandwiches can be fun to prepare, encourage younger family members to participate. Answers for what does tomato do may be, ‘it makes tomato sauce, it keeps us healthy by carrying antioxidants or it gives us red love to help our heart.’ Well this fruit, yes tomato is a fruit, does indeed have a role in heart health by fencing away unwanted clots.


Anastacia Sampson D.N. Med