Organic Tomatoes Have More Vitamin C, Sugars

Tomatoes grown on organic farms have increased concentrations of sugars, vitamin C and compounds associated with oxidative stress compared to those grown on conventional farms, states research.

In their study, the researchers compared the weights and biochemical properties of tomatoes from organic and conventional farms. They found that tomatoes grown on organic farms were approximately 40% smaller than those grown by conventional techniques, and they also accumulated more compounds linked to stress resistance.

Tomato

Tomatoes are a rich source of potassium and vitamins. Tomatoes are used in the manufacture of skin care products. They have a whole lot of health benefits and one prominent benefit is its role in reducing prostate cancer risk.

According to the authors, organic farming exposes plants to greater stress than conventional farming. They suggest that this increased stress may be the reason organic tomatoes had higher levels sugars, vitamin C and pigment molecules like lycopene, an anti-oxidant compound - all of which are associated with the biological response to stress. Based on these observations, the authors suggest that growing strategies for fruits and vegetables should aim to balance plant stress with efforts to maximize yield and fruit size, rather than trying to eliminate stress to increase yields.

Source: Eurekalert

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Organic Foods

Organic Foods are produced by the 'natural method', without the use of chemicals like pesticides, fertilizers or sewage sludge.

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