By Elizabeth Barker
Going organic may grant you greater protection against health-harming free radicals, a recent study suggests. Focusing on 34 different kinds of antioxidants, University of Barcelona researchers found that organic tomatoes delivered higher levels of antioxidants than the conventionally grown variety. “Organic farming doesn’t use nitrogenous fertilizers,” explains study author Anna Vallverdú Queralt. “As a result, plants respond by activating their own defense mechanisms, increasing the levels of all antioxidants.”
Antioxidants found in tomatoes include lycopene, a compound linked to reduced risk of prostate, ovarian, pancreatic and lung cancers in a number of population studies. Although it’s too soon to tell whether opting for organic could strengthen your cancer defense, the study’s authors note that the antioxidants found in organic tomatoes could offer an array of health benefits.
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