Did you ever stop to think what makes tomatoes turn red? It’s the powerful bone-building antioxidant lycopene, also present in watermelons, pink grapefruits, apricots, papayas, and other fruits.
What makes tomatoes even more special is that they’re in season year-round so it’s an easy and delicious way to benefit from lycopene’s powerful antioxidant properties.
Antioxidants protect cells from the damaging effects of free-radicals, and studies show that lycopene in particular protects and stimulates osteoblasts, which are important bone-building cells that synthesize and deposit bone matrix (Kim, Rao, Journal of Medicinal Food, “Lycopene II – Effect on osteoblasts”. 2003).
Harness the power of cooked tomatoes
According to researchers, the bioavailability or absorption of lycopene is greatest when tomatoes are cooked with olive oil (Fielding JM et al., Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition. “Increases in plasma lycopene concentration after consumption of tomatoes cooked with olive oil.” 2005).
You see, when tomatoes are cooked, the lycopene in the raw tomato is converted into trans-lycopene, which is more readily absorbed.
Amazingly, this study showed an even greater increase in plasma lycopene concentrations in subjects who consumed tomatoes cooked in olive oil.
In light of this, I’ve found a simple and sumptuous way to incorporate the bone building power of cooked tomatoes into my diet, and I’d like to invite you to…
Try my easy tomato recipe
I love both raw and cooked tomatoes, and always make sure I include them in at least one meal each day. But I also don’t want to be constantly bothered cooking them on a daily basis. Thankfully, I found this recipe that only takes five minutes to prepare.
Oven-Dried Tomatoes
INGREDIENTS
4 pounds ripe tomatoes, cut in half
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
5 cloves garlic, cut in half lengthwise
4 sprigs fresh thyme, torn (optional)
¼ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Line shallow pans with parchment paper
3. Combine tomatoes, olive oil, salt and pepper in large bowl
4. Arrange cut sides up on pans
5. Scatter thyme pieces and garlic over tomatoes
6. Bake for four and a half hours or until tomatoes brown and begin to collapse
7. Let cool on parchment paper over wire rack
8. Refrigerate in a container or bag for up to one week
I use these delicious tomatoes in sandwiches, stews, salads, and pasta.
And one more thing: tomatoes taste best when they are stored at room temperature, away from direct sun, because refrigeration diminishes one of their flavor components, (2)-3-dexenal. And if they begin to overripe, you can either refrigerate or cook them.
Conclusion
Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a “love affair” with vegetables. My children sometimes roll their eyes when I interrupt dinner to speak about how amazing it is that nature provides us with everything we need to stay healthy, and that these wonders literally grow from the earth.
We shouldn’t cease to marvel at the power of nature. By eating lycopene-rich tomatoes and following the Osteoporosis Reversal Program you can harness the awesome bone-building power of nature, and restore your bones to their “normal” state.
Next time you’re about to bite into a tomato, think about this and smile.
Oh, and feel free to share your favorite tomato recipe with our community by leaving a comment below.
Dear Viv:
You talked about sugar lowering your immunity. What about honey? P.S. After I put the milk into a cup of coffee, I add some stevia, honey and chocolate whey powder! Try it. Thank you for all you’ve done to help many of thousands of people to live healthy drug free lives.
Which Tomato Is the Healthiest?
Adding tomatoes to lunch or to salad at dinner is a great idea. The rare red pigment called lycopene acts as an antioxidant by neutralizing free radicals. Studies have suggested that lycopene may have twice the cancer-fighting power of beta-carotene. And for men, lycopene seems to concentrate in the prostate, protecting this gland from cancerous tumor growth.
It turns out that the lycopene from orange- and tangerine- colored tomatoes may actually be better absorbed than the lycopene from red tomatoes. It all comes down to the fact that there are two different forms of lycopene: trans- lycopene (found in red tomatoes), and tetra-cis-lycopene (found in orange and yellow tomatoes).
Researchers in Portugal recently compared various tomato varieties and their key bioactive components. Here’s a quick summary of what they found out:
— A cis p-coumaric acid derivative was the most abundant compound in yellow (Amarelo) and round (Batateiro) tomato varieties
— 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid was the most abundant in long (Comprido) and heart (Coração) varieties
— The most abundant flavonoid was quercetin-3-0- pentosyl-rutinoside found in four tomato varieties
— Yellow tomato presented the highest levels of phenolic compounds, including phenolic acids and flavonoids
The next time you pick up some tomatoes, grab some yellow tomatoes. According to this study, they have even more health-boosting phenolic acids and flavonoids than the red variety.
Well I should have the strongest bones, because I just love eating tomatoes. Vivian you do give out some great information on what is good for our bodies.Unfortunately aging isn’t what we all want to happen, but it is going to happen to us all.So keeping knowledged to what will help us to prolong the inevitable, your encouraging care for what you say is the best for us all is so appreciated.Thank you so much.
Dear Vivian
I like your recipe for tomatoes as I am myself like tomatoes ,, in fact it is very much like one of our traditional appetizer,,,
I would like to ask you about a new problem which occurred to me three days ago .. I wrote to you that I stopped taking all the bones medications such as the Bonviva 150 and others and remained only on – Caltrate 600 with vitamin C plus other Vitamin B complex and supplements ,,, Three days ago my knee pain started killing me and I just do NOT want to take the medications which caused many side effects ,,, Can you instruct me please
I need your help
I am awaiting your kind reply …
Best regards
Nidhal
the problem with tomatos is that they are acidic, and with bone building in mind, one wants alkaline foods as much as possible—how do you justify that?
Actually, tomatoes have an alkalizing effect in the body. 🙂
Do you need to cook them to get the alkalizing effect?
Thank you.Ita
Excellent recipe with tomatoes that you shared. Now I will use this recipe more. Thanks.
thanks a lot for the helpful hint
I noticed a lot of the recipes call for sea salt. I used sea salt for a year because it was lower in sodium. Then I started losing my hair, and my doctor checked my thyroid and found it low. I couldn’t figure out what caused my hypothyroidism until it suddenly dawned on me that the sea salt I was using contained no iodine, which is essential for proper thyroid function. So then I had to go back to regular iodized salt and other thyroid treatment and I stopped losing hair. But my sodium level went up, which is bad for hypertension. So I switched one problem for another until I finally discovered iodized sea salt in the fabric dye department at Walmart, of all places. Oh well, seek and ye shall find.
You don’t need salt to get iodine! If you’re deficient in iodine, you can simply take iodine in supplement form. Or you can eat seaweed and/or take kelp tablets– rich in iodine.
Can you elaborate on how the olive oil helps. Despite what cooking shows say cooking with evoo is not healthy. Only cold use of evoo for me .
And though mixed reviews I see no value in regular olive oil only the not–good-to -ocok extra virgin.
Thanks
Hi,I was just wondering why it is not healthy to cook with olive oil.
We always cook with organic evoo.
We take organic flax oil daily on a spoon or with organic live yogurt as an anti cancer preventive.
Thanks in advance,
kev
Vivian. I am learning a lot from your postings and from the book, and am applying it as much as I can as I learn. I am hoping to avoid hip fractures and also have some spine problems, so I have to play a little catch up here. I am sure I have improved my intake of needed minerals although I still am not sure where to find a couple of things. I am ever so grateful for your generosity to share all the research you do. Lynn
Hello, Vivian.
Paula here.
I read the article on tomatoes in your email.
I have recently found out that, when I have tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce and another veg, in a salad, that these veggies are very acidic!
Also, the tomatoes are very acidic in soup or stew that I “try” to cook (I’m really not a cook!). How do I neutralise the acidity?
Thank you for all the articles you have sent, they are truly informative.
Regards
Hi Paula – It’s a common misconception that if a food seems to be acidic or has an acidic taste, that it must have an acidic effect on the body, but that’s not true. Foods are classified as acid or alkaline based on the minerals they leave behind after digestion, NOT based on their taste or how they “seem.” 🙂
Thank you Vivian for your wonderful recipe on Tomatoes. I love tomatoes.
My snacks are usually tomatoes with garlic and parmesan cheese on toast with lots of extra virgin olive oil.
some doctors say tomato is harmful for arthiritis patients because intake of tomato forms stone in kidney. kindky remove these doubtsif it is not true.
I really enjoy your advice in your saveourbones program and try to follow your advice. I have a question. Because I had my thyroid removed years ago I take Levoxyl 0.1 everyday. I was told by a friend I should not eat any food which contains soy products because of that. I have been taking soy protein off and on for several years. Should I stop taking it? Is there a difference in soy products to be consumed. Thank you I would appreciate your information on this.
I love tomatoes, but aren’t they too acidic when eating too many? I am trying to keep my body in an alkaline state for bone health and acid control.
Thanks!
NO! See Vivian’s Save Our Bones, p 104. They are alkalizing as are oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits etc. – alkalizing fruits – even though it seems like they would be acidic.
Please clarify for me the difference between strontium ranelate and strontium citrate and which one you recommend. Thank you.
Patty, read https://saveourbones.com/strontium-demistyfied/ for my take on strontium. This blog post will answer your question and tell you why I don’t recommend supplemental strontium.
Dear Vivian,
Thank you for your wonderful site!
No doubt you baked tomato taste very good, but I don’t have time and energy to bake them. But I can take lycopene capsules. My husband takes lycopene for his prostate problems, and I could join him. Could you please advise would be 40 mg per day enough?
Thank you,
Irina
Thanks for the recipe- Actually it takes a lot time, is there another way of gettign the best of tomatoes without baking. Would it be ok, if I add oil and tomatoes and cook it on open fire for a few minutes. Or eat fresh tomotes and olive oil as a salad.
I have tried to watch the video (which is just written words so I don’t know why it’s called a video) and it takes way too long to get trough. I finally clicked it off. It seems to go on and on and on. Why not speak to us through a real video so we hear a real human voice with inflextion etc. Waiting for each screen to finally come up is not what I want to do.
I love tomatoes but have read that they are to be avoided if one suffers arthritis. Is it true that red vegs can cause
or increase inflamation?
I read so many articles on how to build our bones, but most of them say we need estrogen to help build bones. Do we really need estrogen to build bones? I’m afraid to take estrogen so does eating right,taking vitamins and excecise really hellp build bones. When i read these articles, about estrogen and our bones I get discourged.
I love tomatoes both raw and cooked and olive oil, too. I usually have tomatoes every single day and olive oil frequently. Thanks for the new recipe.
Vivian, thanks for the tips on tomatoes. I love tomatoes and Olive oil. Guess what I am cooking today.
Thank you for all the pointers and information to build our bones.
Marilyn
Please tell me where i can find recipes for good tomatoes soups also vegetarian soups
God certainly knew what He was doing giving us these wide of varieties of food for our good health. One my recipe to add to my collection.
How do I tell my doctor that I don’t want totake drugs for m bones?
I just listen and say that I’m going to have to think about it because of all the side effects. I try to ask if they know of any more natural way to attack it. The last one told me to take MSM. Who knows? I will seek out an alternative/integrated doc for the next visit.
Where or where are all of the good Endocrinologists?? Had to go see a Osteopathic surgeon yesterday for severe pain in my right hip and leg. What a waste! He was in such a hurry to see his next patient that I wasn’t able to answer all of my questions. I get tired of the condesending attitude of many M.D.’s Ive only taken generic fosomax for 6 weeks. My pain started shortly after. Don’t know if its the RX or something else but thats what took me to the Osteopath. So now I’m getting an MRI of my spine to see if the cause of the pain originated from there. Its soooooo confusing! The endos really push Forteo and reclast. My osteoporsis is severe but I just don’t feel like those drugs are the right thing for me but I just don’t know anymore.
I took fosamax for two weeks, (one dose a week for two weeks) and by the evening of the day I took the second dose my hands were in severe pain…by midnight that night, every joint in my body was excrutiatingly painful. I even saw a hand doctor because I thought I had somehow broken my left hand, that’s how badly it hurt. I never took another dose and by the end of what would have been my third week I was back to normal and pain free.
Very interesting. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about the time I started Actonel. Then given strong pain meds that made my stomach bleed and soon I had an iron problem, passing out and extremely low thyroid. I am sure the meds had something to do with it all. Now I am off most meds and working on getting off the last one. I am raw vegan and my life has changed completely.
I was always told that tomatoes shouldn’t be eaten if arthritis. It never stopped me cos I love tomatoes
I love the recipes you send in E-mails, but they will not print. I don’t understand why? I have already bought your Save Our Bones program. Is there some reason you are not allowing customers to print your recipes? Pam Sunderland
Try copy and paste onto a Word page. If it won’t copy, then type out the instructions. The Word page should print OK for you.
hi, I have recently found out I have osteoporosis after a bone density scan, I feel very frightened as I have always been fit and healthy and active,,my age is 67yrs..I am frightened of the bisophonates prescribed, I have an allotment and was pleased to read about the tomatoes. thankyou
Viv, thank you for the tomatoe recipe. Will try it
Tomatoes are a nightshade plant and I have been reading that nightshade plants can aggravate arthritis for people. I happen to love tomatoes and am not happy that I need to avoid them because of my painful joints.
Vivian what do you think about this calcium EZorb Calcium by
Elixir Industry I have to change my calcium I have come across this in
Some of your comments from others that asked about it I know that it is a
Plant organic please reply. Thanks Kathy D
I liked the recipe except I have read over and over not to cook the Olive Oil…perhaps put it in after the cooking.
It is advisable not to cook extra virgin olive oil but there is no problem at all with regular olive oil or the lighter types of olive oil that are available. EVOO has a much lower smoke point and is best used in salad dressings or to drizzle over dishes at room temperature (the oil not the dish).
Any oil that is heated to the point needed to cook with oxydizes the oil. Browning is also an oxydizer, so I never eat anything cooked on high heat. I understand that a lot of good is destroyed by high heat cooking anyway, so except for some soups, I really eat mostly raw now. Deeelish!! Nothing like fresh organic raw fruits and vegetables. Lots of recipes on the net. I keep it simple tho. I love the green smoothies, juices etc.
Thats a long time in the oven a lot of power, My tomatoes are all self sown these days mainly Tomy Toms I cooked all the surplus one in a large pot with fresh herbs from the garden Turmeric, basil, rosemary,Ginger,Dill and many more not all at the same time also Kaffir Lime leaves make make a refreshing taste making certain that I don’t forget the black pepper and Himalayan salt.
I slow cook in a large pot for about 30 to 60 min then strain with a fine mesh strainer making certain no seeds get thought they tend to sour the taste and depending on the weather store in the pantry or refrigerator for drinking. I very seldom miss on my tomato drink these days and enjoy drinking it. Saying that have a bucket of tomatoes I must cook up so will add some olive oil with it and see how it goes. Thank again might try your dried ones in the solar oven.
Hi Vivian i like this recipe it gives me more confident about my bone because i am a lover of tomatoes
Vivian – Thanks for all of your great help and info. My mother used to line the base of a heavy pan with Olive Oil and cover with halved Italian tomatoes and simmer on low heat until cooked (add small ammount of water if needed).Sprinkle crushed cumin and fennel seeds some pepper and a pinch of sea salt then poach eggs on top of all this and serve on toast or a bed of cooked brown rice. ( I often use canned tomatoes in their own juice if pressed for time )
how very enlightening to read up on tomatoes,as i grow them every year liz
i love tomatoes with sliced onions and hard cheese melted on top with organo and chillie on bread us english call it cheese on toeast but i like to add the extra’s above. em yummy
Thank you for the information on tomatoes – I love tomatoes raw, canned or cooked and I always use extra virgin olive oil.My favorite recipe is: Tomatoes either fresh or cooked or from a can on whole grain toast, drenched in extra virgin olive oil, sea salt to taste, garlic and parmesan cheese. Again my sincere appreciation for your research and your passing it on to those like me on fixed incomes.
I have been on Femera for about 2 years and my last bone density test was not real good. My Doctor wanted me to go on Prolea. It is a shot given every 6 months and has just this past June came on the market. I have refused and started on “Growth Factor” and “Raw Calicum” put out by Garden of Life. Are you familiar with any of this?
Nell
Hooray. My husband loves your tomato recipe Vivian.
If people think 4hrs a long time in oven why not do a slow veg or chicken casserole (or two) at the same time. one could be frozen for another time. Jeanie
That’s a good idea, Jeannie. Also, if people are worried about how much power this much oven time sucks up (and it’s a valid concern), most ovens use the most power heating up to the set temperature at the beginning, and then use just very small amounts of power to keep the oven at that temp. So you can also reduce the temp to 250° or even 200°, and just leave them in a little longer. This uses less power to heat up the oven to begin with and less power is needed during the cook time. Slow food is almost always better for you anyway!
Hi Vivian
I was wondering wondering what you think about Dr. D’Adamo’s Blood Type program because he says that people with blood type A ( who happen to be prone to osteoporosis) should avoid tomatoes.
Thank you
Oh, I will be sure to eat more tomatoes – not a lover of them, but do have them raw & cooked quite often!!
Is tomato sauce ok? With my IBS I can’t eat the peel, but do eat tomato sauce, which would be cooked & pureed. Between my IBS and many food allergies, it’s not easy for me to eat. The recipe sounds great & at one time I could’ve done it, but not now. Thx!
I have gone Off actinol after 7 years of use. I have decided to join Vivians program!
I have gone off Actonel after taking it for 9 months and I am so glad that I made that decision. I have just received the Save our bones book and I am looking forward to reading it and making the changes in my life . I was having difficulty in swallowing and had a strange rash that was never diagnosed properly. I also had several bouts of pain in my legs over the 9 months. I have had no problem since getting off Actonel. I think you have made the right decision.
I will definitely use the dried tomato recipe, I love tomatoes. I got off Actonel after 9 months and just received your book. Thank you for all the information . I know that I have made the right decision and look forward to changing my lifestyle to improve my bones.
Thank you for the tomato recipe. It sounds delicious. I am a little concerned about the acid in tomatoes, but willing to give it a try.Thank you, also for all the comments, which are helpful. How nice, that everyone, shares.
Remember the 80% alkaline/20% acidic food ratio. It is impractical to eat only alkaline-forming foods. One might as well make the 20% healthy & tasty, as long as one can tolerate a particular food.
I’m having real trouble getting my head round the diet – it would be wonderful if there was a weekly menu plan which I could follow or use as a starting point to help me.
Hi,
I don’t know if this will help you or not. I copied and saved this for myself about the diet.. A nice lady named Liz posted it and I refer to it alot…I do okay with breakfast, and try to eat as much as I can, but like you, I don’t feel completely wrapped around the diet..
Here is what I saved:
Hi, Maybe I can help with the Ph. I actually have a good Ph, a nice green color when I test my urine. I make sure I have more alkaline foods throughout the day than acid. For supper, I eat 1 chop or 3 oz. piece of meat: beef or chicken or fish. I have a large plate of greens including lettuces, Bok choy, collard greens turnip greens. I choose 2 or 3. I have a raw carrot. I also cook a vegetable such as green beans.
For lunch, I eat 2 or 3 green vegetables such as asparagus or broccoli. I may also bake myself a sweet potato or regular potato.
For Breakfast, I have fruit: a banana, also applesauce, strawberries, blackberries, or raspberries. I may slice fresh pineapple for my husband and myself.
I have a bowl of oatmeal with raisins.
Throughout the day, I have 2 cups of plain yogurt making sure it contains Vitamin D. I also drink a glass of milk.
It is not expensive considering I do not buy chips or other snacks. The amount of meat is small. It is essentially a vegetarian diet except for the small piece of meat which provides Vitamin B12.
I take a multi vitamin tablet, plus 3 calcium tablets, a Vitamin C and 2 fish oil tablets daily.
I try to get in 20 or 30 minutes of exercise daily.
Please let me know if this helped you or what you do that is successful.
Because of the abundance of tommatoes at this time of year, can you freeze the baked tomatoes for later use?
I cook the overspill of my Tomatoes in a little Coconut oil for 12/15 minutes at 150 deg in my Halogen oven. Any oven will do, but you might need other ovens a little hotter than 150 deg. Let them cool, place them on an oven tray and freeze them. Remove from freezer and bag them up, to put back in the freezer for future use.
Hi, Viv–thanx for the cuc/tomato info. They kind of go together like “love & marriage” – I can see it’s elementary.. Good recipes, too. Keep the articles coming for everyone. Happy Trails—–Nancy
I was also told to stay away from tomatoes because of their acidity. Too much misinformation out there!!