Healthy Living : Tomatoes and You

     Anyone can tell you to eat right, that you should choose better ingredients for your meals, or that you should start a new eating routine and forget about your old one. Well they are right, you only have been blessed with one body! The easiest and best way to instill this lifestyle EASILY into your life is to cultivate your own foods. The majority of produce from your local markets can be grown in your specific region. All you need is good soil content, a steady flow of water, and the patience to do said deeds.

(Organically Grown Bloody Butcher Tomato)

¤ First, we will start off talking about the benefits of growing tomatoes! ¤

     Tomatoes are known all over the world as been a highly rich antioxidant fruit, it's also known to lower one's cholesterol and can help battle Prostate and/or Breast Cancer. I want to live a long and healthy life and I'm fairly certain that you would too. The rich supply of antioxidants provided by the tomato can help postmenopausal women with their bone health. And as been used in research to help reduce risk of some neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease.

 **Most people with gastrointestinal complications most likely should NOT eat tomatoes frequent, because it can cause more stomach irritation and heart burn to occur more often.**

(Organically Grown Tomato from Rome, Italy)

¤ Reasons for growing your own Tomatoes ¤

    Each person has their specific favourite type of tomato they long for on their sandwich, burger, salad, pasta or pizza. And each breed of tomato has a different price. The higher end of cost are your heirlooms, which have been passed down from generation to generation. So if you are going to grow your own tomatoes, research which type of tomato you like (i.e. beefmaster, roma, cherry). Then research the different breeds of the type you have chosen. There could be the most amazing tomato you ever had out there in seed, waiting for you to give your own "green thumb" a go.

    Tomatoes are one of the easier crops I have grown, they take less time and nurturing than beans or potatoes in my opinion. I use organic manure; steer, cow, pig, horse, or fowl. Dead plant matter with some compost (fruit and veggie scraps, porous soil, and worm casting) and finally some dirt. I prune and clean up, around the base of the plant, about every third or fourth day. My average fully matured tomato plant, about five foot high/one and a half metres, gets about two cups/a pint of water throughout the day.

   Well Friends! You heard what I think about tomatoes and their brilliant qualities. Now it's time to ask yourself if you're going to take a fun risk and try to grow some, or just shop for better quality tomatoes. Whatever you choose, have fun with your food and try to make some of it healthy. Until next time guys....Keep it Green and Keep it Growing! Ciao!! 

HyperSmash