Apr. 30, 2008, Pisa, Italy –
Watering tomatoes with diluted seawater can boost their content of
antioxidants and may lead to healthier tomato-based foods, scientists
in Italy report.
Apr. 30, 2008, Pisa, Italy – Watering tomatoes with diluted seawater can boost their content of antioxidants and may lead to healthier tomato-based foods, scientists in Italy report.
The researchers’ study is published in the May 14 issue of ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry .
Scientists have linked tomatoes to several health benefits, including protection against prostate cancer and heart disease. Researchers have known for years that seawater does not stimulate the growth of tomatoes, but scientists know little about its effects on the nutritional content of the vegetables.
In the new study, Riccardo Izzo and colleagues at the Universitá di Pisa in Pisa, Italy, grew cherry tomatoes in both freshwater and in a dilute solution of 12 per cent seawater. They found that ripe tomatoes grown in the salty water showed higher levels of vitamin C, vitamin E, dihydrolipoic acid, and chlorogenic acid. All of these substances are antioxidants that appear to fight heart disease, cancer, aging, and other conditions.
Using saltwater to irrigate tomato crops also appears to be a promising alternative to freshwater irrigation, especially in the wake of water shortages in some parts of the world, the researchers note.
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