Foods that are better than medicine

If you need a helping hand to fight off illnesses, or would just like a natural alternative to medicine - feel better with one of these vitamin-packed foods. Tomatoes should be on prescription - here's why below

Tomatoes

Known to be a hangover cure, and a good source of vitamin C (one medium-size tomato provides 50 per cent of the recommended daily dose of vitamin C), this little red fruit is now being called a 'super superfood'. Why? Scientist have discovered that it can reduce your risk of prostate cancer. The Moruno, which took Spanish scientists two years to develop and is the result of cross-breeding 2,000 different tomato varieties, has double levels of lycopene, which gives tomatoes their red colour, and which scientists have linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer.

How tomatoes help reduce the risk of prostate cancer
In a recent study, more than 1,000 men with prostate cancer had their post-diagnosis diets examined. Patients who had tomato sauce more than twice a week had a 44 per cent lower risk of the disease spreading.
The cancer is less likely to spread when patients ate large amounts of tomatoes and oily fish, according to American researchers.

Other benefits of the tomato
Lycopene also helps protect both sexes from heart disease and has a similar effect to the cholesterol-lowering drugs, statins. Tomatoes contain high levels of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that supports the immune system and helps maintain healthy skin and tissue lining. They are packed with antioxidant flavonoids and vitamin E, both of which are essential for heart health, and are a good source of potassium. The Mediterranean diet suggests that cooking tomatoes with olive oil improves their potency even more as Lycopene is more easily absorbed into the bloodstream when tomatoes are cooked with oils like olive oil.

So, the verdict is eat more fresh, sundried or even tinned tomatoes!

Sage

This is far more than just something you add to the stuffing. It's cleansing, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory and has traditionally been used by herbalists to relieve menstrual problems, chest infections and hot flushes. Gargling with sage tea kills most of the bugs that cause sore throats and adding it to recipes improves the digestion of fat.

Tofu

This fermented by-product of soya beans is one of the richest sources of the plant hormones called phytoestrogens making it a key preventer of both PMS and menopausal symptoms and a medicinal food that protects against heart disease and osteoporosis after the menopause. It provides body building protein, iron, calcium and B vitamins. Aim for 3oz (100g) twice a week.

Watercress

A powerful natural antibiotic, rich in iodine essential for the thyroid and a unique protector against lung cancer. Smokers should eat a handful every day. Otherwise, eat as a salad or soup a couple of times a week.

Recipes:
Honey, banana and strawberry crisp
Ginger veg stir-fry
Garlic mushroom risotto
Italian recipes

Where to next?
Aphrodisiac foods
Get healthy with superfoods
The skin diet