Purple Tomatoes: Cure for Cancer?
Scientists have developed “hybrid tomatoes” which they believe have the potential to stop cancer occurring.
We all know eating fruit and vegetables is important, we’re constantly being told what we should and shouldn’t be eating and it’s the media to blame. So what’s different this time?
Tests on mice bred to be susceptible to cancer showed that animals whose diets who were supplemented with the purple tomatoes had a significantly longer lifespan than those who received only normal red tomatoes. And it’s only a matter of time until the modified masterpieces will be tested on humans.
Scientists at the John Innes Centre, Norwich, originally created the tomatoes by incorporating genes from the snapdragon flower, which contains a large amount of anthocyanin. Anthocyanins, in case you’re wondering is the dark purple pigment found in various berries such as blackberry, cranberry and chokeberry which scientists are confident have anti-cancer properties.
And here’s a picture of some purple tomatoes:
Yes, well they certainly look tasty!
They are also thought to offer protection against cardiovascular disease and age-related degenerative diseases.
There is also evidence that the pigments have anti-inflammatory properties, help boost eyesight, and may help stave off obesity and diabetes.
Although some doctors are sceptical of the plants organic value, “It is too early to say whether anthocyanins obtained through the diet could help to reduce the risk of cancer” adding “Though it is exciting to see new techniques that could potentially make healthy foods even better for us” -Dr Lara Benett Cancer Research.
So to conclude after my rather modest article, I’m sure that the wonders of science these days are all for a good cause but are we losing touch with what really matters in life? I mean, sure improving our diets is one thing but do you think they’ll ever create eternal peace and happiness?-didn’t think so
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