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Italian farmers breed lycopene-rich, super tomato
Posted: Sep 29, 2010 6:53 AM by Bea Karnes, News First 5
Italian farmers are growing a new kind of super tomato that has higher concentrations of lycopene, the chemical that gives the tomato its color, but it can also be very healthy.
Lycopene is a strong anti-oxidant, which is believed to neutralize free radicals that damage human cells. Several studies have shown that lycopene can be good preventive medicine.
The farmers say they haven't used anything artificial, just years of careful selection and cultivation. The plants don't produce as much fruit as regular tomatoes, but the farmers say they have double the lycopene.
They are already being featured in some restaurants in Italy.
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