Organic tomatoes ripe with flavonoids
July 9, 2007 by Ali
Filed under Green Living
According to a study by Dr. Alyson Mitchell, a professor and food chemist at the University of California Davis, organic tomatoes have more flavonoids – an antioxidant – than conventionally grown tomatoes.
Dr. Mitchell started the Long Term Research on Agricultural Systems (LTRAS) project in 1993 with the intent to evaluate “the sustainability and environmental impact of conventional & alternative agriculture.”
In a 2006 presentation to the Organic Seed Alliance, Dr. Mitchell revealed that the LTRAS model:
yielded consistent results over a ten year period with a significant increase in flavonoids in the organic tomatoes as compared to their conventional counterparts
Since flavonoids, which are found in red and purple fruits, can help protect against heart disease, organic toms are proving to be the smarter choice to fend off cardiovascular ailments, as well as some forms of cancer.
The organic v. conventional debate and the scientific research behind it is on a case by case comparison, apples to apples. The tomato results from the LTRAS model cannot be applied to all organic produce and products.
Duncan Graham-Rowe at New Scientist offers a bit more on the topic in Organic tomatoes have more antioxidants, as well as how the nitrogen levels in the LTRAS model played a factor in the US study findings.
In the LTRAS study, the organic crops were fertilized with cover crops and cow manure while the conventional crops received a 16-48-12 (nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium) liquid fertilizer and ammonium sulfate. The New Scientist article points out that “the lower levels of flavonoids [in the conventional crops] are probably caused by overfertilisation.”
The organic tomato-flavonoid connection found in the LTRAS study is a juicy bite in favor of more organic flavor. Since research finds that Americans consume a fraction of the USDA recommended fruits and veggies that provide antioxidants, the more flavonoid potent fruit yield of organic toms makes the greener choice a healthier pick.
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