Everyone has heard, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but with new research being published on specialized Tomato Extract for cardiac health it might be time to revise that rhyme.

Tomatoes are one of the best sources of lycopene, a carotenoid found in vegetables and fruits that gives the plants their vibrant red color. In addition to its appealing aesthetics, carotenoids are the organic building blocks for essential nutrients like Vitamin A that our bodies can’t readily produce. Vitamin A on its own is responsible for such important processes as supporting vision, skin, healthy bone growth, and the immune system. When it comes to heart health we need these vitamins to act as antioxidants to stop the free radicals in our blood and tissues. Lycopene is a strong antioxidant that the body can utilize to defend from common oxygen free radicals that cause oxidation to our arteries, the way an apple slice turns brown from air exposure. Simply eating tomatoes, however, won’t stop the clock on coronary disease.
    The Heart Foundation reports that heart disease is still the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, with sudden cardiac arrest claiming 250,000 lives annually. While many doctors turn to traditional statins or blood thinners to control the risk of heart attack, the side-effects of these prescription medications, such as memory loss, high blood sugar, type 2 diabetes, and liver damage can seriously outweigh the benefits.
    The Euramic study, conducted in 10 European countries over the past two decades, has found that the natural lycopene and other carotenoids produced by tomatoes is doubled in potency to prevent and treat heart disease when coupled with select phytosterols. Phytosterols are steroid compounds in plants that are structurally similar to the cholesterol our bodies burn for energy. Animal cholesterols are generally considered to be the “bad” type of cholesterol (LDLs) that is checked in our blood work annually, while phytosterols are recognized as one of the “good” types of cholesterol (HDLs) that don’t form as plaque on the heart’s arterial walls.
    This discovery is leading to a revolution in how the United States will treat heart disease going forward. Utilizing this standardized tomato extract combined with phytosterols in a one-a-day pill form, it will replace statins in helping individuals:
Maintain normal blood pressure/control hypertension
Reduce high oxidized-LDLs, to allow for elevated HDL absorption
Nourish the endothelial lining of the heart’s arteries to improve muscle strength
Correct unhealthy circulation to restore the body’s natural processes
    Clinically tested in six trials, this standardized tomato extract is my first recommendation to patients with a history of heart disease or stroke in their family, in addition to regular exercise and balanced nutrition. Our hearts have the ability to beat over three billion times during our life so it’s our responsibility to keep that muscle strong and healthy using the best medicine mother nature and science have to offer.
    For more information on standardized Tomato Extract, contact Natural Med Therapies at 727-541-2211, or visit NaturalMedTherapies.com.

Machelle Perkins is a Nationally Certified Doctor of Oriental Medicine, with 15 years of experience helping patients in her practice. She formerly served on the medical board of the Cancer Wellness Institute, and has lectured to The Society of Radiation Therapists on the benefits of Oriental Medicine for cancer patients. See ad page 52.