Tomatoes & The Paleolithic Diet

Red tomatoes have long been noted as a rich source of the carotenoid lycopene, an antioxidant that lowers the risk for cancers. They protect DNA in our genes from oxidative damage by neutralizing free radicals produced by the oxygen we breathe. Tomatoes of all colors also fit relevant criteria for recommended foods in the Paleolithic, or Stone Age, diet. Consult your doctor before adopting the diet.

The Paleolithic Diet

For his 2002 book, "The Paleo Diet," Prof. Loren Cordain researched the food practices of our Stone Age hunter-gatherer ancestors. Because there were no mills and no tame animals, Stone Age people did not eat cereal grains and dairy foods. Salt, refined sugar and processed foodstuffs were not available. They ate wild lean animal foods high in protein, fresh fish, non-starchy wild fruits and high-fiber vegetables. Such a diet prevents weight gain and the diseases of civilization, he says.

Blood Alkalinity

When nutrients from digested foods are absorbed into the blood, they report to the kidney as either an acid or an alkaline base. Eating meats, fish, cheeses, grains, legumes, dairy and salt results in acid blood. To neutralize this acidity, the body pulls calcium out of the bones and combines it with bicarbonate in the blood. Without enough fruits and vegetables to alkalize the blood, the bones can deteriorate.
Cordain informs us that our Paleolithic ancestors never ate grains, legumes, cheeses and salt. Although they ate acid-producing meat and fish, they also ate many alkaline fruits and vegetables which neutralized acidity in their blood.
Tomatoes, once digested, produce an alkaline effect on the blood.

Potassium Foods Low in Sodium

Cordain notes that Stone Age people ate fresh meats, fruits and vegetables that contained five to 10 times more potassium than sodium. The average American consumes about twice as much sodium as potassium. This imbalance aggravates conditions such as high blood pressure, osteoporosis and stroke.
Fresh tomatoes and tomato juice provide potassium. According to a chart on the Power Your Diet website, tomatoes provide a rich 5 percent of the recommended daily allowance for potassium.

Low Glycemic Foods

A numerical value, termed the glycemic index of a food, indicates how quickly a carbohydrate's sugar will enter the bloodstream. No starches, refined flour products and high glycemic fruits and vegetables are features of the Paleo diet, producing weight loss and improved health.
Tomatoes are a low glycemic food. They do not cause a spike in blood glucose level after consumption, thus allowing a steady, healthy blood glucose level throughout the day.

Immunity Function

One of the keys of the Paleolithic diet is to eat foods rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Cordain recommends a vitamin C supplement to "improve immune function, lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of cancers."
Tomatoes provide 21.5 percent of the RDA for vitamin C, 28 percent for vitamin A and 6.5 percent for vitamin K. They also include the phytonutrients, lycopene, zeaxanthin and alpha- and beta-carotenes. All these attributes increase immunity, thereby lowering cancer risk.

Uses

Canned foods and packaged preserved foods are not recommended. Besides eating plain sliced tomatoes, you could add chopped tomatoes to any salad, soup or stew. Devotees of the Paleolithic diet might consume a gazpacho recipe with its chopped tomatoes, cucumber, onion and parsley.