According to some cultures, the tomato and not the apple was the fruit that tempted Eve in paradise. And if the warm, yielding, juicy flesh of a garden-ripe tomato isn't beckoning enough, scientists have discovered that the powerful antioxidant called lycopene is even more available for use by the body when tomatoes are cooked or processed.
The snake in the processed-food garden, however, is sodium. The average American consumes 3,375 milligrams of sodium daily, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the recommended daily consumption is less than 2,300 milligrams daily -- the equivalent of about 1 teaspoon.
''Today roughly 65 million Americans have high blood pressure and another 45 million have pre-hypertension,'' which significantly increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, said sodium expert Dr. Steven Havas in a press release. 'Unfortunately, a lifetime of eating too much salt is putting Americans' lives in jeopardy.''
So when stocking the grocery cart with lycopene-loaded products like pasta sauce or tomato soup, be sure to read the label, because sodium contents vary widely among brands.
365 Organic Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
Cost: $2.79 per 25-ounce jar.
The label says: USDA Organic.
Nutrition: 45 calories per ½-cup serving; 420 mg sodium (17 percent Daily Value); 370 mg potassium (10 percent daily value); 2 g sugars; 15 percent daily value Vitamin A; 25 percent Daily Value Vitamin C.
The verdict: Plenty of tomato and basil flavor, but our four tasters found the taste harsh and acidic -- but this might be because it had the least sugar of the three brands.
Note: Available at Whole Foods only.
Grade: C
Barilla Tomato & Basil
Cost: $2.23 per 24-ounce jar
The package says: Approved Best Life (thebestlife.com). (Sleuth's note: This is the website of Oprah pal and diet guru Bob Greene, who offers a seal of approval to companies that ``have shown a commitment to improving the nutritional profile of their products.'')
Nutrition: 60 calories per ½-cup serving (cooked); 460 mg sodium (19 percent Daily Value); 6 g sugars; 6 percent Daily Value Vitamin A; 20 percent Daily Value Vitamin C.
The verdict: Tasters liked this blend of spices and the milder flavor best -- but it also had the most sodium.
Grade: A-
Classico Tomato & Basil
Cost: $2.97 per 26-ounce jar
The package says: Traditional favorites.
Nutrition: 60 calories per ½-cup serving; 310 mg sodium (13 percent daily value); 6 g sugars; 10 percent Daily Value Vitamin A; 10 percent Daily Value Vitamin C.
The verdict: Our tasters found this to be the middle-of-the road choice: Not as harsh as the 365 Organic but more bland than the Barilla.
Grade: B
he bottom line: High sodium content should equal forbidden fruit, so read the label.
