Chronic diseases are a huge world-wide problem. Twice as many people die from them as die from infectious diseases. The World Health Organisation states that improved diet is one of the major changes that can be made to help prevent these diseases. There are strong grounds for thinking that diets that include foods rich in anthocyanins and other antioxidants can contribute to reduced incidence of chronic disease.

 

Oxidising chemicals in the body can affect the cell signaling system causing disease. The right phytonutrients can combat this effect, and not simply through their antioxidant properties. They can affect the activities of a wide spectrum of cellular targets, including key enzymes and membrane and nuclear receptors.

 

While it is possible to use nutritional supplements to increase intake of these compounds, there is increasing evidence to show that they work much better when consumed within whole foods. 

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We have developed a proprietary technology for massively enhancing the production of beneficial phytonutrients in plants. Tomato fruit expressing genes derived from the Snapdragon plant, Antirrhinum, are a beautiful deep purple color. These tomatoes contain high levels of the anthocyanin polyphenols associated with consumption of blueberries, blackcurrants, acai, and pomegranate.

 

A paper published in Nature Biotechnology in 2008 showed that consumption of NPS purple tomatoes extends the lifespan of cancer-prone mice by 30%.