Super Tomatoes 超级西红柿

By Duncan Kennedy, Rome

Tomatoes are a fruit

媒体英语会带大家一起学习BBC撰稿人在报道世界大事时常用到的单词和短语。

Background:意大利农民展示了一种据说能减慢衰老过程的正方形西红柿。农民协会说，这种西红柿含有大量的能减少人体细胞损伤的自然元素。

The new tomato was grown without genetic modification in the regions of Emilia Romagna and Lombardy.

Italy's Farmers Union, which organised its public launch, said the tomato is full of lyco-pene - a red pigment that contains antioxidants.

They are strong neutralisers of the free radicals in the body which can damage human cells.

The union says the tomato could help slow the ageing process and may also be effective in preventing some cancers and heart disease.

A number of other scientific studies have pointed to the therapeutic benefits of lyco-pene.

One British supermarket chain has already marketed its own brand of what are now known as super tomatoes.