Saturday, May 31, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

How to grow tomatoes successfully

Published 28 February 2024
– By Editorial Staff
With a little guidance, most of us can succeed at growing tomatoes.

Growing tomatoes successfully does not have to be difficult. With the right environment, replanting, and regular light patting, you can grow tomatoes successfully.

Tomatoes are one of the many foods that have recently gone up in price, causing more people to cut back on the red vegetable. However, it tastes great cooked or raw, is healthy, and can be added to most dishes. Best of all, it is also relatively easy to grow!

Many people don’t want to try growing tomatoes because they think it’s difficult or because they don’t have enough space, but these perceived obstacles can often be overcome. Tomatoes can be grown in pots and in the ground, and you can grow them on a balcony as well as in a greenhouse or garden.

Choose the right seeds

There are many varieties of tomatoes to choose from. Think about things like how much space you have, as plants can vary in size. For example, if you have limited space, bush tomatoes may be a better choice because they do not grow very tall. On the other hand, if you have plenty of space, you can choose taller varieties of tomatoes. Another question to ask yourself is what kind of tomatoes you prefer, perhaps you prefer plum tomatoes or larger tomatoes on the grill. Smaller tomatoes tend to ripen faster, so if you have a balcony with less sunlight, this may be preferable. There are also other colors, such as yellow, black and white, and different shapes.

Sow the seeds

If you have plant lighting, you can start seeds indoors as early as possible by pre-sowing, but without it you will have to wait until April at the earliest (in central Sweden), when the light in the windows may be sufficient. Sow the seeds in a small pot with a hole in the bottom with no more than two seeds in each pot. It is best to mix the seed soil with potting soil, vegetable soil or flower soil. Add two-thirds of the other soil to the bottom and then top it off with one-third of the seed soil.

“This way the seeds get a narrow start and can send roots down to the nutrient-rich soil below when they feel like it”, says Land.se.

Plant the seeds according to the instructions on the bag and water lightly, preferably with a spray bottle. Cover with a plastic bag or plastic wrap, but remember to air it from time to time or make a few holes in it. Place the seedling in a warm place and watch for the first sprouts, then you can move it to a cooler place. Be sure to keep the soil slightly moist.

Photo: Jasmin Schreiber/Unsplash

Replanting

Once the plants have started to produce their first heart-shaped leaves, it’s time to replant. Avoid choosing a very large pot, as the plant will do best in a pot adapted to its size. The plant will therefore need to be re-potted several times; an indication that it is time to re-pot is usually when the roots start to crawl out of the holes in the bottom of the pot. Plants should be re-potted one at a time. Plant with nutrient-rich soil, as tomatoes are nutrient-hungry plants. This means staying away from seed soil, for example.

Tomato plants often grow best in plastic pots because they retain moisture better than clay pots, says Sara Bäckmo.

When planting, especially the last time, whether it’s in a pot, pallet collar or outdoors, consider planting with as much of the stem underground as possible. The plant will then develop new roots along the entire stem. Remember to cut off the lower leaves first. If the plant has become a bit stunted, you can “curl” the stem in the pot and fill it with soil so that only the top sticks out.

May is usually a good month to plant tomato plants, but it is important not to plant too early, and as a rule, there must be no risk of frost as they do not tolerate cold (note that these guidelines are for a Nordic climate).

Proper environment

Tomato plants need plenty of light, but not too much heat once they start growing. Around 18 °C is often optimal, which can be difficult given their need for light. For example, it can get very hot in a window, but you can put a fan nearby or open a window wide.

Don’t grow potatoes and tomatoes in the same soil, some say not even in the same garden. This is because both potato and tomato plants are more likely to suffer from downy mildew, as they are closely related (they are both members of the Nightshade family, Solanaceae).

Caring for the plants

The stem produces leaves, flower clusters, and side shoots. In tomato varieties that grow straight up, the side shoots need to be pinched off because they steal energy. This is not necessary for smaller bush tomato plants, but they may need more general pruning to make them bushier.

Don’t overwater; allow the plant to dry out between waterings. Feed the plant once a week or so, either by buying ready-to-use fertilizer from the store, using natural grass clippings, or mixing stinging nettle into the water.

Photo: Davor Denkovski/Unsplash

Pat the plant

When the wind blows, the stem will sway and become stronger. You can simulate this by running your hands over the plant from time to time to help it. Once the plant has flowered, you can also help it pollinate itself by either taking a swab or your finger and gently tapping each plant.

Harvest and use

When the tomatoes are red, they are ready to be picked and eaten. It is also okay to bring in green tomatoes and let them ripen indoors. A common misconception is that green tomatoes ripen best in the sun. In fact, the plant needs the sun, not the tomatoes. However, they do need heat to ripen, but if you want to keep the tomatoes longer, you can put the green tomatoes in a cooler place. If you want to speed up the ripening process, you can place the green tomatoes next to (or even in a plastic bag together with) an apple. Apples release ethylene, a gas that speeds up ripening.

Tomatoes store best at room temperature. If you have a large harvest, you can dry tomatoes in the oven, but you can also freeze them whole or sliced. However, they become more watery when thawed, so frozen tomatoes are better used in cooking than on a sandwich.

Other tips include making your own ketchup or tomato sauce. Why not make a big batch of roasted tomato soup and freeze it for the winter, or try making syrup or jam?

 

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a member of the nightshade family and is classified as a vegetable in the food industry, but botanically it is a berry. It originates from Peru in South America and was used by the Incas. It was introduced to Scandinavia in the 17th century.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, many in Europe believed that tomatoes were poisonous, while others thought they were an aphrodisiac.

Tomatoes are said to be healthier when cooked because the lycopene, which gives the tomato its color, is more readily available for the body to absorb. Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, has been shown to boost the immune system and protect against cardiovascular disease.

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Use of obesity drugs surges in Finland

Published 27 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Sales of obesity medication have skyrocketed in Finland in just a few years.

The use of obesity medication increased significantly in Finland last year – many more Finns were treated for obesity compared to 2023. At the same time, opinions are divided on the effectiveness of the treatment.

A total of 75,000 Finns used medicines for weight loss or obesity treatment in 2024. This is an increase of 20% compared to 2023, according to the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela). In five years, the number of users has increased more than elevenfold.

Semaglutide, sold under brands such as Ozempic and Wegovy, is the most popular. Originally designed as a drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, this type of medicine is not reimbursed if it is used for obesity alone. This means that Finns have to foot the bill themselves, which can be over €260 each month.

It is also unclear how effective this type of weight loss medication really is, but Pia Pajunen, an expert physician at Kela, says it is not a quick fix for losing weight.

If you stop using the obesity medication, the weight often starts to increase again quickly. It’s important that both doctors and patients are aware that research shows these medications generally need to be used long-term, she says in a press release.

Good fitness may prevent dementia

Published 27 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff

People at risk of dementia can reduce their risk by improving their fitness, according to a study from Karolinska Institutet. The study shows that the risk can be reduced by up to 35%.

In the study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers used data from 61,214 dementia-free people, drawn from the UK Biobank database. The participants, who were aged between 39 and 70, were followed over a period of 12 years.

On enrollment, participants completed a six-minute cycle test to measure fitness, and neurological tests were done to estimate their cognitive function. The researchers also examined genetic predisposition to dementia.

During the 12-year follow-up period, a total of 553 people were diagnosed with dementia, representing 0.9%.

The results show that better fitness is linked to reduced dementia risk and improved cognitive function. According to Weili Xu, Professor of Geriatric Epidemiology in the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, good fitness can reduce the risk of all forms of dementia by up to 35%.

– Our findings suggest that maintaining good fitness may be a strategy for preventing dementia, even among people with high genetic susceptibility, she says in a press release.

The researchers also emphasize that this is an observational study, so it is not possible to determine cause and effect. The number of dementia cases may also have been underestimated, they add, as UK Biobank participants are generally healthier than the general population.

Ultra-processed food may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease

Published 21 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff

Extra-processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages are linked to a particularly increased risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease, according to a study from Lund University.

Ultra-processed food is food that has undergone extensive processing and contains a high proportion of added chemicals compared to “regular” processed food. This type of food is often cheap, heavily marketed and has become an increasingly important part of the Western diet in recent years.

In the study, published in Clinical Nutrition, researchers followed 27 670 participants from the Malmö Diet Cancer Study over 23 years, with funding from the Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation.

The results show that a high intake of highly processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages is linked to an increased risk of premature death, death from cardiovascular disease and death from respiratory disease. There is an increased risk for women.

– Over-processed foods are often rich in salt, fat and added sugars, but often poor in fiber, vitamins and nutrients. Limiting intake can reduce the risk of premature death, says Emily Sonestedt, associate professor at Lund University and lead researcher of the study, in a press release.

Ultra-processed food is markedly different from what humans have been eating for thousands of years, but the long-term effects on health have yet to be studied in depth. However, links between this type of food have previously been made to depression and type 2 diabetes. At the same time, the researchers point out that more studies are needed on the subject.

–  More research is needed to better understand how ultra-processed food affects the body. In future studies, we will be able to analyze current dietary data in the Swedish population and learn more about the relationship with cardiovascular disease, says Kristina Sparreljung, Secretary General of the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation.

Sauerkraut may help your stomach

Published 11 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff

Sauerkraut may protect the intestinal lining from inflammation, according to an American study. During fermentation, the nutritional content of cabbage changes – including an increase in levels of lactic acid, amino acids, and other beneficial substances that are formed during the breakdown and can promote gut health.

Fermentation is a natural process where microorganisms like lactic acid bacteria and yeast break down sugars in food. This often results in the conversion of sugar into lactic acid or alcohol. The process not only helps preserve the food – it also produces probiotics, meaning live bacteria that are beneficial for the gut.

Fermented foods have been eaten for thousands of years around the world. For example, eating fermented vegetables makes the nutrients in the food easier for the body to absorb, and some studies show that vitamin levels can actually increase. There are also studies that suggest fermented foods can have positive effects on health, particularly for digestion and the immune system.

Sauerkraut better than raw cabbage

Researchers at the University of California Davis in the USA tested whether the nutrients in sauerkraut could help protect intestinal cells from inflammation-related damage. The study compared sauerkraut, raw cabbage, and the brine left over after the cabbage fermentation process.

The experiments were conducted on an artificial intestinal wall exposed to inflammation by adding so-called cytokines – which are known to damage the intestinal lining. These can be activated in the gut, for example, by consuming too much ultra-processed food or too much sugar or salt.

Fermentation increases beneficial substances

The results showed that sauerkraut can protect the intestinal lining from inflammation caused by cytokines. Raw cabbage and the brine, however, did not help protect the gut. It didn’t matter whether the sauerkraut was store-bought or homemade.

Chemical analyses show that fermentation changes the nutritional profile of cabbage and increases the amount of beneficial metabolites such as lactic acid, amino acids, and plant compounds, which in turn are linked to gut health. These changes may explain why fermented foods are often associated with digestive benefits.

– Some of the metabolites we find in the sauerkraut are the same kind of metabolites we’re finding to be made by the gut microbiome, so that gives us a little more confidence that this connection we found between the metabolites in sauerkraut and good gut health makes sense, says Professor Maria Marco in a press release.

The researchers have found hundreds of different metabolites that are formed during fermentation and that they are now working to determine which ones play the biggest role in supporting long-term gut health. The next step in the research is to conduct studies in humans to see if the gut-protective metabolites found in sauerkraut can have the same positive effects when included in the daily diet, as was shown in the lab.

A little bit of sauerkraut could go a long way, she says. We should be thinking about including these fermented foods in our regular diets and not just as a side on our hot dogs.

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