"Is It Realistic?": A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Elite Women Athletes Considering Parenthood.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: As the visibility and acceptance of athlete-mothers increase, so does the number of women athletes considering parenthood. Yet, many athletes struggle with the decision to become a parent while competing at the elite level due to the significant changes and uncertainties that have been reported by pregnant and parenting athletes. The experiences of women athletes considering parenthood are under-represented in the vast sport literature but are necessary for developing evidenced-based policies and practices that can support women's equitable participation in high-performance sport contexts. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the experiences of elite women athletes that are considering parenthood. METHODS: Participants were ten elite North American athletes (29-36 years) who are considering becoming parents in the next 5 years. Each participant self-identified as a woman and competed at the highest level in their respective sport. Data were generated via one-on-one semi-structured interviews that were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed through a process of content analysis. RESULTS: The experiences of elite women athletes considering parenthood are represented by five themes: (a) calls for essential mandates and leadership, (b) how do you support yourself?, (c) hesitation of body changes, (d) age inequities, and (e) being proactive about reproductive health. Such findings support an in-depth understanding of gender-specific stressors that limit women's equitable participation in high-performance contexts. CONCLUSION: This research is grounded in the voices of elite women athletes and identifies actionable steps necessary for research and culture change. Findings provide necessary evidence to inform the development of sport policies to support those athletes that are considering becoming parents.

Assessing the impact of isochoric freezing as a preservation method on the quality attributes of orange juice.

Isochoric (constant volume) freezing is a novel food preservation technology that has demonstrated the ability to preserve food products at subfreezing temperatures in an unfrozen state, thereby avoiding the detrimental effects of ice formation. It minimizes the quality loss of fresh fruits and juices, increases their nutrient content, and reduces microbial counts. Orange juice (OJ) samples were subjected to conventional freezing (CF) and isochoric freezing (IF) for 7 days and then stored at 4°C for an additional 7 days. We evaluated the microbiological and physicochemical quality of CF and IF OJ before and after storage. The IF was performed at three different conditions: -5°C/73 MPa, -10°C/93 MPa, and -15°C/143 MPa. The results indicate that the total aerobic count of OJ remained below the detection limit after heat treatment, 7 days of CF and 7 days of IF. Yeast and mold counts increased in fresh and CF OJ after 7 days of storage at 4°C, whereas IF OJ remained below the detection limit. Less color difference was observed in IF (-15°C/143 MPa) OJ compared to heat-treated and CF OJ. Heat treatment inactivated 42% of pectin methylesterase (PME), whereas 7-day long IF increased PME activity up to 150%. Additionally, IF (-15°C/143 MPa) OJ showed reduced pulp sedimentation, which can be advantageous, as sedimentation in juices has been a recognized technological issue in the juice industry. Ascorbic acid level was significantly higher in IF (-15°C/143 MPa) OJ compared to fresh and CF OJ after storage.

Upcycling Romaine lettuce outer leaves by infrared blanching and hot air drying.

Romaine lettuce outer leaves, as opposed to the more commonly marketed heart, are typically discarded and present an opportunity for upcycling as dried powders. Duquesne Romaine lettuce was evaluated to quantify and compare quality attributes of fresh outer and heart leaves, dried powders following hot air drying, and dried powders following an infrared (IR) blanching pretreatment before drying. Attributes measured for fresh leaves included moisture, water activity (Aw), color, total soluble phenolics (TSP), and antioxidant capacity (AC). Drying kinetics and time/energy saving through IR blanching were evaluated. Attributes measured for dried powders included moisture, Aw, color, true density, water vapor isotherms, TSP, AC, cadmium (Cd) content, and pesticide residues. TSP, AC, Cd, and pesticide residues were higher, whereas moisture content and Aw were lower in fresh outer versus heart leaves. Hot air drying reduced TSP and AC to 63.6% and 35.2% of fresh values, respectively, whereas IR blanching further reduced TSP and AC to 37.3% and 25.4% in outer leave powders. On the other hand, TSP and AC increased 237% and 151%, respectively, for unblanched heart powders. Higher increase of TSP than AC in heart leaf powder may indicate synthesis of phenolic compounds activated by abiotic stresses such as cutting and high temperatures at the initial drying stage. IR blanching resulted in significant time/energy savings for drying of outer leaves. Microbial loads were substantially reduced during drying, although microbial population on outer leaves were more resistant. Safe to eat outer leaf Romaine lettuce powders can be produced, assuming appropriate agricultural practices.

Benefits of isochoric freezing for carrot juice preservation.

Isochoric freezing (IF) at -5°C/77 and -10°C/100 MPa was used to preserve carrot juice for 12 weeks. The juice qualities were compared to those using heat treatment (HT) at 95°C for 15 s followed by cold storage at 4°C. The native population of total aerobic bacteria, yeasts, and molds in isochoric frozen juice remained below the detection limit for 12 weeks. In comparison, microbes started to grow in heat-treated juices after 3 weeks of refrigeration. The color of isochoric frozen juice appeared more deep orange than the fresh juice due to an increase in carotenoid extractability. IF was not effective in reducing the activities of peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and pectin methyl esterase compared with HT. However, the isochoric samples showed higher carotenoid content, polyphenol content, and antioxidant capacity compared to the fresh and heat-treated juices. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Isochoric freezing was used to produce carrot juice with extended shelf life. Isochoric freezing could be a beneficial alternative to conventional heat treatment for carrot juice processing as the applied pressures reached total inactivation levels of spoilage microorganisms. Moreover, the low processing temperatures better retained desirable compounds and quality attributes of fresh juice throughout its shelf life.

A grounded theory of personal development in high-performance sport environments.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop a grounded theory of how to promote personal development in high-performance sport environments. METHODOLOGY: Individual interviews were conducted with 32 members of the Canadian junior and senior national biathlon teams, including 18 athletes (9 women, 9 men, Mage = 20.8 years, SD = 2.9), 5 coaches (1 woman, 4 men), 3 technical leaders (2 women, 1 man), and 6 parents (3 mothers, 3 fathers). Follow-up interviews were conducted with five key participants. Straussian grounded theory methodology was used. Analytic techniques included open coding, constant comparison, questioning, memoing, diagramming, and theoretical integration. RESULTS: The grounded theory is based on the core category that personal development is a continual and individualized process. Three propositions represent how to promote athletes' personal development process. Proposition 1: Athletes use realistic self-evaluation and goal setting. Proposition 2: Athletes experience different situations and reflect on their areas for personal development. Proposition 3: Athletes perceive and receive social support. CONCLUSION: The grounded theory portrays propositions that can be used to promote athletes' personal development in high-performance sport environments. It may inform future applied research and the delivery of sport psychology support to high-performance athletes.

Correction: Randomized nutrient bar supplementation improves exercise-associated changes in plasma metabolome in adolescents and adult family members at cardiometabolic risk.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240437.].

Filling the evidence void: exploration of coach and healthcare provider experiences working with pregnant and postpartum elite athletes - a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: Recent research grounded in the experiences of elite female athletes has shed light on the complex challenges of navigating sport environments that do not support or value pregnant or postpartum athletes. The purpose of this study was to explore the unique experiences of coaches and healthcare providers working with pregnant and postpartum elite athletes, and to identify actionable steps for research, policy and culture change to support them. METHODS: Sixteen participants (five coaches, three physicians and eight physiotherapists), who have worked with pregnant and/or postpartum elite athletes within the last 5 years, participated in this qualitative study. Thirteen participants self-identified as women, and three as men. Data were generated via semistructured one-on-one interviews that were audiorecorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed through a process of content analysis. RESULTS: The findings of this research are represented by five main themes: (a) lack of female athlete reproductive research, (b) need for evidence-informed education and training, (c) need to develop evidence-based progression for sport participation in pregnancy and postpartum, (d) open communication to support athlete-centred care and (e) essential supports and changes required for pregnant/postpartum athletes. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study, which are grounded in the unique perspectives of coaches and healthcare providers, outline specific recommendations to inform policy and practices that support athletes through the perinatal period, such as developing evidence-based return-to-sport protocols.

Visual representations of single- and multi-sport participation in a youth swimming sample: Implications for definitions and discussions of early specialization.

Academic literature and sport policy documents have cited concerns about an increasing prevalence of early sport specialization, with associated burnout, dropout, and injury. However, evidence to support such statements is limited. Definitions of early specialization vary, but a common criterion is continued participation in a single sport, prior to adolescence. We explored the prevalence of single-sport participation and other patterns of sport involvement from ages 6-12 in a Canadian swimming sample using retrospective longitudinal methods. Parents of 236 competitive swimmers (ages 12-17) completed surveys on their children's sport backgrounds, including the number of sports participated in annually from age 6-12. A cluster heat map elucidated single- and multi-sport patterns over time. Mixed analyses of variance tested for differences by gender and club type. Fourteen percent of our sample showed stable participation in either one sport or multiple sports per year over time, 25% decreased their annual number of sports, and 60% increased. This trend of increasing, rather than decreasing the number of sports in their annual activity roster when approaching age 12 was particularly pronounced for girls. Only 10 participants (4% of the sample) consistently engaged in a single sport each year from age 6-12. Summer (seasonal) swimmers consistently did more sports than year-round swimmers. Overall, our findings showed highly idiosyncratic longitudinal patterns of sport participation that did not easily conform to current sport activity guidelines. We also found similar idiosyncrasy in an ad-hoc analysis of participants who had dropped out of swimming a year later. If single-sport participation is considered a key criterion for defining early specialization, our findings suggest the prevailing narrative around early specialization may be overstated in relation to the number of single-sport athletes. Alternatively, other components of early specialization may be more prevalent and deserving of attention due to possible associations with harmful outcomes.

We're not Superhuman, We're Human: A Qualitative Description of Elite Athletes' Experiences of Return to Sport After Childbirth.

BACKGROUND: A growing number of athletes return to elite sport following childbirth. Yet, they face significant barriers to do so safely and successfully. The experiences of elite athletes returning to sport following delivery are necessary to support evidence-informed policy. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this qualitative description was to describe the experiences of elite athletes as they returned to sport following childbirth, and to identify actionable steps for research, policy and culture-change to support elite athlete mothers. METHODS: Eighteen elite athletes, primarily from North America, who had returned to sport following childbirth in the last 5 years were interviewed. Data were generated via one-on-one semi-structured interviews that were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed through a process of content analysis. RESULTS: The findings of this study are represented by one overarching theme: Need for More Time, and five main themes: (a) Training "New Bodies" Postpartum, (b) Injuries and Safe Return to Sport, (c) Breastfeeding While Training, (d) Critical Supports for Return to Sport, (e) Navigating Motherhood and Sport. The athletes identified the urgent need to develop best-practice policies and funding to support return to sport, as well as develop evidence-based return-to-sport protocols to support a safe and injury-free return. CONCLUSION: Athletes shared detailed stories highlighting the challenges, barriers and successes elite athletes experience returning to elite-level sport following childbirth. Participants provided clear recommendations for policy and research to better support the next generation of elite athlete mothers.

The effect of neighborhood walkability on changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior during a 12-week pedometer-facilitated intervention.

BACKGROUND: Pedometer-facilitated interventions encourage physical activity via the accumulation of steps. Mixed evidence suggests that neighborhood walkability might influence the effectiveness of physical activity interventions, including pedometer-facilitated interventions. Our study investigated the moderating effect of neighborhood walkability on immediate (4-week) and short-term (12-week) changes in self-reported neighborhood-specific leisure and transportation walking, leisure-based moderate and vigorous-intensity physical activity, and leisure-based screen time during a pedometer-facilitated intervention (UWALK). METHODS: This quasi-experiment undertaken in Calgary (Canada) compared behavior changes during the 12-week intervention between two neighborhood groups classified as 'walkable' or 'car dependent' based on Walk Score®. Of the 573 volunteers (adults in the contemplation and preparation stages of physical activity behavior change), 466 participated in UWALK. Surveys captured sociodemographic characteristics, perceived neighborhood walkability, neighborhood preferences, motivation, physical activity and screen-based leisure. Covariate-adjusted linear mixed models estimated the differences in physical activity and leisure screen time between the neighborhood walkability groups at baseline, 4-weeks, and 12-weeks. RESULTS: UWALK participants included mostly females (83%) and had an average age of 49.2 years. Weekly minutes of walking for transport inside the neighborhood was higher (p < .001) among participants from walkable versus car dependent neighborhoods at baseline (42.5 vs. 21.1), 4-weeks (81.2 vs. 48.2), and 12-weeks (87.2 vs. 48.0). Regardless of neighborhood walkability, all physical activity outcomes were higher and leisure screen time lower at 4-weeks and 12-weeks compared with baseline. We found no significant neighborhood group by time interactions. CONCLUSIONS: Pedometer-facilitated interventions may be effective for supporting short-term changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior even among adults residing in low walkable neighborhoods.

Novel isochoric impregnation to develop high-quality and nutritionally fortified plant materials (apples and sweet potatoes).

Isochoric impregnation was explored as a novel pressure-assisted infusion technique to fortify plant materials with bioactive compounds. Apple and potato cylinders were impregnated with a sucrose solution containing 4% ascorbic acid (AA) while freezing under isochoric conditions. Isochoric impregnation resulted in greater infusion of AA compared to infusion at atmospheric pressure, which demonstrated the feasibility of this impregnation technology. Processing temperatures (-3°C and -5°C) and processing times (1, 3, and 5 h) significantly affected the AA infusion. The AA content values ranged from 446 to 516 mg/100 g for apples and 322 to 831 mg/100 g for sweet potatoes under isochoric conditions. For both plant materials, isochoric impregnation at -3°C did not cause major changes in texture and microstructure of the biological tissues. These results indicated that isochoric impregnation of solid foods could be a feasible technology for infusion of bioactive compounds without significantly altering their matrix. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The findings of this study showed that the use of isochoric impregnation as a fortification technique is a promising way to develop fresh-like and value-added products with improved nutrition during preservation at subfreezing temperatures.

"We're categorized in these sizes-that's all we are": uncovering the social organization of young women's weight work through media and fashion.

BACKGROUND: For decades, dominant weight discourses have led to physical, mental, and social health consequences for young women in larger bodies. While ample literature has documented why these discourses are problematic, knowledge is lacking regarding how they are socially organized within institutions, like fashion and media, that young women encounter across their lifespan. Such knowledge is critical for those in public health trying to shift societal thinking about body weight. Therefore, we aimed to investigate how young women's weight work is socially organized by discourses enacted in fashion and media, interpreting work generously as any activity requiring thought or intention. METHODS: Using institutional ethnography, we learned from 14 informants, young women aged 15-21, in Edmonton, Canada about the everyday work of growing up in larger bodies. We conducted 14 individual interviews and five repeated group interviews with a subset (n = 5) of our informants. A collaborative investigation of weight-related YouTube videos (n = 45) elicited further conversations with two informant-researchers about the work of navigating media. Data were integrated and analyzed holistically. RESULTS: Noticing the perpetual lack of larger women's bodies in fashion and media, informants learned from an early age that thinness was required for being seen and heard. Informants responded by performing three types of work: hiding their weight, trying to lose weight, and resisting dominant weight discourses. Resistance work was aided by social media, which offered informants a sense of community and opportunities to learn about alternative ways of knowing weight. However, social media alleging body acceptance or positivity content often still focused on weight loss. While informants recognized the potential harm of engagement with commercial weight loss industries like diet and exercise, they felt compelled to do whatever it might take to achieve a "normal woman body". CONCLUSIONS: Despite some positive discursive change regarding body weight acceptance in fashion and media, this progress has had little impact on the weight work socially expected of young women. Findings highlight the need to broaden public health thinking around how weight discourses are (re)produced, calling for intersectoral collaboration to mobilize weight stigma evidence beyond predominantly academic circles into our everyday practices.

Pushing for change: a qualitative study of the experiences of elite athletes during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: Athletes train and compete at the elite level during their reproductive years, yet sport policies that support pregnant athletes are lacking. The experiences of elite athletes during pregnancy are vastly under-represented, and such voices are needed to support evidence-informed policy. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the experiences of elite female athletes as they navigate pregnancy, and to identify sport policy considerations regarding participation during pregnancy. METHODS: Twenty athletes (mean age 35±5 years) who, within the last 5 years, had trained or competed at the elite level immediately prior to becoming pregnant were included. Data were generated via one-on-one semistructured interviews that were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed through a process of content analysis. RESULTS: The findings of this study are represented by one overarching message: mother versus athlete, and five main themes: (1) pregnancy planning and fertility, (2) pregnancy disclosure and discrimination, (3) training pregnant athletic bodies, (4) safety concerns, and (5) supportive network and equitable funding. CONCLUSION: In-depth stories shared by participants highlight the many significant decisions athletes must make as they navigate pregnancy alongside elite sport participation. The shared experiences of pregnant athletes highlight clear challenges that should be considered in the development of sport policy and practices that are inclusive and supportive of female athletes.

Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program: essential characteristics of a Canadian multi-site community-university partnership with Indigenous communities.

The Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program (IYMP) is a peer-led health promotion program grounded in the teachings of Indigenous scholars. IYMP is delivered as a multi-sited community-university partnership (CUP) with Indigenous communities across Canada for elementary students. A local young adult health leader and high school youth mentors offer students healthy snacks, physical activity games, relationship building activities and traditional cultural teachings. IYMP aims to improve children's health and wellbeing and empower Indigenous youth and communities. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to describe the essential characteristics of this multi-sited CUP as perceived by the IYMP principal investigators (PIs). Key informant interviews were conducted with 5 IYMP PIs (2 Indigenous) and analysed using content analysis. The overarching theme was forming a community of practice (CoP), where people with a common interest share best practices as they interact regularly. Four sub-themes were shared interest for Indigenous health/wellbeing and social justice, relationships, mentorship and taking a decolonizing research approach. The IYMP CoP allowed mentorship to occur across regions. The essential characteristics that made the IYMP CUPs successful could be used to inform other multi-sited CUPs with Indigenous communities. Those with mutual interests in Indigenous health and partnership with Indigenous communities could consider forming a CoP. Within a newly formed CoP, relationships and mentorship can be developed through discussion and activities. It is imperative within the CoP to take a decolonizing approach to research and acknowledge the impact that colonial policies and practices have had on generations of Indigenous peoples.

Health benefits of first and second extraction drum-dried pitted olive pomace.

Olive pomace (OP) is the main by-product of olive oil extraction. After pit and skin removal, OP pulp has high concentrations of dietary fiber and phenolics with high antioxidant capacity. This study evaluated mice health benefits of drum-dried pitted OP pulp obtained after first and second oil extraction. Fresh OP was steam blanched, then pits and skins separated in a pulper/finisher, and pulp drum-dried and milled. OP was characterized by proximate analysis, total soluble phenolics (TSP), individual phenolics, and dietary fiber. Drum-dried pitted OP from first and second extraction was formulated at 10% and 20% in a high fat mice diet. Low fat (5%) and high fat (18%) control diets were also used for comparison. First extraction OP had higher TSP than OP from second extraction. Hydroxytyrosol was the main phenolic in OP. Mice weight gain was lower for the four OP diets compared to high and low-fat control diets. Fecal protein was high for all OP diets, indicating poor protein retention in mice, possibly by phenolics binding of protein and enzymes. Liver weight and adipose tissue were lower in mice consuming the four high fat OP diets compared to high fat control diet. Also, there was no effect on blood glucose by OP in diets. Mice gut microbiota analysis indicated that Actinobacteria decreased in the OP diets compared to the two control diets while Bacteroidetes increased, indicating a positive correlation with reduced body fat and weight. Drum-dried pitted OP is a novel agricultural by-product with its bioactive compounds having the potential to be incorporated in feeds and foods providing health benefits. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Drum-dried pitted olive pomace can be produced from first or second olive oil extraction byproducts to be used as a shelf-stable healthy food or feed supplement.

The ruling of weight: An institutional ethnography investigating young people's body weight surveillance work.

RATIONALE: Dominant framing of childhood obesity as a public health burden has increased weight stigma towards young people in larger bodies. However, weight stigma literature is generally limited by its focus on individuals' attitudes and beliefs, overlooking the broader social conditions shaping stigma. Further, few weight stigma studies have been conducted from young people's standpoint; little is known about how they navigate stigmatizing environments while growing up. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the social organization of young people's everyday work of growing up in a larger body, interpreting work generously as any activity requiring thought and intention. METHODS: Using institutional ethnography, we conducted individual interviews in Alberta, Canada with 16 informants aged 15-21 who grew up in larger bodies. Five, repeated group interviews were then held with a subset (n = 5) of these informants. RESULTS: Weight surveillance work (e.g., self-weighing on scales, social comparison) was informants' most common form of weight-related work while growing up. Surveillance results instructed them on next steps, whether that be working to fit in (literally and figuratively) or resisting social conformity altogether. Informants' bodies were monitored by nearly everyone around them: family, peers, educators, and healthcare providers. Informants learned how and why to do the work expected of them through social relations. Despite their (mostly) good intentions, surveillance by respected adults conveyed to informants that their self-worth depended on their weight. Biomedical, individuated health and weight discourses guided the enactment of institutional policies and practices in healthcare and education, such as those related to the Body Mass Index. These ruling discourses objectified bodies as normal or abnormal, healthy or unhealthy, good or bad. CONCLUSION: Overall, study findings show how young people's experiences of growing up in their bodies were predictably organized by dominant weight and health discourses, identifying possible levers for public health intervention.

The Use of a Nonrefundable Tax Credit to Increase Children's Participation in Physical Activity in Alberta, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Potential income disparities were examined in the (1) awareness and uptake of the Children's Fitness Tax Credit (CFTC), and (2) physical activity (PA) of children from families who did and did not claim the credit in Alberta, Canada in 2012 and 2014. METHODS: Secondary analyses of 3 cross-sectional data sets of grade 5 students (10-11 y) were performed, including Alberta Project Promoting healthy Living for Everyone Schools 2012 (N = 1037), and Raising healthy Eating and Active Living Kids Alberta 2012 (N = 2676), and 2014 (N = 3125). Parents reported whether they claimed the CFTC in the previous year, their education and household income, and their child's gender and PA. Children self-reported their PA from the previous 7 days. In Alberta Project Promoting healthy Living for Everyone Schools, children also wore pedometers. Analyses adjusted for clustering within schools and demographic factors. RESULTS: Higher income families (≥$50,000/y) were more likely to be aware of and to have claimed the CFTC compared with low-income families (<$50,000/y). The CFTC was associated with organized PA with larger associations for higher-income families (odds ratio = 9.03-9.32, Ps < .001) compared with lower-income families (odds ratio = 3.27-4.05, Ps < .01). No associations existed for overall PA or pedometer steps with the CFTC. CONCLUSIONS: Income disparities exist in the awareness, uptake, and potential impact of the CFTC. Tax credits are not effective in promoting overall PA.

Effects of Isochoric Freezing Conditions on Cut Potato Quality.

Isochoric freezing is a pressure freezing technique that could be used to retain the beneficial effects of food storage at temperatures below their freezing point without ice damage. In this study, potato cylinders were frozen in an isochoric system and examined using full factorial combinations of three processing procedures (immersed in water, vacuum-packed and immersed in ascorbic acid solution), four freezing temperatures/pressures (-3 °C/37 MPa, -6 °C/71 MPa, -9 °C/101 MPa and -15 °C/156 MPa) and two average compression rates (less than 0.02 and more than 0.16 MPa/s). The effects of process variables on critical quality attributes of frozen potatoes after thawing were investigated, including mass change, volume change, water holding capacity, color and texture. Processing procedure and freezing temperature/pressure were found to be highly significant factors, whereas the significance of the compression rate was lower. For the processing procedures, immersion in an isotonic solution of 5% ascorbic acid best preserved quality attributes. At the highest pressure level of 156 MPa and low compression rate of 0.02 MPa/s, potato samples immersed in ascorbic acid retained their color, 98.5% mass and 84% elasticity modulus value. These samples also showed a 1% increase in volume and 13% increase in maximum stress due to pressure-induced hardening.

Preservation of grape tomato by isochoric freezing.

This study investigated the potential of isochoric freezing to preserve tomatoes. Isochoric freezing is an emerging technology that preserves biological matter at subfreezing temperatures without any ice damage. Isochoric freezing was compared with freezing under isobaric conditions and with preservation techniques used in the food industry: cold storage at 10 °C and individual quick freezing (IQF). Physicochemical and nutritional properties were evaluated weekly for four weeks. Preservation under isochoric conditions maintained the mass, color, nutrient content (ascorbic acid, lycopene and phenolics) and antioxidant activity of the fresh tomatoes. Also, isochoric preservation led to minimal texture damage. In comparison, mass loss of tomatoes stored at 10 °C for 3 weeks contributed to changes in overall visual quality and firmness as well as significant losses in nutrient content. The greatest mass, texture, and nutrients losses were obtained for tomatoes subjected to IQF and isobaric freezing. The results show that isochoric freezing has the potential to preserve tomatoes while maintaining physicochemical and nutritional properties similar to those of fresh tomatoes which might find application in the commercial preservation of tomatoes.