🍅Tomatoes🍅 are the most affordable vegetable used to make pasta, ketchup and various canned food for the winter. Tomatoes are especially loved in the Mediterranean countries, where it is problematic to find a recipe without adding this vegetable. Tomatoes are available all year round on store shelves, and in spring and summer, every summer resident considers it his duty to plant several tomato bushes. Now the world knows a variety of types of tomatoes, ranging from miniature "Cherry" and ending with a weighty variety of "Bull's Heart". Small tomatoes are good for making salads, while the fleshy fruits serve as the basis for soup, tomato puree or ketchup.
Сalories
20 calProteins
1.10 grFats
0.20 grCarbohydrates
3.70 grNutritional value per 100 g. Calories calculated for raw foods.
Glycemic index
30Common allergen
noMake sure that you do not have an individual intolerance to this product.
South America is considered the birthplace of tomatoes, in particular, modern Peru, from where they were later brought to Mexico. Europe learned about the existence of tomatoes thanks to the Spaniard Fernando Cortes, who in 1519 saw an unusual red fruit in the gardens of Montezuma. He decided to bring the seeds to his land to grow the shrub as an ornamental plant. However, tomato fruits were considered poisonous for a long time due to their bright red hue, which warned against possible danger. It took more than a dozen years to make sure that tomatoes were edible. For the first time, Italy began to engage in purposeful cultivation of tomatoes, where now these fruits are inextricably linked with the national cuisine.
Disputes between botanists and culinary experts in 1893 forced the Supreme Court in the United States to decide which category of plants the tomato should be classified under. From the point of view of botanists, the tomato is classified in the nightshade family, therefore, its fruit is a berry. Cooks often use it as the basis of first and second courses due to its sweet and sour taste, which is more associated with the properties of a vegetable. Based on the peculiarities of trade, the Supreme Court decided to officially consider the tomato as a vegetable.
Every specialist in the field of medicine and nutrition speaks about the benefits of vegetables. But a more detailed acquaintance with the positive effects of a tomato will help to finally convince yourself of the importance of this vegetable in the diet.
✅ A powerful antioxidant – tomato is rich in carotenoids, and in particular lycopene. Its antioxidant properties are associated with the prevention of lipid oxidation, which helps in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The systematic use of fresh tomatoes significantly reduces the level of atherogenic cholesterol, which provokes atherosclerotic diseases.
✅ Protection of men’s health – the same lycopene reduces the severity of destructive and inflammatory changes in the prostate gland, protecting it from the development of cancer and adenoma. To date, there is evidence of a positive effect of lycopene on potency and prevention of male infertility.
✅ Prevention of “night blindness” – the abundance of vitamin A in tomatoes helped doctors track its positive effect on visual function. By preventing the oxidation of circulating radicals, vitamin A has a stabilizing effect on retinal cells, protecting them from premature destruction.
✅ Reducing the load on the heart – a mineral complex of iron, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus helps to maintain blood pressure at the proper level. Due to potassium, the tension in the arteries drops, which indirectly reduces the load on the heart.
✅ Fighting bleeding – vitamin K, found in tomatoes, acts as an activator of blood clotting factors. This is a non-stop process that protects the body from blood loss. More attention to tomatoes should be given to those who often experience nose and gum bleeding, as well as long-term bleeding abrasions and wounds.
✅ Digestive system support – tomatoes contain a lot of fiber, which stimulates intestinal peristaltic activity and prevents constipation. The coordinated work of the intestines contributes to the regular release of pancreatic and bile enzymes necessary for proper digestion.
✅ Skin protection – daily intake of tomatoes stimulates the formation of collagen, which has a rejuvenating effect. And applying tomato juice topically in the form of applications can cope with sunburn.
✅ Stress prevention – the organic substance tyramine, which is found in tomatoes, is involved in the synthesis of serotonin, known as the “hormone of joy”.
Despite the mass of useful properties of a tomato, its negative effect on the body is still possible.
❌ The risk of developing allergies – many protein structures in the composition of the tomato can provoke allergies in predisposed individuals. The first signs of such a reaction should be considered swelling, itching or sore throat.
❌ Progression of peptic ulcer – due to the stimulation of gastric and other digestive juices, the work of the gastrointestinal tract is activated, which can worsen the well-being of patients with ulcers and other diseases of the digestive system. People who suffer from frequent bouts of heartburn should eliminate tomatoes from their diet. The reason for everything is malic and citric acids found in tomatoes, they stimulate the reflux of gastric juice into the esophagus.
❌ Stone formation in the kidneys – salts formed from the breakdown products of acids can cause the deposition of oxalate stones in the kidneys. Therefore, people with urolithiasis should be more careful about tomatoes in their menu.
❌ The cause of blood clots – in rare cases, lovers of tomatoes may experience the ability of blood to actively form blood clots. An excess of vitamin K leads to the release of clotting factors that provoke blood clots in predisposed individuals.
Having the described diseases, you should consult a doctor about the possibility of safely adding tomatoes to the diet.
Tomatoes have a sweet and sour taste, however, the variety and degree of ripeness of the fruit affects the taste. A ripe fruit can be called not only a tomato of a rich red hue. Thanks to breeders, the world saw this vegetable in new colors that can say something about the taste.
The brightest taste is typical for tomatoes that ripened under the open summer sun. If the vegetable has a rich smell, then you don’t have to worry about the maturity of the fetus.
Fresh tomatoes taste great, but when cooked, they become even healthier! The fact is that stewed, fried and baked vegetables release more lycopene, the main antioxidant in tomatoes. If you still want to enjoy the taste of fresh vegetables, then you should add a little vegetable oil to them, which increases the absorption of lycopene.
Fresh tomatoes taste great, but when cooked, they become even healthier! The fact is that stewed, fried and baked vegetables release more lycopene, the main antioxidant in tomatoes. If you still want to enjoy the taste of fresh vegetables, then you should add a little vegetable oil to them, which increases the absorption of lycopene.
Tomatoes are actively used in conservation. Due to the acidic composition, canned tomatoes are suitable for food for a long time, retaining their taste and the full range of minerals and antioxidants. On their basis, various types of preparations are made, including ketchup, tomato paste and tomato juice.
Tomatoes are good both fresh and after heat treatment, because their benefits and taste are about the same.
Storage conditions depend on the degree of ripeness of the fruit. It is advisable to store ripe tomatoes in the refrigerator or cellar, where they are not accessible to direct sunlight. For the purpose of long-term storage, it is worth choosing intact vegetables of medium ripeness; for such tomatoes, the optimum temperature is + 5-10 °C. This temperature range will slow further ripening, making the vegetables more edible longer. The fruits are laid with the stalk up, while it is worth examining the skin for damage. Green tomatoes with signs of immaturity have a much longer shelf life. Bright light and room temperature will help speed up their ripening.
If the tomatoes are going to be consumed in the near future, then the best storage place would be the vegetable shelf of the refrigerator or the bottom container. At standard refrigerator temperature, they will remain in a usable form for 5️⃣-7️⃣ days.