Tomatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, copper, riboflavin, niacin, folate, B6 and B12. They also contain immune-boosting antioxidants like lycopene and beta-carotene which may help reduce the risk of certain cancers. How tomatoes are useful are given below.
Tomatoes are the fruit of the plants Solanum lycopersicum, commonly known as nightshades. Tomato plants can make other vegetables like potatoes and eggplants. The tomato is consumed worldwide and is often part of many recipes.
Tomatoes are low in calories but high in fiber which means they’ll fill you up without filling you out! Tomatoes are perfect for weight loss because they provide few to no calories while containing essential nutrients to keep your body running well. Here’s to counting all those health benefits instead of worrying about how many calories this food has!
What are the benefits of tomatoes?
One-half cup of tomato juice contains only about 45 calories, but it also has significant amounts of potassium (398mg) and vitamin C (25% DV).
Some studies have suggested that lycopene may help prevent cancers like prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer. Tomato health benefits are given below
Know How tomatoes are useful for our health
1. Vitamin C
As an antioxidant, vitamin C can help fight against free radicals in the body. Free radicals are linked to the development of many diseases like heart disease, stroke, cancer and Alzheimer’s. Studies suggest that tomatoes may help reduce the risk of certain cancers because they contain lycopene which is an antioxidant.
2. Vitamin A
Tomatoes are a good source of beta-carotene which converts to vitamin A in your body. Vitamin A plays a key role in developing healthy vision and skin, regulating cell growth and reproduction, maintaining immune function and playing a role in metabolism.
3. Potassium
Potassium helps regulate blood pressure by balancing sodium levels in the body. It also plays a role in protein synthesis, nerve transmission and muscle contraction so it’s important for athletes too!
4. Copper
Copper is essential for iron absorption which is why it’s required for red blood cell formation and maintenance of connective tissue like hair follicles and collagen scaffolding around cells. It also assists with energy production as part of your mitochondria’s electron transport chain!
5. Riboflavin
Riboflavin helps turn food into fuel for your muscles with its role as a cofactor for
How to select and store your tomatoes
Tomatoes are a great versatile food that can be prepared in many ways. They’re also one of the few vegetables that come in a variety of colors!
There are three different varieties of tomatoes you can purchase: heirloom, beefsteak, and cherry tomatoes. Heirloom tomatoes are the most expensive because they’re not genetically modified. Beefsteak tomatoes are not as expensive as heirlooms but may have fewer seeds than other varieties. Cherry tomatoes are super sweet but don’t have much flavor or texture to them.
To store your tomatoes, make sure to keep them at room temperature away from direct sunlight. If you want to store them for longer periods of time, put them in the fridge but don’t put anything else with them because they’ll likely spoil faster.
If your tomato is looking shriveled up or under-ripe, place it in a paper bag with an apple or banana then close up the bag tightly for about 5 days to allow it to regain some moisture and provide some natural ripening agents!
Tips for cooking with tomatoes
Tomatoes are delicious when they are fresh and in season, but it can also be canned or preserved for year-round cooking. You can preserve them by making sauces, pastes, juices, or turn them into ketchup or pickles.
Tomatoes are versatile when it comes to cooking because they take on the flavor of the other ingredients in the recipe. They’re ideal for pasta dishes with Italian flavors like tomato sauce. It also used in many Mexican dishes like chili con carne where the tomatoes provide a little sweetness to balance out the spices in this dish.
Here are some easy recipes that pair tomatoes with other healthy ingredients:
– Spicy Tomato Sauce with Shrimp
– Slow Roasted Tomato Basil Chicken
– Tomato Tarte Tatin
– Butternut Squash Soup with Parmesan Crisps
Conclusion
Health benefits of tomatoes.
Tomatoes are low in calorie and high in vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium and lycopene. They are very rich in beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A in the body. Tomatoes are also very high in lycopene, which is an antioxidant that has been shown to help protect against heart disease and cancers of the prostate, bladder, breast, stomach, and cervix.
