The Delicious and Healthy Tomatoes!
Tomato is actually a fruit and not a vegetable. But in many cuisines it is eaten as a vegetable. The scientific name of tomato is Solanum lycopersicum. It belongs to Solanaceae family of plants.
The plant of tomato is a short-lived plant. It usually grows to 1–3 meters tall. The fruit is edible, and is a berry botanically. However it is categorized as a vegetable, nutritionally.
Consistent intake of tomatoes is linked to lowered risk of chronic degenerative diseases.
There are various types of tomatoes. The regular red tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, green tomatoes, grape tomatoes and many more. Generally tomatoes are bright red in colour. The bright red colour is due to presence of a pigment called “Lycopene”. There are various other species available in different colours.
Storage
Tomatoes are best stored at room temperature. Refrigerating those results in loss of flavor. They can be stored stem down for maximum shelf life and to avoid rotting too quickly.
Health Benefits
Tomatoes contain 95% water, 4% carbohydrates and 1% of fat and protein each. Hence it is a low calorie vegetable.
Weight loss food
As tomatoes contain very amount of calories and fats, it can be considered a great food to be included in a diet designed for weight loss. It would help in reducing the calorie density of the diet and thus may help in weight loss along with other foods and lifestyle changes such as adding doing exercise.
Heart Disease
Tomatoes also contain a number of anti-oxidants such as vitamin C, A, beta carotene, lycopene all of which are popularly known to decrease the risk of heart disease. This is because they help in scavenging the oxidized free radicals that are responsible for the damage of blood vessels and known to reduce the level of oxidized bad cholesterol which is responsible for forming blocks in blood vessels carrying blood to the heart.
Cancer
The lycopene obtained from tomatoes may be helpful in preventing cancer especially the cancer of prostate gland in men. This is again because it is a powerful anti-oxidant.
Anti-Aging
Anti-oxidant are also responsible for delaying the aging process of the body. Since it destroys the harmful free radicals which attack the various cells and organs of the body.
Though the nutrients in tomatoes show these properties, experts suggest that more research on humans in this area is required to prove the benefits.
Lycopene content of Tomatoes
Lycopene content of tomatoes increase once it is cooked. The more it is cooked or condensed due to cooking, the more is the lycopene content.
Tomatoes can be a part of your salads, purees can be a part of various sauces and stews, gravies etc. It gives the food preparations a distinct yummy and tangy taste.
Hence include tomatoes in your daily diet and enjoy its advantages!
Please Note
For any blood tests or various health checkups in Mumbai, please visit www.healthdekho.com
References
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51391353_Antioxidant_nutritional_quality_of_tomato
