There’s one fruit …err vegetable (does it make a difference anyway) that sets the taste of your pizza, is synonymous to a classic bruschetta, and a star of the Indian curries. No prizes for guessing the vegetable referred to is the good old Tomato!
Know your tomatoes!
- It is botanically the berry (fruit) of a plant originated in South America, however, in 1893 the U.S Supreme court passed it as a vegetable to benefit the farmers.
- Tomatoes are usually red in colour when ripe, however, are available in other colours like yellow, green, orange and purple.
- Tomatoes are 90% moisture, a rich source of fibre (hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin) vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, vitamin A, folate, antioxidants like lycopene, beta-carotene and very low in carbs and calories.
Health Benefits:
- Tomatoes decrease the risk of heart diseases, owing to the antioxidant properties of lycopene and beta-carotene.
- One of the best sources of lycopene, tomatoes help to maintain eye health and reduce the incidences of macular degeneration in the elderly.
- It also helps in the regulation of blood pressure.
- Tomatoes are known to have anti-ageing properties, help to improve overall skin health.
- They also help in cancer prevention.
Smart tips for optimum benefits:
- Choose red tomatoes as they have a higher content of the antioxidant lycopene, which is also the colour pigment.
- When tomatoes are lightly cooked in fat the lycopene absorption increases 4 times.
- Lycopene is insoluble in water hence not lost in basic cooking methods.
Tomatoes have an indisputable role in cuisines across the world and can be used in a variety of ways either as a pulp, veggie or in the dehydrated form. It is an inseparable ingredient in many soups, gravies, pasta sauce, salsa and can be used in detox juices, salads, veggies, dips, chutneys or just about the way you like it!
So go ahead, be happy and pompous to make good use of Tomatoes in your daily diet and do not consider this regular veggie anything lesser than a Superfood!
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