Health Matters – An A to Z Guide to Good Health – T is for Tomatoes
An A to Z Guide to Good Health – T is for Tomatoes
Tomatoes are available all year round, but quality varies so be a discerning shopper to enjoy them at their best. Tomatoes look good and can smell delicious especially when they are fresh and provide lots of health benefits. There has been some discussion about whether they are a fruit or a vegetable. Botanically they are a fruit. They are eaten in enormous quantities all over the world and are used in a wide variety of ways as juice, soups, raw in salads, stuffed, in sauces, on pizza, as ketchup and more.
Originally tomatoes were thought to be poisonous, but someone was brave enough to disprove this myth. However, they are part of the nightshade family of plants and as such may cause an allergic reaction e.g. mouth ulcers and eczema in some people. They are acidic and may also cause joint pain in people suffering from arthritis.
The good news is that for most people tomatoes are full of vitamins and phytochemicals that help protect the body from disease.
🍅 Tomatoes contain potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin A,(a medium-sized tomato supplies 20% of our daily requirement) some vitamin E, folic acid and other B vitamins, i.e. Biotin and niacin and also some iron, sodium, calcium, magnesium and zinc.
🍅 Tomatoes are a low-calorie food; two medium-sized ones only contain approximately 22 calories so are a useful food if you are working at shedding a few pounds. They are extremely versatile – can be a snack, part of a meal or my favourite, stuffed with a variety of fillings.
As a nutritionist, the reason I love tomatoes is that the bright red skin which contains the carotenoid pigment is packed with lycopene a phytochemical that is a powerful antioxidant. We need these antioxidants to help protect our bodies from the dangers of free radical damage which are responsible for many diseases. Tomatoes, particularly when they are cooked, are important ingredients in a healthy diet.
Live with joy and Health 💚
Elizabeth Beetham