Introduction: Tomatoes, a common vegetable, become a seasonal darling with their unique charm from June to August in summer.
At this time, the tomatoes on the ground hang like small lanterns on the branches, bright red and attractively red. They begin with sowing in May and after a short period of 30 to 50 days, they turn from green to mature, revealing a mouth-watering red color.
However, with the rapid development of modern agricultural technology, greenhouse cultivation has made tomato ripening no longer limited to summer. Nowadays, we can taste this delicious fruit almost all year round. Whether it's in the cold of winter or in the coolness of autumn, the plump and juicy tomatoes always bring us a touch of summer warmth.
Among the many vegetables, tomatoes are undoubtedly the closest to fruit in taste. It has a slight sour taste and an intoxicating sweetness, and it is delicious and juicy. Whether it is used as a condiment to sugar or eaten raw, tomatoes can bring us a lot of satisfaction.
Especially in the hot summer, take out a cold tomato from the refrigerator, bite into it, the cool taste and sweet taste, as if it can make people forget the pain of the heat, and let out a heartfelt emotion: "The world, it's worth it!"
01
Nutritional value of tomatoes
Nutrients of TomatoesTomatoes are a nutritious, low-calorie vegetable that is rich in nutrients and plays an important role in human health.
In addition to the well-known vitamin C, tomatoes also contain a variety of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A, E, K, as well as potassium, calcium, iron, etc. Together, these ingredients make up the unique nutritional value of tomatoes.
Vitamin A is essential for vision maintenance and skin health. It promotes the synthesis of rhodopsin, a light-sensitive substance on the retina, helping us to see more clearly in low-light environments. At the same time, vitamin A is also necessary for the normal growth and differentiation of skin cells, helping to maintain the elasticity and radiance of the skin.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that fights free radicals and protects cells from oxidative damage. It plays an important role in maintaining cardiovascular health, slowing down aging, and preventing cancer. Vitamin E can also enhance the body's immunity and improve the ability to resist diseases.
Potassium is an important mineral that is involved in osmotic balance inside and outside cells, maintaining normal heartbeat and muscle contraction. Potassium also promotes the excretion of sodium, which helps lower blood pressure and prevent cardiovascular disease.
In addition, the iron in tomatoes is also necessary for the human body. Iron is the main component of hemoglobin and is important for transporting oxygen to all parts of the body. Iron deficiency can lead to anemia, which can affect physical health.
In addition to the above nutrients, tomatoes also contain a variety of bioactive substances, such as lycopene, glutathione, etc. These substances have a variety of biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer, which are of great benefit to human health.
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What are the benefits of eating tomatoes regularly?
Slows down aging
Tomatoes are rich in antioxidants, such as lycopene and vitamin C, which help fight free radical damage, thereby slowing down the aging process. Eating tomatoes regularly can keep our skin firm and elastic and delay the pace of aging.
Lowers cholesterol
The lycopene in tomatoes also has a cholesterol-lowering effect. High cholesterol increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, and eating tomatoes regularly can help us lower cholesterol levels and protect cardiovascular health.
Reduces inflammation
Tomatoes are also a natural anti-inflammatory food. Both lycopene and vitamin C have anti-inflammatory effects, which can help alleviate the body's inflammatory response and reduce the occurrence of inflammation-related diseases.
Maintain normal physiological functions
Tomatoes are also rich in nutrients such as vitamins A, E, K, as well as minerals such as potassium, iron, and calcium. These nutrients are essential for our physical health and help us maintain normal physiological functions.
Protects the liver
It is worth mentioning that tomatoes also contain a substance called glutathione, which helps the detoxification function of the liver and protects the liver from damage. Therefore, eating tomatoes regularly also has a positive effect on liver health.
Promotes digestion
Tomatoes are rich in fiber, which can help us improve digestion and prevent digestive problems such as constipation.
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What are the foods that are compatible with tomatoes? Try not to eat the two together, don't eat them stupidly
Boar liver
Pork liver is rich in iron and protein, which is good for blood and stamina, while tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and a variety of antioxidants, which help to strengthen immunity and resist diseases.
However, despite their many benefits, pork liver and tomatoes should not be eaten at the same time, so let's take a closer look.
Pork liver contains a lot of copper, while tomatoes contain a lot of vitamin C. When copper encounters vitamin C, it undergoes a redox reaction to form substances that are not easily absorbed by the body, which not only reduces the nutritional value of food, but may also adversely affect human health.
potato
Although potatoes and tomatoes are both common ingredients in our daily lives, there is a widespread saying that they should not be eaten together.
This may be because in some cases, potatoes and tomatoes produce some gas during digestion, causing an upset stomach.
For most people, eating potatoes and tomatoes together may not cause any problems, but for people with weak digestive systems, such a combination can impair digestive function.
pomegranate
Pomegranates and tomatoes are common ingredients in people's daily lives, and they are rich in nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. However, despite their many benefits each, pomegranates and tomatoes cannot be eaten together. The reason for this is related to their chemical properties.
Pomegranates contain a lot of tannin, which is a naturally occurring acid. Tomatoes contain a lot of vitamin C, which is highly susceptible to oxidation in an acidic environment.
When pomegranate and tomatoes are eaten together, tannic acid reacts chemically with vitamin C to form a substance that is difficult for the body to absorb, reducing the nutritional value of both ingredients.
River prawns
Prawns and tomatoes are both very common ingredients in our daily diet. River prawns are loved for their delicious taste and rich nutrition, while tomatoes are loved by diners for their sweet and sour taste and variety of cooking methods. However, as delicious as they are each, why can't river prawns and tomatoes be on our table at the same time?
River shrimp is an aquatic product rich in protein and minerals, while tomatoes contain a lot of vitamin C and organic acids. When these two foods meet in the human body, a chemical reaction called the "acid-base reaction" occurs.
This reaction will not only reduce the nutritional value of river shrimp, but also may lead to incomplete absorption of nutrients in river shrimp by the human body, and even the production of harmful substances.
Popsicles
As a cold drink, the temperature of popsicles is extremely low, and after entering the human body, it will stimulate the gastrointestinal tract, causing the blood vessels of the gastrointestinal tract to constrict, affecting the secretion of digestive enzymes and the peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract.
Tomatoes, although rich in vitamins and minerals, are cold in nature, and excessive consumption can easily damage the spleen and stomach, resulting in diarrhea and other symptoms. Therefore, when popsicles and tomatoes are eaten at the same time, the coldness of the two will be superimposed on each other, and the irritation of the gastrointestinal tract will be greater, which can easily cause indigestion symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain.
In addition, the sugars in popsicles and the AHAs in tomatoes may also cause chemical reactions that affect nutrient absorption and digestion of food. When sugar and AHAs are combined, compounds may be formed that are not easily absorbed by the body, affecting the body's absorption and utilization of nutrients.
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Is it better to eat tomatoes raw or cooked?
Eat tomatoes raw
Eating raw tomatoes retains most of their nutrients, especially vitamin C and antioxidants. These nutrients help boost immunity, prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease, etc.
In addition, eating raw tomatoes can also give you a better taste of its sweet and sour taste, especially in the summer, and eating raw tomatoes can also help quench your thirst.
Cooked tomatoes
Cooked tomatoes also have their own unique advantages, as the cooking process can make the nutrients in tomatoes more easily absorbed by the body, such as lycopene, a powerful antioxidant.
In addition, cooked tomatoes can also release more flavor and aroma, making the dish more delicious and tasty.
Of course, whether you eat tomatoes raw or cooked, you need to pay attention to the right amount. Excessive consumption may lead to problems such as diarrhea, indigestion, etc. Additionally, tomatoes may trigger an allergic reaction for some people, so they should be avoided.
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In order to be healthy, when eating tomatoes, you need to mainly "eat 2 and don't eat"
"2 Eats"
Eat fresh tomatoes
Fresh tomatoes are rich in water and nutrients and have a delicious taste that helps to meet the body's needs for water and nutrients.
Eat a variety of tomato products
In addition to fresh tomatoes, we can also choose to eat tomato paste, dried tomatoes and other products, which are also rich in nutrients and can add variety to our diet.
"2 Don't Eat"
Do not eat unripe tomatoes
Unripe tomatoes contain high alkaloids that may have adverse effects on the human body, so we should avoid them.
Do not eat too many tomatoes
While tomatoes are packed with nutrients, excessive consumption can lead to a surplus of certain nutrients and may even trigger some health problems. Therefore, we should consume tomatoes in moderation to keep our body balanced and healthy.
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Read more: Tomatoes, is it a genetically modified harmful product, or an "anti-cancer fruit"?
Tomatoes, a common vegetable and fruit in our daily life, have become the focus of public discussion in recent years because of the controversy between genetically modified and non-genetically modified.
On the one hand, there are claims that genetically modified tomatoes are harmful to humans and may even cause cancer, while on the other hand, there are people who believe that they are rich in nutrients and have a significant effect on fighting cancer.
So, are tomatoes genetically modified harmful products, or are they veritable "anti-cancer fruits"?
Genetically modified technology is a kind of biotechnology that transfers genes from one organism into another organism by means of genetic engineering to obtain specific traits.
Although genetically modified technology has improved the yield and disease tolerance of tomatoes to a certain extent, there is no consensus in the scientific community on its impact on human health.
Some studies have shown that genetically modified foods may have potential health risks to humans, such as allergic reactions, antibiotic resistance, and other issues. However, some studies have pointed out that there is no significant difference between genetically modified foods and traditional foods in terms of nutritional value and safety.
Let's talk about the anti-cancer effect of tomatoes. In fact, tomatoes themselves are a nutritious fruit and vegetable, rich in vitamin C, carotene, lycopene and other nutrients that are beneficial to the human body.
Among them, lycopene is a powerful antioxidant with a variety of biological activities such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. Studies have shown that lycopene is able to reduce the risk of many types of cancer, including prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, etc.
But this does not mean that eating genetically modified tomatoes can fight cancer, because genetically modified tomatoes are not significantly different from traditional tomatoes in terms of nutritional content.
In summary, the jury is still out on whether genetically modified tomatoes are harmful to humans and whether they have anti-cancer effects. Therefore, when we choose food in our daily life, we should pay attention to its source and quality, and try to choose fresh and organic fruits and vegetables to protect our health.