Interesting from a nutritional point of view, it has become the favorite vegetable of the French who consume 14 kg per year and per household! The benefits of tomatoes for slimming and well-being are well known. And to think that at the beginning, the tomato was an ornamental plant intended to decorate the tables and to color the gardens …
IDENTITY RECORD
Name : Tomato
Family: Solanaceae
Scientific name : Solanum lycopersicum
Varieties: Rose de Berne, Roma, Cœur de boeuf, Noire de Crimea, Pineapple, Andean, Fournaise, Green Zebra
Caloric value: 16 kcal / 100 g
High season: May – September (calendar)
Producers: China, India, United States, Turkey, Egypt
France: Brittany, Pays de la Loire
Discovered in Central America in the 16th century, the tomato takes its name from the word “tomatl” from Nahuatl, the Aztec language. In Europe, it has long been used as a simple ornamental plant before we decide to eat it as a vegetable. And we were right!
We all believe that the tomato is a vegetable… that’s not true! Botanically, it is indeed a fruit. Indeed, by definition: a fruit is theorgan which contains the seeds of the plant. Tomato seeds are the glitches that are inside. Usually, fruits are eaten raw at the end of the meal.
On the other hand, in food and at the table, the tomato is more of a vegetable. In fact, a vegetable is a food that is eaten raw, cooked, seasoned, as a starter or as a main course. cabbage, the lettuce, the radish or the bean. To settle this dispute, we agree that the tomato is a ” fruit vegetable “.
The nutritional benefits of tomatoes
One of the most active and valuable compounds in tomato is lycopene. This substance that gives tomatoes their red color is responsible for most of the health benefits of tomatoes.
With a contribution caloric and a low glycemic index, the tomato is very rich in water (95%), eliminates toxins and quickly leads to satiety. This effect appetite suppressant is due to fibers who, improve transit and facilitate digestion.
Consuming tomatoes regularly is accompanied by a fat burner favorable to keep the line. Tomatoes are also very rich in lycopene, a potent antioxidant responsible for its red color. The latter has the particularity of protecting the body against free radicals, would warn the Cancer (prostate, breast) and boosts immune defenses.
The 2nd most consumed food in the world
It is the most consumed food in the world after the potato. It has also become the queen of Mediterranean flavors and is consumed in every season, fresh, canned, raw or cooked.
With some assorted colors (Red, orange, yellow, green, pink, black), tomatoes are also distinguished by their textures, flavors and their shapes (round, elongated, oblong, heart-shaped). We thus meet varieties such as: heart-pigeon, Crimean black, cluster, Cherry, pineapple, cocktail …
The tomato contains many minerals (potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, cobalt, nickel) and vitamins (E, B, C, A) hence heit derives its benefits. The tomato is characterized by its main pigment, the lycopene, which is involved in the prevention of certain cancers and the protection of vessels. This action is even more effective when the tomato is cooked.
10 health benefits of tomatoes
- The tomato is one of the vegetables with very high nutritional density in vitamins and minerals (calcium, magnesium, vitamin C)
- The tangy flavor stimulates digestive secretions, and prepares for the good assimilation of the meal.
- Tomatoes are very rich in lycopene, a substance with antioxidant properties, capable of preventing the appearance of cancer cells.
- She has very good virtues anti-inflammatory.
- Eating tomatoes helps prevent cardiovascular disease.
- Her skin contains fiber, which makes it ideal for gently reviving lazy transits.
- The tomato, thanks to beta-carotene, promotes the creation of melanin and protect the skin against the UV rays.
- Its consumption regulates arterial pressure, has a beneficial effect on cholesterol and helps reduce the risk of stroke.
- The tomato could improve the control of blood sugar and prevent the onset of diabetes type 2.
- It constitutes a very effective weapon to fight against acne and small buttons of the face.
- The seeds of the tomato have properties anti-aging that promote cell regeneration.
Some practical advice
To enjoy the taste and benefits of the tomato, it should remain supple under light finger pressure and its consistency should be firm and dense. His skin must be smooth, shiny and without a stains. Also, it is preferable to choose organic tomatoes, they are then richer in polyphenols and good for health.
We advise not to put the tomatoes in the refrigerator because the cold would remove a good part of the volatile compounds responsible for their aromas and flavors. It can then be stored at room temperature away from all sources of heat, for 3 to 4 days in fruit basket.
In addition, the peduncles guarantee their freshness, so they do not have to be removed. To keep it longer, it can be declined in various forms: candied, concentrated or dried. It has the advantage of being inexpensive and of being able to be cooked (raw or cooked) in many forms: pizzas, grout, sauces, soups, salads, stuffed tomatoes, etc.
Tomato gazpacho recipe
Ingredients for 4 persons
- 2 bricks of Tomacouli of 200 g, basil, 4 cherry tomatoes
- 1 cucumber, 1 red pepper, 1 clove of garlic, 1 slice of sandwich bread, 1 lemon, 1 pinch of salt, 1 pinch of pepper
- 2 new onions, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons vinegar
Preperation
- Wash the vegetables, peel and drain the cucumber, remove the seeds from the pepper, peel the garlic and onions.
- In a blender, mix together the pepper, cucumber, garlic and onions. Garlic and onions should be mashed. Add the white bread and mix again.
- Add the Tomacouli, oil, vinegar, lemon juice and water if the mixture is too thick. Season (reserve a few basil leaves for garnish).
- Pour into glasses and place on top a cherry tomato cut in 2 and a few basil leaves.
In view of the many benefits tomato, include it more often in your menus to benefit from its nutritional benefits! In which dish do you prefer it? Tell us in the comments.