Tomatoes: Why You Should Eat Them Every Day? Is Ketchup Healthy?

In fact, from a botanical point of view, a tomato is a fruit, or more precisely, a berry.

It contains a small amount of sugar and much more valuable ingredients than other fruits, so it is classified as a vegetable.

Which tomatoes are the healthiest? Why should you eat them almost every day?

The tomato is uneven

Since tomatoes are local vegetables, it is advisable to eat them rather than imported ones. In summer, eat young tomatoes, they are tastier in season.

In the autumn-winter period, you can buy greenhouse varieties of tomatoes, but during this period it is very difficult to buy really tasty, juicy tomatoes with an intense taste, so it is better to use the richness of the harvest in the summer: cook canned food, freeze and eat tomatoes in this form in the winter.

In terms of nutritional value, it doesn’t matter what kind of tomato you have: classic, beef heart, raspberry or cocktail. Always choose ripe tomatoes without damage – they are the tastiest and contain the most nutrients.

However, it is worth knowing that lycopene, the most valuable ingredient in tomatoes, is much better absorbed from canned food, such as puree or juice.

Is ketchup considered healthy?

Some mothers look with irony at the fact that ketchup is not classified as a vegetable, because it is the only thing their children love and add to any dish.

Although ketchup is made from tomato paste, it does not mean that it contains a lot of tomatoes, and it is not very useful. However, such generalizations cannot be made, because there are ketchups of good quality on the market.

To improve the taste of ketchup, thickeners and flavor enhancers are often added, which are not recommended for children; it is better to eat salsa or tomato juice, which do not contain any additional substances.

Fortunately, most people have no problem eating tomatoes, and almost everyone likes ketchup. However, it contains more glutamic acid than other canned foods, which in its synthetic form (MSG) is added to processed foods to improve their taste.

Ketchup can be mixed with spices in a large number of dishes because it goes well with everything and tastes great. The only ones who are unlucky are those who are allergic to tomatoes.

Why You Should Eat Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a great addition to a diet. These vegetables contain up to 95% water, and 100 g of the product contains only 18 kcal. Thus, you can fill yourself with water without much resistance by adding tomatoes to any dish.

100 g of tomatoes contain 1.2 g of dietary fiber. This is one of the reasons why tomatoes are a great weight loss aid.

Content of vitamins and microelements

Vitamin C is found in fruits and vegetables, and tomatoes are one of the best sources. One tomato provides 28% of the daily value of this antioxidant vitamin.

Vitamin K1 is responsible for proper blood clotting.

Folic acid is useful for pregnant women and women planning to have children. A sufficient amount of it helps prevent the development of neural tube defects in the fetus. Folic acid is a vitamin that allows the normal functioning of the entire body, primarily the nervous system.

Potassium is an element that plays a key role in the functioning of the heart and is involved in the regulation of blood pressure. Tomatoes are one of the most frequently mentioned sources of potassium. They should be consumed by people at risk for cardiovascular diseases.

Lycopene is the most valuable ingredient in tomatoes, giving them their characteristic red color. It is an antioxidant that prevents cervical and prostate cancer and reduces the risk of heart attacks. Lycopene is absorbed four times better when combined with fat. Drizzle olive oil over your tomato salad, and they will be tastier and healthier.
Beta-carotene gives tomatoes their color, is responsible for neutralizing free radicals, prevents body aging and is a protection for the eyes.

So why should you eat tomatoes every day?

Tomatoes contain a lot of fiber and water, so they effectively supply the body with fluid and help you lose weight.

Contains antioxidants that protect against cancer and aging.

Because they contain compounds that improve skin and protect vision.
They can be used in a million different ways to prepare a variety of dishes.
And simply because they are delicious!

Earlier we told you how to cook potatoes 2 times faster.