Tomato is 1 of the best sources of lycopene

Everybody of us knows the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet. It’s so healthy not for the fact that it’s a “Weight loss diet” but for the benefits of the foods in its pyramid.

Today we’ll discover all the info about Tomatoes: 1 of the best foods with high lycopene content that helps us prevent cancer and aging effects.

History of Tomatoes

Tomatoes come from the area between the northern Cile and Ecquador. Their cultivation was carried out by the Inca about 1000 years before Christ. The tomato was introduced in Europe in the 16th century by Spanish with the name “Tomato”.

Facts

Its main “ingredient” is water (94%). The protein does not exceed 1% and fats are still 0.2%. Another 2.8% is from carbohydrates, mostly represented by fructose and glucose.

The calorie intake of tomato is naturally low (only 19 kcal provides at portion) for this reason is particularly suitable in low calorie diets, thanks to its high water content.

The tomato has a high vitamin content: its characteristic red color indicates the presence of lycopene, an excellent natural antioxidant, and beta-carotene, which stimulates the production of melanin encouraging tanning.

What substances are there in 100 gr. (0.22 pounds) of tomatoes?

Water 94.0 g
Protein 1.0 g
Lipids 0.2 g
Carbohydrates 3.5 g
Soluble sugars 3.5 g
Fiber 2.0 g total
19 calories
Sodium 6 mg
Potassium 297 mg
Iron 0.3 mg
Calcium 9 mg
Phosphorus 25 mg
Tiamin 0.02 mg
Niacin 0.8 mg
Vit A retinol eq 610 microg
Vitamin C 25 mg
Lycopene 16 mg

For weight conversion click here

Healthy elements

Mineral salts and trace minerals
Organic Acids
Vitamins
Betacarotene
Lycopene
Antioxidants

There are different types of Tomato

By taking as example all the Italian territory, Tomatoes are cultivated in all regions (Lazio, Marche, Emilia Romana, Veneto, Lombardia and Sardinia) but mainly in Sicily.

Here a list of all type of tomatoes and below a map with origin and pictures.

Arawak: Arawak is excellent raw, in salads, binds very well with oils typical of the area, but also when it is fully mature gives life particularly tasty sauces. Available almost all year
Bubu
Kamonium: Ideal consumed raw.
Kamonio Gold: Used exclusively in salads, in meat dishes and Sardinian wines
DunnÃ¨: Good for salads and tomato sauces for pasta. Available all year.
Donato: Good for salads and tomato sauces for pasta. Available all year.
Eugenia: Good for sauces crude and cooked, in salads because binds very well with Olive oil. Ideal for bottled sauces. Available from May to October.
Ikram: Ideal for long-cooking dishes (such as. Baked fish) and classic bottled sauces. Available all year.
Ikramito: Available from December to May
Maria
Miami: Very versatile in the kitchen, ideal for the classic sauces. Available from May to November.
Clave
Oskar: Ideal for cold dishes, sauces (the classic tomato peeled) or baked, grate, filling. Available all year.
Piccadilly: Ideal for fast cooking sauces. Available all year.
Salvatore: Used mainly in salads. Some times it can be consumed without Olive oil because of its strong flavor. Available from December to May.
Snack
Tyty: Ideal raw as an appetizer or salad and pizza.

Map

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Health benefits

There are a lot of studies that confirm the health proprieties of tomatoes preventing cancer and other diseases.

In 2004, a University of California, San Francisco study revealed that men who ate at least two servings of tomato sauce a week were 28% less likely to develop prostate cancer.
Including More Tomatoes in Your Diet can lower Cholesterol Effortlessly and reduce heart diseases risks
In fact the traditional Mediterranean diet, rich in tomatoes, tomato products, and other carotenoids has been associated with a lower incidence of chronic heart disease.

Lycopene is an antioxidant which helps protect against cell damage that leads to tumor growth
prevents the oxidation of LDL cholesterol caused by free radicals.

Researches show that lycopene in tomatoes can be absorbed more efficiently by the body if processed into juice, sauce, paste and ketchup.

To increase Lycopene:

Process tomatoes
Eat tomatoes with Olive Oil and with other vegetables (salads)

Beauty benefits

Not too much people knows that tomato gives benefits to skin. Companies cosmetic use tomato pulp as an ingredient for their masks toning, firming and nutrients to the skin.

Tomato is a great help to:

Combat the trend Pimples
Soften and nourish the dry skin
Relieve irritated skin from excessive sun exposure
Alleviate the burning of insect bites

Recipes with tomatoes

Caprese

Serves 2 people:

1 fresh mozzarella
2 ripe tomatoes Arawak
2 fillets of anchovies in extra virgin Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Basil

Preparation: Cut mozzarella into uniform slices, same thing with tomatoes Arawak after you have washed and dried them. Arrange the slices on a plate alternating the tomato and mozzarella and include among them a piece of anchovy. Put a little oil, salt and pepper and garnish with a few basil leaves.

Homemade tomato sauce

After washing the tomatoes cut into pieces retaining all the juice possible. In a large kettle boiling lead to the tomatoes and their juice and cook them gently for 5 minutes, stirring.

Now passed them to eliminate the skins and seeds; More fine is the pulp and less likely to separe the liquid from the fiber. Add a quarter of a teaspoon of citric acid or a tablespoon of lemon juice every half a liter of tomato juice, optional a teaspoon of salt.

Pack in sterilized and hot pots or bottles. Close and Sanitize for 35 minutes the pots half a liter and 45 minutes that ones of 1 liter. Preparing it hot is the elimination of danger contaminations of bacteria.

Variation of Tomato sauce

Bruschetta

Ingredients for 4 people:

8 Slices of bread
1 Clove of garlic
4 Tomatoes
Basil
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt

Preparation: Choose the bread preferably of the day before and cut some slices at least a couple of centimeters. Cut the tomatoes in pieces, eventually discarding skin and seeds. Put tomatoes with a bit of olive oil and basil. Griill bread for about two minutes until he took a light golden color. Turn the bread and grill the second side. Favour the bruschetta with the clove of garlic, Spread over tomatoes and salt, add a little oil.

Pasta, Tuna and Tomatoes at the Syracuse