For onehealthy eatingTomatoes are particularly suitable. Whether in your own garden, on the terrace or on the balcony, you can grow tomatoes anywhere. Below you will learn about the healthy properties of tomatoes and why it can only be beneficial to use the space you have available to grow them. The type of tomato also plays a big role because not every one tastes good.
Healthy eating– Tomatoes for strong bones
Recent research shows that women who regularly eat tomatoes are less likely to suffer from osteoporosis and have stronger bones. This is thanks to the well-known antioxidant lycopene and the simultaneous positive effects of other substances contained in tomatoes.
Healthy eating– Tomatoes for the heart
Tomatoes help lower levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. This applies to raw tomatoes as well as cooked ones and those consumed as a dietary supplement. Until now, it was believed that the antioxidant lycopene primarily protected the cardiovascular system. The recently discovered flavonoids, such as esculeoside A, also have an anti-inflammatory effect and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attacks.
A healthy diet affects cancer and weight
Healthy eating– The effect of tomatoes against cancer
The risk of developing cancer increases when oxidative stress in the body is increased and inflammation occurs. Tomatoes have been proven to protect men from prostate cancer and help the body deal with already diseased and mutating cells. The alpha tomatine helps with this. Its effect in protecting against breast cancer is just as strong.
Healthy eatingfor a healthy weight
Diets that consume lots of tomatoes contribute to a healthy weight. Due to its sweet taste, the tomato helps those who like to eat sweets and have only recently given up eating them. Cooking and drying the tomatoes concentrates the sweetness. Therefore, prepare tomato sauces with lots of tomatoes and add dried tomatoes to salads. Don't forget that all natural vegetables contribute to a great figure. Therefore, make your meals varied.
The size and color of tomatoes are important for a healthy diet
The small tomatoes contain ten times the concentration of healthy substances. Cherry tomatoes in particular are particularly effective for a healthy diet. The stronger the color, taste and aroma, the healthier these small fruits are. If you have less space available for your garden, it is best to sow cherry tomatoes as large varieties. They are more compact and also a lot healthier. Some studies show that the substances in orange and yellow tomato varieties are most easily absorbed by the body. So if you like more colorful varieties, consider these for your garden too. Cooking the tomatoes is also important. Lycopene and other substances are more easily absorbed by the body after heat treatment and especially when olive oil is added to tomatoes. For this reason, the Mediterranean diet is also one of the healthiest in the world. Prepare salads with olive oil and fresh peppers in the oven with tomato sauce.
Healthy Eating – Not every body likes tomatoes
Tomatoes belong to the potato family. Other fruits from this family include eggplant, peppers and potatoes. This vegetable is blamed for various immune system diseases. Many people who cannot tolerate dairy, gluten, or eggs find that they feel better without tomatoes and that symptoms such as joint pain, increased weight, and gastrointestinal and skin problems decrease. If you suffer from an autoimmune disease, you should avoid vegetables from this group and forhealthy eatingTips consult a dietitian.
Healthy eating and a few recipes with tomatoes
While tomatoes are delicious on their own, here are a few recipes that combine them with interesting fruits. Maybe you like how the different flavors complement each other.
Healthy eating – A salad of tomatoes and watermelon (4 servings)
- One large tomato, cut into cubes
- One cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- One cup of watermelon, cut into cubes
- Half a red onion, thinly sliced
- 100g crumbled feta cheese
- Olive oil and balsamic vinegar to taste
- Salt
Mix all the ingredients together and let the salad sit for 10 minutes so that the flavors mix together. If desired, you can decorate it with mint or basil.
Healthy diet – tomato and cherry salad (4 portions)
- 2 large tomatoes, thinly sliced
- Half a cup of cherries, pitted
- olive oil and salt
Spread the tomatoes on the plate and decorate with cherries. Season the salad with the salt and olive oil and add basil or fresh coriander if desired.
Healthy eating – A salad made from tomatoes, oranges and radishes
- Two large tomatoes, sliced
- A peeled orange, sliced
- 5-6 radishes, sliced
- Spring onion
- olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Distribute the tomatoes, oranges and radishes and top with the spring onion. Season the salad with the olive oil, salt and pepper.
