Tomatoes, anticancer and antioxidants, are rich in vitamins and useful against gout and rheumatism. Let's find out better.
Description of the tomatoes
In Italy we find the name tomato for the first time in the famous "Herbarius" by Pietro Mattioli . The etymology of the name refers to the Latin pomum aureus (apple or golden apple).
Unlike in other languages, such as English, tomato is to be linked to the etymology of the Aztec Xitotomate or Nahuatl Tomatl (Mexican origin) version. In the beginning, when they were brought from Mexico at the end of the XVIII century, for color and consistency, but above all for the hypothetical aphrodisiac properties, tomatoes were called "love apples" .
Before Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson, returning from a trip to Europe, brought his tomatoes to Salem, New Jersey, the tomatoes were considered toxic, even dangerous. The eccentric colonel announced publicly that on 26 September 1820 he would eat a basket of tomatoes, determined to discredit his bad reputation.
Properties and benefits of tomatoes
Tomatoes have anticancer and antioxidant properties ; they are rich in vitamins and mineral salts, indicated for those suffering from gout, asthenia, rheumatism, uremia, hypertension, nephritis, constipation. Tomatoes facilitate the digestion of foods that contain starches and calm inflammation of the digestive and intestinal systems.
Also used as natural cosmetics, tomatoes are useful to prevent various diseases and dysfunctions such as rheumatism and food poisoning, in addition to cases of gout and hypertension.
Calories and nutritional values of tomatoes
100 g of tomatoes contain 17 kcal / 72 kj.
Furthermore, for every 100 g of this product, we have:
- Water 94.2 g
- Carbohydrates 2.8 g
- Sugars 2.8 g
- Proteins 1.2 g
- Fat 0.2 g
- Cholesterol 0 g
- Total fiber 1 g
- Sodium 3 mg
- Potassium 290 mg
- Iron 0.4 mg
- Calcium 11 mg
- Phosphorus 26 mg
- Vitamin B1 0.03 mg
- Vitamin B2 0.03 mg
- Vitamin B3 0.7 mg
- Vitamin A 42 µg
- Vitamin C 21 mg
Tomatoes, allies of
Skin, prostate, lungs, stomach, colon, cataract, heart. Specifically, tomatoes have preventive properties compared to probable tumors that can affect the mentioned organs.
Tomatoes among the foods recommended during fever
Curiosity about tomatoes
- Tomatoes contain two important substances, the coumaric and chlorogenic acids, which have the ability to block the effects of nitrosamines, carcinogens that cause damage to the lungs higher than those of a cigarette;
- The lycopene contained in tomatoes is found in the cell walls. By cooking them with a little oil, the cells burst and release more of this important substance.
A recipe with tomatoes
A recipe inspired by Iberian flavors and a film " Women on the brink of a nervous breakdown" by Pedro Almodovar: the gazpacho . You only need 30 minutes, here are the ingredients for 4 people:
- 300 gr. of tomato sauce
- 1 red pepper
- 2 small cucumbers (or 1 large)
- 2 red ripe tomatoes
- 1/2 fresh spicy red pepper
- 1/2 onion
- 1/2 stale sandwich
- 1 clove of garlic
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of vinegar
- salt
Peel the tomatoes (also remove the seeds as much as possible) and cucumbers; clean the pepper by removing the stalk. Then cut the cucumbers, tomatoes, chili pepper, onion and pepper into cubes. A tomato, a cucumber and half a pepper, cut into cubes, you will put them in three bowls and will be used to accompany the gazpacho
Soak the stale bread in water, squeeze it and put it in the blender with all the ingredients; blend everything, add extra virgin olive oil, vinegar and blend again. If necessary, add water until the desired consistency is reached. Season with salt, mix and leave in the fridge. Serve chilled (some also add ice cubes) along with toasted bread and the three bowls with tomato, pepper and cucumber prepared earlier.
