Health & Beauty. delivery number 25: The Tomatoes.

Thank you for visiting my blog and Continuing with the series of properties and benefits of fruits and vegetables, today I bring you information about:

The tomato is native to South America. It is a vegetable known and used in many countries and particularly appreciated for its healthy properties. In particular, in Chile, Ecuador and Venezuela, the tomato exists as a wild plant and, thanks to the tropical climate, it provides fruit throughout the year, while in European regions, its cultivation has a seasonal cycle limited to the summer period. Tomatoes are a fruit rich in water, vitamins and mineral salts, but low in calories. Even those on a restricted calorie diet can generally consume tomatoes without problems, since 100 grams of fresh tomatoes only provide 18 calories. We take advantage of fresh tomatoes when they are in season to enrich our diet with these precious vegetables.

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Benefits for the heart:

The consumption of tomatoes correlates with a 29% decrease in the risk of suffering from heart disease. The tomato, provided it is of biological origin, is considered a real natural drug suitable for the prevention of diseases that affect the heart.

Protects the immune system:

Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C, an element that is considered essential for the proper functioning of our immune system, which our body must take daily to protect against diseases. The amount of vitamin C that should be taken daily should be 45 mg. 100 grams of ripe tomatoes contain 25 mg, while 100 grams of tomato paste contain 43 mg.

Anticancer:

The fundamental nutrients contained in tomatoes, including lycopene, give them proven preventive properties against cancer, with special reference to cancers that affect the colon and prostate.

Prevention of osteoporosis:

According to some experts, the lack of lycopene during menopause could favor the appearance of osteoporosis. Therefore, it is good to consume foods rich in lycopene at any age for preventive purposes (except specific individual contraindications). In addition to tomatoes, lycopene is found in foods such as watermelons, strawberries and grapefruit.

Cholesterol control:

Tomatoes are considered as foods that can help the body control blood cholesterol levels. Therefore, its consumption is considered adequate for those who have this need. Other foods that can help lower cholesterol include oats and spinach.

Protection of sight:

Tomatoes are beneficial for eyes and eyes, which they can protect due to their content of beta-carotene and lutein, which can repair them from degenerative diseases. Broccoli, eggplants, pumpkins and zucchini are other foods especially recommended for eye protection and vision.

Digestive:

Tomatoes can promote good bowel function due to their content of plant fibers, such as hemicellulose and cellulose, which are particularly present in their skin. For this reason, the consumption of tomatoes is often recommended for those suffering from constipation and slow bowel.

Diuretic:

Due to its high water content, tomato is able to stimulate diuresis, especially if consumed fresh and raw, without the addition of salt. Other typical summer foods that can help purify the body by eliminating excess liquids are watermelons, melons and cucumbers.

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The applications of tomatoes in cosmetics are many. The cosmetic industry uses its pulp as a basic ingredient to tone, nourish and reaffirm the skin masks. It is also ideal for fighting pimples by simply massaging the face once or twice a day with a well-washed slice. It is also perfect for softening and nourishing dry skin when used as a juice mixed with almond oil and roots and leaves of mallow. The combination of tomato and olive oil, turned out to be a winner to calm the redness of the skin, due to excessive exposure to the sun. In the case of oily skin, you should also add a pinch of lemon juice to tomato juice and olive oil. Even hands can become more beautiful, use half of a tomato as if it were a bar of soap and let them dry outdoors.

Weightloss:

The consumption of tomatoes can be considered adequate for all those who need to carry out a diet to lose weight. It seems that they help to help the body lose weight. This is because tomatoes could stimulate the production of the amino acid carnitine, used by the body to transform lipids into energy.

Anti-aging:

Lycopene, a potent antioxidant, is considered a highly protective food for our body against degenerative diseases related to aging. Lycopene protects us from genetic damage and the consequent diseases. The content of lycopene in tomatoes is equal to 11 mg / 100 g in the pulp and 54 mg / 100 g in the peel.

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The tomato can be used in different ways, it is a very tasty vegetable, consumable both raw and cooked. The important thing is to consume it well ripe, since in them there is a greater concentration of all the nutrients and healthy substances, on the contrary, the immature and greenish fruits, are poor in lycopene and rich in solanine, a substance that can cause allergic reactions, They can even damage the bacterial flora.

The tomato can be combined with other foods to prepare balanced dishes, for example, the raw tomato flavored with olive oil, becomes an anti-aging food for the skin and tissues. In combination with mozzarella, it complements calcium intake. So we can enjoy the tomato in salads, juices and sauces or pastas and enjoy all its benefits.
The tomato can generate allergy because it contains histamine, a substance that can cause very strong allergic reactions. It is not recommended for people suffering from stomach or gastric acidity, since the tomato has action on gastric acidity. They should be eaten very ripe since the green fruit contains solanine which can cause headaches and abdominal pain.

I hope you like this initiative ... you can make suggestions and propose fruits and vegetables for the next delivery.

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