S.symbol par excellence of summer tables, i tomatoes are now known not only for their versatility in the kitchen but also for many beneficial properties in terms of health.
Their secret? The lycopenewhich is a powerful antioxidant that can have beneficial effects on the body.
From anti-aging properties to sight-saving virtues, with the advice of Doctor Maria Bravo, nutritionist of Humanitas San Pio Xwe have reviewed all the virtues of the tomato for our health.
Vegetable or fruit?
We are used to considering it a vegetable, however the first thing to know is that actually the tomato from the point of view botanist it’s a fruitas it contains seeds in it and grows from the flower of the tomato plant.
It is precisely the fburp of Lycopersicon esculentuma species belonging to the Solanaceae family, native to Central America and already cultivated by the Aztecs before the Spanish explorers made it known to the rest of the world.
Tomatoes: nutritional properties
So what does the tomato contain? And because it can be considered an ally for our health as well as a elixir of youth? First of all because it is an excellent source of antioxidants. Lycopene, in fact, or the molecule that gives the fruit its beautiful red color, together with carotenoids, helps the body to defend against the action of free radicals, preventing diseases related to cellular aging. In particular, lycopene can be considered effective in protecting the skin from cancer.
Aid for sight
Not only that, inside the tomatoes there is also the zeaxanthinanother valuable antioxidant instead for protect your eyeslimiting the risks of macular degeneration.
According to several studies, in fact, an optimal intake of zeaxanthin could contribute to eye health and in particular to that of the retina and especially the macula. Zeaxanthin would help keep the retina healthy by stabilizing the retinal membranes, helping to make them more resistant to damage caused by light.
Tomatoes: a concentrate of vitamins
Not only that, the tomato is also an excellent source of vitamins. Mostly C vitaminessential for strengthening the immune system, of vitamin Kimportant for clotting, and some B vitaminsprecious allies of metabolism.
To these would be added the benefits of minerals such as phosphorus, calcium and potassium.
Thanks to this mix of nutrients, the tomato is also recognized for its ability to support cardiovascular health, keeping so-called bad cholesterol at bay and keeping blood pressure under control. In fact, it is believed that regular consumption of tomatoes can help lower systolic blood pressure.
A good ally even on a diet
One more reason to stock them up in the summer? Tomatoes they are also a recommended food in slimming diets, for several reasons. The first is theirs low calorie intakeit is about 19 calories per 100 grams of ripe raw tomato.
Plus the tomatoes they are rich in water and therefore effective, if eaten raw and without adding salt, in promote diuresis. Plus they contain carnicinewhich is an amino acid that helps the body to transform fat into energy.
Unlike other foods, whose beneficial properties can be better exploited raw, tomato has a very particular characteristic: cooking, in fact, improves the bioavailability of lycopene to the full benefit of its antioxidant properties.
Tomatoes: beware of allergies
Therefore, if it is true that tomatoes are precious foods, it should also be remembered that there are cases in which their consumption is strongly discouraged.
First of all, in case of allergic reactions: allergy to tomatotriggered by the presence of histaminein fact, it is one of the most widespread and can manifest itself with symptoms affecting the gastrointestinal system as well as with skin manifestations.
Even who he is allergic to nickel, also should pay attention to the consumption of tomatoes which are among the foods that can contain higher traces of this metal. In sensitive subjects, in fact, nickel ingested with food, in addition to the classic and annoying dermatitis, can also cause gastrointestinal disorders. The alternative in this case is to choose tomatoes from hydroponic cultivationagricultural practice which consists in cultivation of plants, instead of in the soil, in aqueous solutions of nutritional salts.
Headache? Tyramine fault
Another aspect to keep in mind is that tomatoes are among the foods they contain tyraminea substance that can cause in some people headaches and headaches. If it is true that there are no foods without this substance, it is however useful to know the foods that are richer in it, especially if you are subject to disorders of this type. Among the foods that contain higher quantities of tyramine, in addition to tomatoes, also aged cheeses, meats, tuna, red and white wine, and eggs.
But that’s not all: it is often said that tomatoes are not recommended even in case of gastritis and heartburn. It’s really like this? With the advice of the doctor Paola Campagnoli, gastroenterologist by Humanitas San Pio X, we have tried to provide an answer.
Tomatoes and heartburn
Tomatoes are among the foods that they can stimulate increased gastric acid productiona characteristic often associated with the onset of heartburn or pain in the stomach.
The cause is the presence of organic acids which, if on the one hand they can help stimulate gastric and salivary digestion, on the other hand they can decrease the PH of the stomach and therefore cause discomfort to those suffering from stomach irritation or burning.
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Tomatoes and reflux and gastroesophageal
The consumption of tomatoes should also be limited in the case of gastroesophageal refluxa disorder that affects around 10-20% of the population in Europe and occurs when i gastric juices found in the stomach come into contact with the esophaguscausing burning.
Among the foods that can tend to be more harmful for those suffering from gastroesophageal reflux, in addition to very fatty foods, such as fried foods, there are also acidic ones, such as citrus fruits, vinegar, coffee and in some cases raw tomatoes. For this reason the recommendation for reflux sufferers is to consume the tomatoes preferably after cooking.
Being acidic, in addition to increasing reflux disorders, tomatoes, if consumed in grain quantities, can finally worsen the symptoms of gastritis or irritable bowel syndrome. A useful strategy is to remove the skin and seeds from the tomatoes so as to limit possible disturbances.
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