Say hello to good health with Tomatoes

Botanically referred to as fruit, tomatoes are used more in day-to-day cooking and are a part of nearly all food preparations specially in the Indian cuisine. 

Loaded with the goodness of Potassium, folate, calcium, zinc, vitamin A, C and K, these tomatoes are also a rich source of antioxidant lycopene, which helps to fight heart disease and cancer. 

Though they come mainly in red, there are many color variants of tomatoes like yellow, green and even purple. Though they come from the South and central region of America, India is the largest producer of tomatoes. 

Now that we know a little about this delicious fruit, let’s see how good it is for our body.

1. Fights Cancer: The more you cook the tomatoes, the more it produces lycopene which controls the growth of cancer cells. So next time while cooking, make sure you curry it well to get the most of it. 
2. Strong Bones: As long as you eat tomatoes, you will have strong bones as they are rich in Vitamin K and calcium, both of which are needed to maintain bone strength. 
3. Mend’s damage done from smoking: If you know anyone who is a smoker, make sure to include a lot of tomatoes in their diet as the coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid present in them helps fight the damage that smoking has caused to the body. This is even for passive smokers. 
4. Aids digestion: Next time when you eat something spicy or have overeaten, make sure to eat a raw tomato. Rich in fiber, they prevent constipation and aids digestion. 
5. Builds Immunity: A glass full of tomato juice is a perfect source of Vitamin C, which is needed to boost the immunity levels. Vitamin C also helps combat stress hormones, keeping the body energized and healthy. 
6. Burns Fat: If you love to watch your weight or are on a diet, tomatoes are for you. Tomato creates amino acid called carnitine which increases the fat burning ability of the body. 
7. Controls Blood Sugar: If you are a diabetic, make sure tomato is a part of your meal as it contains a mineral called chromium which helps keeping the blood sugar levels in check. 
8. Healthy Heart: If you have high cholesterol levels, then tomatoes are to your rescue. Loaded with Vitamin A.B and potassium, they help decrease the cholesterol and prevents heart related diseases. So, make sure to bite into a tomato every day. 
9. Glowing Skin: Pound a tomato and apply the pulp on your skin and wash it to find a clear and shining skin. Tomatoes cure sun damage and produces pro collagen which keeps the skin firm and youthful. So eat it raw or cook it well, and tomatoes will be your best friend for a healthy skin.
10. Protects Eyes: With the over use of devices and spending time in front of laptops, tomatoes can come to our rescue as it has lutein and Zeaxanthin which helps and protects the eyes from the blue light that emits from devices. Also, tomatoes sooth eyes and relieve headache due to eyestrain. Eating tomatoes is also good for preventing night blindness. 

So how to reap all the perks of this amazing fruit?

You can make it a part of your daily diet by;

1. Adding a slice to your sandwich. 
2. Eating it raw in your salads.
3. Make a hot bowl of tomato soup and relish it with some bread sticks. 
4. Make a paste or curry and add it to your veggies or pasta.
5. Make sauces like a plain tomato sauce or make salsa sauce by mixing tomatoes with onion, chilies, garlic, cilantro with few drops of lemon. 
6. Roast the tomatoes and drizzle some olive oil over it and finish it with a pinch of salt n pepper. 

How to gow your own tomatoes at home?

Growing tomatoes is not a difficult task. Even if you have space limitation, you can grow them in a normal container without much hassle. You need a good plump tomato to start with. Cut them in round slices and place it in the pot. Tomatoes can grow in any soil except for thick clay soil. Keep the pot in warm and dark area and the seeds will germinate in 10 to 14 days time. Till germinating, the soil doesn’t need too much water so you can use a spray bottle and keep the upper soil moist.

Tomato as a fruit is incredibly versatile and can be prepared in varied ways and not does it have just good taste, they have ample of health benefits too. Did you have your dose of tomatoes today? If not, grab one and munch on it right now. 

This blog is part of Blogchatter Half Marathon Stay tuned for some more blogs that I will be writing as a part of this marathon.