Believe it or not but tomatoes does not come under the category of vegetable it is actually a fruit. Tomatoes come packed with huge number of minerals and vitamins that are beneficial for human body.
Tomatoes are rich sources of folate, vitamin A, vitamin C, fibre, antioxidants and potassium. Tomatoes boast for having more great qualities such as; the nutritional properties of tomatoes do not get lost while overcooking. Tomatoes come in various sizes, flavours, textures and shapes, they make a shoppers treat. You can have tomatoes sliced or chopped into fresh salsas; there is uncountable recipe and variety for every palette.<\/p>\n
Eating a balanced diet containing vegetables and fruits is considered the best way of ensuring good health. Vegetables are not just tasty and nutritious, but they also enhance the immune system of our body.
One vegetable which most of use extensively, but do not pay much attention to is the tomato.
Anti-Cancer Properties
This vegetable has antioxidants and hence is a great aid in keeping cancer at bay. Tomatoes contain a pigment called Lycopene, which reduces the risk of cancer. The redder the tomato, the more is the Lycopene in it. The good news is that cooking does not destroy this pigment. Green or yellow tomatoes do not contain this pigment.
Lycopene is also useful in reducing high blood pressure, a major risk factor for coronary heart diseases and strokes.
Besides this, tomatoes have high nutritive value. It contains vitamin A, C and potassium. Fat-soluble vitamin A is involved in the formation and maintenance of healthy skin, hair and mucous membranes. It also helps in good and clear vision and is necessary for proper growth of bones and tooth development.
Soup it, Gravy it or Juice it
You can include tomatoes in your diet in various ways:
Tomato soup for one. Tomato soup taken without butter is considered to be an excellent food for people who are on a weight-reduction diet.
Add tomatoes in your green salads.
While making a sandwich, don't forget to add tomato slices.
Make vegetables in a tomato gravy.
Make your snacks tasty by topping it with tomato ketchup (home-made to ensure that there are no preservatives, added artificial flavours or colours in it).
A glass of plain, fresh tomato juice with a pinch of salt or sugar had in the morning, serves as an excellent coolant for your body.
Vitamin C in the tomatoes can also rejuvenate a dull skin. A mixture of tomato juice and rose water applied daily to on an oily face can work wonders. It acts as a natural astringent. Not many may know, but tomatoes are good to get rid of dandruff.
Prevent liver diseases:
A glass of tomato juice is sufficient enough to regenerate the destroyed, damaged or surgically removed liver. A tomato contain high amount of sulphur and chlorine that help in proper liver functions.
Tomatoes also protect the liver from any sort of congestion and help to dissolve gallstones.
Having antiseptic properties:
These antiseptic properties of tomatoes protect the body against various infections and helps in healing wounds sores and sunburn.
Maintain strong bones:
Tomatoes contains essential nutrients such as vitamin K and calcium which acts as a helping hand in performing minor bones repair, bone tissue repairs and strengthening the bones.
Fight against cancer:
As per various studies, tomatoes contain high amount of lycopene i.e.
a kind of antioxidant which helps in reducing the chances of various types of cancer such as prostate cancer, colorectal cancer and the stomach cancer. Presence of lycopene works effectively to slow down the growth of carcinogenic cells.
Repair damage caused due to smoking:
We all know about the harmful effects of smoking. But if you consume tomatoes on a daily basis it will help to reduce the level of damaged done to your body caused due to smoking.
Ensure healthy heart:
Tomatoes contain a great deal of potassium and vitamin B; they are effective in the reduction of cholesterol levels and reducing blood pressure. So, once you start consuming tomatoes on a regular basis you will keep you heart safe and prevent any kind of heart disease including strokes, heart attacks other heart related problems.
Ensure good hair growth:
Because of vitamin A in tomatoes, your hair can get that strength and shine in your hair. On the other hand, tomatoes works wonder for your bones, teeth and your eyes.
Good For your kidney:
Tomatoes are packed with valuable minerals so when consumed deseeded in your diet, it help to reduce the chances of kidney stones.
Provide good eye health:
We all know, vitamin A helps to maintain proper eye health. Tomatoes contain high amount of vitamin A, which act as a helping hand to improve your vision. Regular consumption of tomatoes helps to prevent night blindness.
Uses of Tomatoes:
Tomatoes are used in various ways, it can be used in a form of tomato juice or eaten raw in salads or modified into ketchup. Even you can used the unripe fried green tomatoes pickle and to make salsa. It can also be used in making pasta, Mexican and Italian cuisines.
Some of the useful recipes of Tomatoes:
1. In a plate nicely arrange the sliced tomatoes, drizzle with olive oil and then add salt and pepper.
2. Put the boiled tomatoes in a blender and make a smooth puree.
Strain the puree through a soup strainer. Reheat the puree in a saucepan by adding sugar, salt and pepper. Serve hot.
Tomato Selection and Storage
When selecting tomatoes at the market, use your nose. Smell the blossom (not stem) end. The most flavorful ones will have a rich tomato aroma. Don't expect much from those in your supermarket, even if they are labeled "vine-ripened."<\/p>\n
Select tomatoes that are round, full and feel heavy for their size, with no bruises or blemishes. The skin should be taut and not shriveled. Store fresh ripe tomatoes in a cool, dark place, stem-side down, and use within a few days.<\/p>\n
Canned Tomatoes
Canned tomatoes come in many styles, including whole, chopped, crushed, paste (a concentrate), puree (strained), sauce (slightly thinner than puree and usually more seasoned), and juice (most of the pulp removed).<\/p>\n
Unopened canned tomatoes should be used within six months. Once opened, store canned tomatoes in a covered glass container in the refrigerator up to one week. Leftover tomato paste and sauce can be frozen for up to two months. Freeze one tablespoon of tomato paste in each section of an ice tray, pop out when frozen, and seal in an airtight baggie for quick, pre-measured additions to soups and sauces.
They need not be thawed prior to adding to your recipes in most cases.
Freezing Tomatoes
If you have freezer space, you should consider freezing your excess tomatoes rather than home canning. It's just so much easier, and the flavor and texture are better, although they will no longer be good for fresh usage.<\/p>\n
To freeze, rinse and dry thoroughly. Place in ziplop plastic bags and suck out the air with a straw. No peeling or blanching is necessary.
Once thawed, the skins will easily slip off. They will be perfect for cooked dishes and will retain more of that fresh<\/p>\n
Believe it or not but tomatoes does not come under the category of vegetable it is actually a fruit. Tomatoes come packed with huge number of minerals and vitamins that are beneficial for human body.
Tomatoes are rich sources of folate, vitamin A, vitamin C, fibre, antioxidants and potassium. Tomatoes boast for having more great qualities such as; the nutritional properties of tomatoes do not get lost while overcooking. Tomatoes come in various sizes, flavours, textures and shapes, they make a shoppers treat. You can have tomatoes sliced or chopped into fresh salsas; there is uncountable recipe and variety for every palette.<\/p>\n
Eating a balanced diet containing vegetables and fruits is considered the best way of ensuring good health. Vegetables are not just tasty and nutritious, but they also enhance the immune system of our body.
One vegetable which most of use extensively, but do not pay much attention to is the tomato.
Anti-Cancer Properties
This vegetable has antioxidants and hence is a great aid in keeping cancer at bay. Tomatoes contain a pigment called Lycopene, which reduces the risk of cancer. The redder the tomato, the more is the Lycopene in it. The good news is that cooking does not destroy this pigment. Green or yellow tomatoes do not contain this pigment.
Lycopene is also useful in reducing high blood pressure, a major risk factor for coronary heart diseases and strokes.
Besides this, tomatoes have high nutritive value. It contains vitamin A, C and potassium. Fat-soluble vitamin A is involved in the formation and maintenance of healthy skin, hair and mucous membranes. It also helps in good and clear vision and is necessary for proper growth of bones and tooth development.
Soup it, Gravy it or Juice it
You can include tomatoes in your diet in various ways:
Tomato soup for one. Tomato soup taken without butter is considered to be an excellent food for people who are on a weight-reduction diet.
Add tomatoes in your green salads.
While making a sandwich, don't forget to add tomato slices.
Make vegetables in a tomato gravy.
Make your snacks tasty by topping it with tomato ketchup (home-made to ensure that there are no preservatives, added artificial flavours or colours in it).
A glass of plain, fresh tomato juice with a pinch of salt or sugar had in the morning, serves as an excellent coolant for your body.
Vitamin C in the tomatoes can also rejuvenate a dull skin. A mixture of tomato juice and rose water applied daily to on an oily face can work wonders. It acts as a natural astringent. Not many may know, but tomatoes are good to get rid of dandruff.
Prevent liver diseases:
A glass of tomato juice is sufficient enough to regenerate the destroyed, damaged or surgically removed liver. A tomato contain high amount of sulphur and chlorine that help in proper liver functions.
Tomatoes also protect the liver from any sort of congestion and help to dissolve gallstones.
Having antiseptic properties:
These antiseptic properties of tomatoes protect the body against various infections and helps in healing wounds sores and sunburn.
Maintain strong bones:
Tomatoes contains essential nutrients such as vitamin K and calcium which acts as a helping hand in performing minor bones repair, bone tissue repairs and strengthening the bones.
Fight against cancer:
As per various studies, tomatoes contain high amount of lycopene i.e.
a kind of antioxidant which helps in reducing the chances of various types of cancer such as prostate cancer, colorectal cancer and the stomach cancer. Presence of lycopene works effectively to slow down the growth of carcinogenic cells.
Repair damage caused due to smoking:
We all know about the harmful effects of smoking. But if you consume tomatoes on a daily basis it will help to reduce the level of damaged done to your body caused due to smoking.
Ensure healthy heart:
Tomatoes contain a great deal of potassium and vitamin B; they are effective in the reduction of cholesterol levels and reducing blood pressure. So, once you start consuming tomatoes on a regular basis you will keep you heart safe and prevent any kind of heart disease including strokes, heart attacks other heart related problems.
Ensure good hair growth:
Because of vitamin A in tomatoes, your hair can get that strength and shine in your hair. On the other hand, tomatoes works wonder for your bones, teeth and your eyes.
Good For your kidney:
Tomatoes are packed with valuable minerals so when consumed deseeded in your diet, it help to reduce the chances of kidney stones.
Provide good eye health:
We all know, vitamin A helps to maintain proper eye health. Tomatoes contain high amount of vitamin A, which act as a helping hand to improve your vision. Regular consumption of tomatoes helps to prevent night blindness.
Uses of Tomatoes:
Tomatoes are used in various ways, it can be used in a form of tomato juice or eaten raw in salads or modified into ketchup. Even you can used the unripe fried green tomatoes pickle and to make salsa. It can also be used in making pasta, Mexican and Italian cuisines.<\/p>\n
Some of the useful recipes of Tomatoes:
1. In a plate nicely arrange the sliced tomatoes, drizzle with olive oil and then add salt and pepper.
2. Put the boiled tomatoes in a blender and make a smooth puree.
Strain the puree through a soup strainer. Reheat the puree in a saucepan by adding sugar, salt and pepper. Serve hot.
Tomato Selection and Storage
When selecting tomatoes at the market, use your nose. Smell the blossom (not stem) end. The most flavorful ones will have a rich tomato aroma. Don't expect much from those in your supermarket, even if they are labeled "vine-ripened."<\/p>\n
Select tomatoes that are round, full and feel heavy for their size, with no bruises or blemishes. The skin should be taut and not shriveled. Store fresh ripe tomatoes in a cool, dark place, stem-side down, and use within a few days.<\/p>\n
Canned Tomatoes
Canned tomatoes come in many styles, including whole, chopped, crushed, paste (a concentrate), puree (strained), sauce (slightly thinner than puree and usually more seasoned), and juice (most of the pulp removed).<\/p>\n
Unopened canned tomatoes should be used within six months. Once opened, store canned tomatoes in a covered glass container in the refrigerator up to one week. Leftover tomato paste and sauce can be frozen for up to two months. Freeze one tablespoon of tomato paste in each section of an ice tray, pop out when frozen, and seal in an airtight baggie for quick, pre-measured additions to soups and sauces.
They need not be thawed prior to adding to your recipes in most cases.
Freezing Tomatoes
If you have freezer space, you should consider freezing your excess tomatoes rather than home canning. It's just so much easier, and the flavor and texture are better, although they will no longer be good for fresh usage.<\/p>\n
To freeze, rinse and dry thoroughly. Place in ziplop plastic bags and suck out the air with a straw. No peeling or blanching is necessary.
Once thawed, the skins will easily slip off. They will be perfect for cooked dishes and will retain more of that fresh<\/p>\n
—
Ammarah
Radio Islam
+27118547022
ammarah@radioislam.co.za
www.radioislam.co.za<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Believe it or not but tomatoes does not come under the category of vegetable it is actually a fruit. Tomatoes come packed with huge number of minerals and vitamins that are beneficial for human body.Tomatoes are rich sources of folate, vitamin A, vitamin C, fibre, antioxidants and potassium. Tomatoes boast for having more great qualities […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[10],"tags":[705,694,252],"class_list":["post-451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-collection-of-hints","tag-all-about-tomatoes","tag-collection-of-hints","tag-handy-hints"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pc0QIf-7h","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-18 17:48:27","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/451","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=451"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/451\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}