Tomatoes: the use and harm of a red vegetable

Tomatoes, which are popularly called tomatoes, are present on the table of each person.Most often they are introduced into the menu in the summer - this is natural, because it is during this period of the year that the tomato plant gives its tasty and very useful fruits.

The benefits and harms of tomatoes are disputed by scientists and doctors - this product contains a lot of important substances for the normal functioning of the body, but in some cases tomatoes can be contraindicated.Therefore, it is recommended to know all the features of the product in question - even the most delicious dishes can become harmful to health.

Chemical composition, nutritional value and caloric tomato

Nutritional value of 100 g:

• Caloric content: 19.9
• kcal Protein: 0.6 c
• Fats 0.2 g Carbohydrates
• : 4,2 c

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Tomatoes are very low in calories - they can be safely consumed by people sufferingtheir obesity, in unlimited quantities( unless contraindicated).But while tomatoes contain a lot of vitamins - A, E, B6, B9, K( very rare for products).In them there are also acids - for example, oxalic.Interestingly, in this vegetable is very low sugar content - for example, in onions it is 2 times more, so tomatoes are ideal for diabetics.

Tomatoes contain a large amount of potassium, copper and vitamin C - which makes them very useful for different diseases.

There are very few fat in the tomato composition, carbohydrates are present, but they belong to the group of easily assimilated, so they do not cause any harm to the figure.

Useful properties of tomatoes

The benefits of tomatoes to the human body are enormous - this is confirmed by scientific research and statistics of doctors.First of all, it should be noted the ability of the vegetable in question to positively influence the structure of the blood. This not only improves the overall health, but also helps normalize liver function, strengthen the walls of blood vessels, stabilize the functioning of the heart muscle, and "work" as prevention of blood clots.

Tomatoes, due to the folic and oxalic acids in their composition, normalize metabolic processes in the body - in particular, they have a positive effect on the quality of water-salt metabolism.

The considered vegetable has a beneficial effect on the work of the male reproductive system - those who regularly eat fresh tomatoes do not threaten to weaken potency.And the antioxidant lycopene contained in tomatoes is direct prophylaxis of prostate cancer.

Tomatoes can also help people who smoke - they are able to break down nicotine resin and toxins, remove them from the lungs, relieve the dark smear on the teeth characteristic of smokers and make the breath more fresh.

In tomato composition there is oncoprotectant alpha-tomato - this is truly a unique substance!It is capable of killing already existing cancer cells in the human body, the best results have been shown for breast cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer.

In addition, the useful properties of tomatoes( tomatoes) are as follows :

• have a weak anti-inflammatory effect;
• stimulates the intestine, improves its peristalsis;
• are used to prevent chronic constipation;
• have the property of diluting the blood - this fact indicates the ability of tomatoes to prevent the formation of blood clots in large and small vessels;
• normalizes blood pressure;
• possess choleretic properties.

It is also surprising that tomatoes remain useful in their prepared form - tomato juice, for example, contains a large number of anti-cancer substances, it also has a direct effect on blood pressure.This is a great rarity, when the cooked product not only does not lose its useful properties, but it also becomes more useful!

Harmful properties of tomatoes( tomatoes)

Despite the fact that the product in question has a lot of useful properties, there are also specific contraindications / limitations in its use.For example, it is strictly forbidden to introduce tomatoes into the diet with diagnosed cholelithiasis - the vegetable provokes bile liquefaction, improves its movement along the ducts, which can lead to a shift in the stones, blockage of the ducts.And this condition requires immediate surgery.

Oxalic acid is present in tomatoes - it can provoke a deterioration in the condition of kidney and urinary system diseases, so the permission for the introduction of this product in the menu should be obtained from the attending physician.

Canned and cooked tomatoes can provoke the formation and growth of kidney stones, and salted tomatoes are categorically forbidden to people with diagnosed hypertension( persistently high blood pressure).

It is strictly forbidden to consume tomatoes and people with hypersensitivity and / or individual intolerance to this product.If we talk about introducing a vegetable into the diet of small children, then it should be done very carefully, starting with just a few grams - it is necessary to exclude allergy to tomatoes.

Harm of immature tomatoes

Note: all representatives of Solanaceae, including tomatoes, contain in the immature form a dangerous venom - solanine.

When poisoning with solanine, a person begins to experience nausea, weakness, drowsiness, headache and shortness of breath.For a child, even a small amount of green tomatoes can be deadly: children have a sharp drop in red blood cells and kidney failure.

In addition, unripe tomatoes in any form( fresh, baked, salted, etc.) are contraindicated in the presence of pathologies of the pancreas.They are forbidden to eat at a cholecystitis, a pancreatitis, stones in a cholic bubble, etc.

Features of the use of tomatoes

It would seem that there can be special use of tomatoes - eat them at least in kind, even in salads, even in casseroles and soups - the benefits of even boiled tomatoes are proved. But in fact, scientists and physicians in the course of research made the following conclusions :

• Tomatoes are best absorbed with vegetable oil - do not prepare salads with mayonnaise and sour cream, because the useful substances from the vegetable will enter the body in a very limited amount;
• can not combine tomatoes with bread, meat and fish - this rule will be too hard to observe, so doctors recommend at least to eat rye bread, lean meat and skinny fish with the vegetable in question;
• salty tomatoes will also be useful - they, of course, can not be used for urolithiasis and hypertension, but in all other cases it is not just possible, but necessary;
• salted tomatoes can significantly reduce the appearance of hangover syndrome;
• tomatoes help get rid of extra pounds of weight - just do not eat them with bread;
• tomato juice should be drunk after half an hour after eating the main food, but not drink them meat, potato dishes.

Tomatoes are considered a storehouse of vitamins and nutrients, but they should be used with great care - first eliminate possible contraindications and hypersensitivity / individual intolerance.In general, tomatoes in fresh, salted, and even cooked will be useful for people of all age categories - enjoy their taste and get a portion of health!