Healthy With Tomatoes

Healthy With Tomatoes 


Category: ARTICLES, Info & Tips, Health & Beauty

ALTHOUGH cheap, nutrient-rich tomatoes. In the outer layer contained lycopene, an antioxidant that can prevent many types of cancer. Can also be processed into a variety of refreshing beverages and foods that can shake up the tongue.Tomatoes are by botanists called Lycopersicum esculentum Mill, is a plant of the family Solanaceae, which is blooming like a trumpet. Tomato plants, including one year (annual), which means that old just for one harvest period. The plant is shaped shrubs or bushes can reach 2 meters in length. Stem form to a round. Forms pinnate leaves without leaf gaps leverage.The shape, color, flavor, and texture of tomatoes is very diverse. There is a round, flat round, curly, or like a light bulb. Ripe fruit colors vary from yellow, orange, to red, depending on the type of the dominant pigment. It was also varied, from sour to sweet. The fruits are arranged in clusters. Overall fleshy fruit and a lot of water.Various VarietiesSome of the basis used to distinguish among varieties of tomatoes are the shape, bunches, the thickness of the meat, and the water content. Based on the shape or appearance, tomatoes are classified as follows:1. Ordinary tomatoes (Lycopersicum commune)Flat round fruit shape, soft, irregular, and slightly grooved near the stem.2. Tomatoes Apples (Lycopersicum pyriforme)Shape of a round, compact, a little hard to resemble an apple.3. Potato Tomato (Lycopersicum grandifolium)Fruit is round, large, compact, with a size smaller than tomatoes apples.4. Tomato Curly (Lycopersicum validum)Somewhat oval-shaped fruit, hard. The leaves are lush and green curly dark.Must be CleanedFreshly harvested fruits are usually separated by size and quality (grading). Determination of fruit quality based on health, perseverance, cleanliness size, weight, color, shape, maturity, freedom from disease and foreign materials and damage by insects and mechanical injuries. Quality category commonly used is an extra class, class 1 and class 2.Once sorted, the tomatoes must be cleaned and washed to remove the dirt on the fruit. Impurities usually a sprinkling of dirt, dust, and chemicals (pharmaceuticals and fertilizer spray). Besides giving the impression of dirty, splashing soil can also bring disease and a host of harmful microbes. Chemical substances attached to the fruit, especially pesticides, if present in excessive amounts can lead to poisoning.Storage of tomatoes should be done at temperatures that are not too high, usually carried out at room temperature. However, it would be much better if the tomatoes stored at lower temperatures, ie in the refrigerator. High temperatures can damage the quality of stored tomatoes. The process of cold storage can slow maturity, reduce susceptibility to microbial attack, reduce water loss and maintain blood levels of vitamin C.UtilizationTomatoes can be used either in the form of fresh or processed form. In the form of fresh, tomatoes are often used as complementary dishes (vegetable), to salads, sandwiches, chili, and so on.In the form of processed tomatoes can be made into many kinds of canned products, such as whole tomatoes, tomato slices, sauce and puree. Also, it can make juice and concentrated to produce tomato paste.So far that has been processed tomato known by the people is the fruit juice and tomato sauce. Fruit juice (fruit juice) is a liquid that does not undergo the fermentation process, but derived from the process of pressing the fruit is still fresh and ripe. Processing tomatoes into juice, but can produce a more durable product, as well as a practical beverage, delicious and refreshing taste, is also beneficial to health.Tomato sauce is used as a food flavoring. Making the sauce is done by evaporating some of the water in order to obtain fruit juice desired viscosity. Into fruit juice concentrates are added various seasonings. In order for the sauce to be thicker, often also added starches and thickeners.Rich in Vitamin C and ATomatoes, both fresh and processed form, has the nutrient composition of a complete and good enough. Tomato fruit consists of 5-10 percent dry weight without water and 1 percent of the skin and seeds. If dried tomatoes, about 50 percent of the dry weight of reducing sugars (mainly glucose and fructose), the remaining organic acids, minerals, pigments, vitamins, and lipids.Tomatoes can be classified as a source of vitamin C is very good (excellent) for 100 grams of tomatoes meet 20 percent or more of vitamin C a day. Vitamin C to maintain healthy teeth and gums, speed up wound recovery, prevent disease Scurvy (scurvy), and avoid the occurrence of bleeding capillaries.In addition, tomatoes are also a good source of vitamin A (good) for 100 grams of tomatoes may contribute about 10-20 percent of daily vitamin A requirement. Vitamin A is necessary for the health of the organ of vision, immune system, growth, and reproduction. Vitamin A and C in tomatoes as well as antioxidant.Tomato juice contains vitamins and minerals that are complete enough. From 100 grams of tomato juice will be obtained 7 mg calcium, 15 mg phosphorus, 0.9 mg iron, 230 mg sodium and 230 mg potassium. Vitamins are contained in 100 grams of tomato juice is vitamin A (1,050 IU), vitamin B1 (0.05 mg), vitamin B2 (0.03 mg), and vitamin C (16 mg).High Lycopene ContentTomatoes contain lycopene is high. Lycopene is a pigment that causes red tomatoes. Like beta-carotene, lycopene belongs to the carotenoid group. There have been many studies that reveal the health benefits of lycopene.Lycopene is known to have the ability as an antioxidant and can protect the body against various diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Crushed tomatoes or cooked are a better source of lycopene than raw tomatoes.For example, the amount of lycopene in tomato juice can reach five times more than in fresh tomatoes. The researchers suspect, cooked tomatoes or lycopene is destroyed may issue more, so easily absorbed by the body.Lycopene is found in the cell walls of the tomato. Therefore, with a little cooking oil to release the component. In addition, cooking tomatoes with olive oil (olive oil) allows the body to absorb the lycopene better (Ahuja et al., 2003).Phenolic components is also an important compounds in tomatoes potential, albeit in smaller amounts. This component provides a beneficial effect. Recently known that tomato puree (crushed tomatoes), contain small amounts of a compound called routine. Routine compounds can be absorbed and utilized properly by the body.Author: Prof. Made Astawan, Lecturer in the Department of Food Technology and Nutrition-IPB.

source: kompas.com