Amazing Tomatoes And Tomato Juice - Facts And Health Benefits

Tomatoes originated in South America and Central America. The name tomato is got from the spanish word 'tomatl'. The original native tomato was small and yellow coloured rather than the red coloured tomato we see today. The Spanish people were the ones who spread the tomato throughout the Americas during the Spanish colonisation, and their colonies in the Caribbean and by taking the tomato seeds with them, when they went to Europe and the Philippines, from where it spread to other Asian countries.

Tomatoes are the one of the most grown garden fruits in the USA and about 7500 varieties are grown worldwide. They are plucked unripe and ripened in storage with Ethylene or without.
Tomatoes release ethylene gas naturally and hence placing a ripe tomato with the unripe ones and covering them with newspapers and putting in a box or keeping them in paper bag ,hastens the ripening process. A ripe banana or apple also releases ethylene and can be used in place of the ripe tomato.

Tomatoes are available throughout the year, fresh or preserved.

Tomatoes are best stored at room temperature although they can be stored in a fridge with some loss of taste and flavour. A big and firm tomato is the best.

Tomatoes can be consumed in a variety of ways, raw, boiled, as juice, soup, salad ,ketchup etc. Because of their acidic nature, tomatoes can be canned very well.

Tomatoes have the capacity to react with aluminium and therefore should not be cooked in an aluminium vessel. The aluminium leaks in to the tomatoes making it bitter and changing its colour. The vessel too gets discoloured.

Tomatoes should best be eaten on an empty stomach and not to eat anything an hour after this.

Tomato is a rich source of antioxidants Beta Carotene, Lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin. Tomatoes have more vitamin A, B and C as compared to an oranges or grapes, on a weight to weight ratio. The vitamins in tomato are not destroyed by heat.

Four tomatoes a day fulfils the body's daily requirement of vitamin A. The vitamin C content removes toxins from the body. Tomatoes contain more lime than vegetables and fruits. Lime is what makes the bones and teeth strong.
Tomatoes also have a very high Iron content. In pregnancy, extra iron is needed on a daily basis and tomatoes can really be a great help here, in preventing anaemia in pregnancy. It would not be out of context to mention her that tomato has 5 times as much iron as an egg.

Drinking a glass of tomato juice increases the hemoglobin levels.

Tomatoes give strength to the liver and lungs, increase memory, reduce blood pressure, reduce obesity and prevent skin diseases.

In Constipation

Consume 50 gms of raw tomatoes for relief.

In Improving Digestive Power

Tomatoes give strength to the large intestine and relieves bloating and constipation. It cleans the stomach and keeps one healthy.

In Appendicitis

Sprinkle rock salt and some ginger on 100 gms red tomato before having food for benefit.

In Worms

Eat red tomatoes with some black pepper and salt sprinkled on it on empty stomach to kill worms.

In Mouth Ulcer

1. To get rid of recurring mouth ulcers, eat tomatoes as much as you can. It acts as a medicine.
2. Add water to tomato juice and swishing it in the mouth helps.

As a Tonic

Take tomato juice with honey.

In Obesity

Tomato can be helpful to those obese people who can keep a check on their food intake and can do some yoga and exercise. tomato helps in removing toxins and blocked food from the intestine.
Put lemon juice and salt on sliced ripe tomatoes and eat with onions. This helps to reduce weight over a period of time.

In Jaundice

A glass of tomato juice taken daily helps.

For Dirty Tongue

Eat 100 gms tomatoes sprinkled with  rock salt for relieving this condition.

In Weakness

Tomato soup increases appetite, decreases blood shortage and removes tiredness.

In  Fevers

Fever increases toxins in blood. Tomato soup removes these toxins. However, give tomato soup only in normal fever.

In Skin Diseases

Tomato is mostly sour in taste.This sourness cleans the blood. To cleanse the blood tomato should be eaten alone. Lemon too has this property. In skin problems like boils, bleeding from the gums, scurvy, blood disorders, beri beri drink tomato juice 3 to 4 times a day, for a few weeks to relieve these symptoms.

For Skin

Tomato when eaten raw, removes dryness. It removes heat too from the body and should be eaten in summer. Adding tomatoes to vegetables which are hot by nature alters their inherent hotness.

In Body Itching

To 1 tsp tomato juice add 2 tsp coconut oil and massage on the body. Then have hot bath . This relieves.

In Night Blindness

Tomato is very beneficial.

In Diabetes

The sourness in tomatoes reduces the sugar levels. Regular use of tomato reduces the sugar in urine.

In Growth of Children

Tomato juice aids in growth of weak and under developed children.

CAUTION:

Do not drink water after eating raw tomato or tomato juice. Tomatoes have an acid factor in them which cleans the stomach and drinking water dilutes this acid.
Do not consume tomatoes in cough as it aggravates.
Those suffering from stones should not consume tomatoes in any form.
Avoid tomatoes In Arthritis, muscle pains and in swellings.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this hub is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or embarking on a new health regime.