Vegetables and fruits are best eaten fresh to get the most of its nutritional value. Most leafy vegetables are better blanched than soggy from overcooking. Essential vitamins and minerals are lost during the preparation process; from mincing to over boiling, the nutrients evaporate. However, things are exactly the opposite with cooked tomatoes.
Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum) belongs to the nightshade botanical family, so are eggplant and pepper. Although the leaves of tomato are poisonous, its berry-like fruit contains nutrients that are known to prevent certain types of serious illnesses such as:
Prostate Cancer
Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) or enlargement of the prostate gland can lead to cancer if not treated immediately. The problem with this type of cancer is the patient may be asymptomatic until it is too late. It is important for men aged 40 and above to have regular checkups to detect its signs and symptoms. Prostate cancer is the second most common non-skin cancer in America.
BPH has no early warning signs. Urinary incontinence is an indication of a swollen prostate gland due to the presence of a benign tumour. If you are a male aged 40 and up, frequent urination should raise the red flag and you had better make that appointment with your doctor. Don’t wait for the blood streak in your urine or semen.
Numerous medical studies found the presence of powerful antioxidants in tomato that help contain the cell-damaging free radicals that can cause prostate cancer. One of these antioxidants is Lycopene, a phytochemical that belongs to the red pigment carotenoid family. Lycopene is found in pink guavas, apricots, watermelon, red legumes and in high quantity, in cooked tomatoes.
In several kinds of research, a high-lycopene diet can visibly reduce the development of metastatic cancer cells and can help prevent the buildup of cholesterol and triglycerides in the bloodstream, reducing the risk of stroke or heart attack.
While it is imperative to consume freshly picked fruits and vegetables, heat-processed tomatoes have more lycopene than raw; that is why tomato paste and tomato ketchup are the best sources of this antioxidant. Two tablespoons of paste contain 13.8mg of lycopene and one tablespoon of ketchup contains 2.7mg. Although a person’s daily requirement may vary from another, a well-balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle can greatly reduce the risk factors.
Delta Food Industries FZC is one of the leading manufacturers in the UAE producing the top-quality Delta Royale Tomato Ketchup and Delta Royale Tomato Paste. For more information about these products, you may send an e-mail here.