They are already appearing, red, strong. Tomatoes. It's time to add them to salads, soups, sauces and stews. Choose only useful options!
CANNED TOMATOES
They are low in calories but have enough fiber. Please note: together with the skin, tomatoes lose most of the nutrients - up to 71% of lycopenes and 50% of beta-carotene. Recipe for canned tomatoes.
TOMATO PASTE
If you don't have fresh tomatoes on hand, this is a good option. The main thing is to choose products that contain nothing but tomatoes and s alt. Add to homemade sauces, soups and stews.
KETCHUP
Perhaps the most unhe althy product based on tomatoes: there are s alt, sugar, and flavor enhancers. If your kids can't imagine dinner without ketchup, cook it yourself.
DRIED TOMATOES
The content of lycopenes in them is 6 times higher than in fresh tomatoes! Add to salads, pizza and sandwiches. Dried Tomatoes Recipe.
Juice
Even packaged tomato juices are rich in lycopene, that's a plus. But usually they add a lot of s alt, this is a minus. One glass can contain up to 1 mg of sodium, which is 50% of the recommended daily allowance!
PERFECT SAUCE
Heat minced garlic clove and 2 tbsp. l. olive oil, add ½ tbsp. chopped tomatoes and ½ tsp. coarse s alt. Cook over low heat until the mixture softens. Grind with a blender. Done!
FRESH
Of course, the he althiest (and usually the cheapest) option is tomatoes that have been grown in the same region where you live. Tomatoes are high in vitamin C (one glass of chopped tomatoes provides 1/3 of the daily requirement), potassium (it is useful for normalizing blood pressure), and no more than 35 kcal in one large tomato is ideal!
WHAT IS TOMATOES USEFUL
But the main he alth benefit of tomatoes is the antioxidant lycopene, which is considered a cancer preventative and is better absorbed from thermally processed tomatoes, especially if you eat them with fat (like olive oil). Keep in mind that green, yellow and pink tomatoes have less lycopenes than red ones.