Tomaten für die gesunde Ernährung

Many people who maintain a healthy and active lifestyle are looking for the perfect foods to support their goals. Advertising has long recognized this trend and is constantly supplying unusual and unknown foods that are supposed to combine all the ingredients and provide that special kick in the diet. New products from distant countries that promise special effects are constantly coming onto the market. Of course, this is reflected in the price and sometimes horrendous sums are demanded for tiny quantities. Unfortunately, these foods or nutritional supplements do not always deliver what the advertising promises and so we have invested a lot of money and are unfortunately only one experience richer: not everything that is exotic and expensive is necessarily helpful.

Good things are often so close: tomatoes, power food in your garden. [...]

Selling tomatoes as a superfood is not all that lucrative. This crop is too common and you can even grow it on your balcony. However, this does not mean that the crop is banal and boring. Tomatoes are little powerhouses that deserve a prominent place in the diet.

What's in the red shrub fruit?

At the forefront: Water, vitamin C, vitamin A, some B vitamins and minerals. Tomatoes contain few carbohydrates (approx. 4 grams per 100 grams of tomatoes) and are therefore also suitable for low-carb diets. The secondary plant substances, including lycopene, are said to have an important health-promoting effect. Fortunately, you will only find a few calories in the nightshade plant (approx. 20 calories per 100 grams).

What should you bear in mind when shopping?

You can get tomatoes all year round. As fully ripe tomatoes are very sensitive, they are not really suitable for long transportation routes. You will therefore have to compromise on the ripeness and taste of imported fruit. You will get the best tomatoes if you grow them yourself. No great gardening skills are required. In the right place, they will even thrive in a plant pot on your balcony or patio. There you can be sure that no pesticides have been used. You receive the vegetables absolutely fresh. All the important nutrients are intact. You will be amazed at how good fresh, sun-ripened tomatoes can taste. Buying from a health food store is also a good option if you also look for fruit from the region. If you buy them in the supermarket from conventional cultivation, you should make sure that the fruit is ripe but not mushy. Be sure to cut away the green stalk before cooking, as it contains the toxin solanine, which can lead to nausea and stomach cramps.

What can you conjure up from tomatoes?

The variety of uses for tomatoes is staggering. Of course, they taste great raw in all kinds of salads. Especially in summer, tomatoes with mozzarella are a high-quality, low-calorie and quick-to-prepare meal. You can eat them as a low-calorie snack or use them to spice up your sandwiches. Small party tomatoes, cherry tomatoes or date tomatoes are practical to take away. You can find them processed on every pizza, in tomato ketchup or as a delicious sauce for pasta dishes. Tomatoes are an ingredient in many vegetable juices and are also great in fresh, green smoothies. You can also eat dried tomatoes as a snack or chop them up and add them to soups and sauces as a spicy ingredient. Pickled in oil, they make a tasty antipasti. Did you know that you can also make jam from tomatoes?

Conclusion

Tomatoes are an indispensable part of any kitchen. Enjoy this red vegetable - and other fresh fruit and vegetables - as often as you can. Regardless of your dietary philosophy, unprocessed fresh food is an important part of a healthy and wholesome diet. As an athlete in particular, you should not miss out on the many benefits of this local superfood.