The author of popular books, a dietitian, certainly has something to say about the benefits of tomatoes Vaida Kurpienewith whom I spoke already in the summer, when the tomato harvest was in full swing. I asked her which tomatoes were the most prized: red or yellow, large or small, fresh or processed. You can watch our entire conversation in this video:
Below I have listed everything that Vaida Kurpienė said about tomatoes during the interview, which are the most valuable:
- Big or small,
- Red, yellow or green,
- Peeled or peeled,
- Fresh from the garden or to keep until winter,
- Fresh, boiled, fried, pickled, frozen or dried?
WHICH PIECES ARE THE MOST VALUABLE TOMATOES?
It is fun for every gardener to grow giant tomatoes, but Vaida Kurpienė says that the most valuable are not the largest tomatoes, but medium or even small ones. This in no way means that there is nothing valuable in large tomatoes – everything is there, only the concentration is lower. So eat giant tomatoes for your health!
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what to cut, what to leave, when to coverWHICH COLOR TOMATOES ARE THE MOST VALUABLE
Vaida Kurpienė mentions that people frequently inquire which tomatoes hold the most worth: red, orange, yellow, or black? The reality is that tomatoes of various colors possess different qualities, each of which is beneficial and essential for us in its own unique way. The more varied our meals are, the more vitamins and minerals we obtain.
In his book «Lose weight for life» Vaida Kurpienė devoted a whole chapter to colorful foods and their advantages. I also helped with this chapter’s writing. We have created a useful chart showing which colorful vegetables are best to consume in various seasons to maximize their benefits.
Now back to tomatoes, the nutritionist advises against consuming too many tomatoes of one color, but rather having a few tomatoes of different shades. To learn about the specific qualities of tomatoes in different colors, read below.
VAIDA KURPIENĖ ABOUT THE CHARACTERISTICS OF TOMATOES OF DIFFERENT COLORS
Red tomatoes contain a lot of lycopene. It is not only a pigment that gives the red color, but also a strong antioxidant. According to the specialist, studies have shown that lycopene is very useful for preventing prostate cancer or for recovering from this disease.
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Thuja hedge – 5 rules for a healthy and beautiful hedge –Lycopene is even more in the darkness in tomatoes: black, purple. Tomatoes of these colors are also prized for their anthocyanin content, another powerful antioxidant.
In the yellow ones Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and beta carotene, which can improve memory. True, in order for the body to absorb beta-carotene, it should be consumed together with fat. Therefore, tomato salad with sour cream, yogurt, oil or mozzarella – not only very tasty combinations, but also very useful for health!
The green ones Tomatoes are good for the chlorophyll they contain. Research shows that chlorophyll may help protect against cancer. For this reason, some people even take special chlorophyll supplements. But the specialist says that it is better to supplement the body with chlorophyll by eating green tomatoes and other green vegetables.
I just want to point out that we are talking about those tomatoes that are green when ripe, because that is their variety. Meanwhile, it is not advisable to eat unripe tomatoes (therefore raw), as they can cause unpleasant digestive disorders.
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Landscaping while spending less: 7 practical tipsTOMATO PEEL: LEAFED OR PEELED
Tomatoes, like any other vegetables, contain useful substances both in the peel and in the pulp. But generally the skin is difficult to digest, it’s just that some people feel it more than others. So, if your stomach is more sensitive, remove the skin and eat the tomato without.
LATE TOMATOES STORED DURING THE WINTER LOSE THEIR CHARACTERISTICS
Vaida Kurpienė says that it depends on the characteristics of different species and varieties. In general, tomatoes stored for a long time can lose vitamin C and also decrease some antioxidants. But tomatoes do not lose fiber, mineral salts and lycopene.
Of course, the appearance and taste characteristics of a tomato stored until winter are often not as expressive as those of a tomato freshly picked from the greenhouse. But such tomatoes still bring benefits to the body. And if they grow on their own it’s even more fun. Here last season I was growing several varieties of long-life tomatoes in the greenhouse. And guess what: I still had home-grown tomatoes at the end of winter! As for the most successful tomato varieties that I grew last year, you can read here.
THE BEST WAYS TO PROCESS TOMATOES FOR THE WINTER
Vaida Kurpienė says that tomatoes are great because they are useful both fresh and processed.
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Diseases of my tomatoes: what happened and how I saved themRefrigeration – a great way to prepare tomatoes for the winter, because this way all the vitamins in tomatoes are preserved. Peeled and crushed tomatoes are best frozen in ice cubes or bags and then used to flavor soups or stews.
Boil and cook some vitamins, especially vitamin C, are lost, but cooked tomatoes are the best source of lycopene. The nutritionist says that lycopene is absorbed even 6 times better from properly heat-treated tomatoes than from fresh ones! Therefore, for the winter it is very useful to cook tomato paste or puree without adding sugar and vinegar.
Meanwhile, ketchup or pickled tomatoes are just a tasty but unhealthy option.
You like the intense flavor dried tomatoes? Also great. To preserve the nutritional value of tomatoes as much as possible, the most important thing is the right drying temperature. It should not be higher than 40-42 °C, because at higher heat many valuable substances die. It is therefore best to dry in special dryers where the temperature can be regulated very precisely. And it is also very important to store dried tomatoes correctly so that they do not rot. You can store them dry in paper or cloth bags. Or put it in a jar, fill it with oil and seal it tightly.
Thanks to Vaida Kurpiena for the review on the benefits of tomatoes!
So, which tomatoes are the most valuable? Various! The greater the variety of colors, sizes and shapes, the greater the benefits and fun. So let’s grow as many tomatoes as possible and eat healthy!
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