Ripened tomatoes possess a smooth skin with a vibrant red color, and these are safe to consume raw, as a fruit, or made into deliciously cooked dishes. Not only do they taste good, but they are highly nutritious, a tremendous benefit to one’s health.
Tomatoes are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, essential amino acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, and phytosterols. These make them an excellent source of nutrients and bioactive compounds necessary for the human body. Studies have found that tomatoes can nourish the heart, are anti-aging, can lighten spots on the face, prevent blood clots, and boost the immune system.
How do we best prepare and eat tomatoes to gain their maximum and tremendous health benefits?
The benefits of eating ripened tomatoes
1. Nourishing the heart and reducing blood clots
Records of traditional Chinese medical theory state that the five colors and tastes of food correspond to the five organs of the human body. In the classic book The Esoteric Scripture of the Yellow Emperor, there is a passage in Chapter 10 (Generation of the Five Organs) where it states: “The five organs have corresponding color and taste quality.”
The lung is for white and a pungent taste; the heart is for red and a bitter taste; the liver is for green and a sour taste; the spleen is for yellow and a sweet taste; the kidney is for black and a savory flavor.” Thus red and bitter-flavored foods are related to the heart and are best suited to nourishing it.
Notably, if we cut the tomato horizontally, we can see that it seems to have four chambers like a heart. There is a Chinese folk saying that “shapes complement shapes.” To nourish our body, one needs to eat something visually similar to the body part. Tomatoes are, therefore, good for the heart in color and shape.
Lycopene is a nutrient that tomatoes possess and greatly benefits the heart. What is lycopene? It is a type of carotenoid with antioxidant properties that can prevent skin aging, vascular aging, blood vessel embolism, and cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies have found that the antioxidant capacity of lycopene is twice that of beta-carotene and 10 times that of vitamin E.
The color of a tomato foretells the amount of lycopene it contains. The redder the color, the more lycopene it has. If tomatoes ripen naturally at room temperature, the lycopene produced will be higher than those kept in the refrigerator to ripen. While common nutrients are easily destroyed by heat when cooked, fat-soluble lycopene is different.
The absorption rate of lycopene can be increased by 2 to 3 times when cooked with oil. However, once lycopene comes into contact with air, it will quickly oxidize. Therefore, cooked tomatoes or opened canned tomato juice should be consumed immediately.
In April 2018, the Technical University of Valencia (Spain) published a study about tomatoes and their antioxidant properties in The Journal of Functional Foods. The study reported that through the erosion of stomach acid, cooked tomatoes effectively assist probiotics to promote significant intestinal health. Cooking induces tomatoes to release more antioxidants, including lycopene, that protect cells from damage caused by harmful external substances.
2. Anti-aging and prevents the formation of age-related spots on the skin
In addition to lycopene, tomatoes contain various nutrients such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, lutein, and phenols. These nutrients have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. They can prevent age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and other eye diseases and effectively relieve menopausal symptoms, such as anxiety, hot flashes, and irritability.
By the mid-30s, the body’s antioxidant capacity gradually decreases, and melanin is quickly deposited on the face, resulting in a significant increase in sunspots, liver spots, and brown spots. Tomatoes are suitable for the health of our skin and can prevent sunburn.
Eating 5 to 10 small tomatoes raw after lunch is helpful if you have rough skin and are developing spots. This will slow down aging and help maintain a youthful appearance.
3. Protects joints and clears excessive internal body heat
Tomatoes, when eaten raw, like fruit, have the effect of generating fluid and quenching thirst. Body fluids are essential to the human body. Sufficient fluids can moisturize the skin, nourish the mucous membranes and deliver nutrients to the internal organs. These fluids also act as lubricants to the bursa of the joints, whose function is to keep the joints flexible.
If you feel anger, irritation, and heat in the heart, your body loses water quickly. Subsequently, you will often feel dry-mouthed and experience restlessness, poor sleep, and fatigue. You can now eat raw tomatoes to help lower the heat. The proper way is to place a small tomato in your mouth, bite it into pieces, hold the tomato juice for 3 to 5 minutes before swallowing it, and repeat it several times.
This method can improve all the discomforts associated with excessive internal body heat. Also, replacing tea with tomato water can prevent heat stroke in summer.
Some considerations when eating raw tomatoes
Do not eat raw tomatoes on an empty stomach, as this can quickly produce excess stomach acid leading to bloating and abdominal pain. It is better to eat them after a meal.
People with a cold constitution are not suited to eating raw tomatoes, since these can worsen their cold hands and feet and make them prone to diarrhea. In addition, women who get menstrual pains should not eat these during their menstrual period.
Tomatoes are sweet and delicious, but they should not be eaten excessively to prevent too much sugar intake.
It is important to note that tomatoes that are not ripe and have a greenish color should never be eaten. This is because green tomatoes contain a lot of toxic solanine and can cause gastrointestinal discomfort.
The role of tomatoes in spleen function
Li Dongyuan, one of the four significant figures of ancient Chinese medicine during the Jin and Yuan dynasties (1115-1368), founded the “Spleen and Stomach Theory.” In his book Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach, he proposed that “internal injury to the spleen and stomach is the cause of all diseases.”
The spleen is located in the center of the abdomen. It irrigates the four organs surrounding it from all four directions: the liver, heart, lungs, and kidneys. If the spleen functions well and is cared for, it looks after and irrigates the other four organs well. The person is then less likely to get sick. Tomatoes are suitable for the spleen and stomach because they have a stomach-boosting effect.
People with weak spleens and stomachs tend to have insufficient energy and blood, which affects the liver. Traditional Chinese medicine says: “The liver is reflected in the eyes.” If the liver is weak, the eyes are easily fatigued, making you unable to see clearly, and you will even drool when you sleep.
To improve your condition, you can make the following recipes:
Stewed spare ribs with tomatoes
- Prepare 250 grams of pork ribs and cut into pieces
- Add 500 ml water
- On low heat, gently boil the ribs until 80 percent well done
- Add 150 grams of sliced tomatoes and a few slices of ginger, and stew until well done
- Add salt and pepper to taste
- Serve in one or two portions while hot
Scrambled eggs with tomatoes
Scrambled eggs with tomatoes is an old-time favorite home-cooked dish. The main ingredient is sweet and sour tomatoes with smooth and tender eggs. The dish is full of lycopene, lecithin, and protein. It helps the body’s fat metabolism and has a vascular cleansing effect. You can add vinegar to this dish to make it taste perfect. When you scramble the eggs and tomatoes, the secret is to use tender eggs and fresh, plump tomatoes in a hot pan.
Tomato-based soups or stews
Soups or stews made with tomatoes, lots of vegetables, and a little beef provide a nutritious and delicious meal, perfect for the changing spring weather. These warm soups or stews can strengthen one’s immune system and are particularly good for autumn and winter.
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