It is the season of tomatoes with a Romanian taste, which can be consumed without limit of quantity. It is a vegetable-fruit that should not be missing from the menu of any summer day. It has few calories, more than 95% water, many fibers and minerals, claims nutritionist Mihaela Bilic.
Tomatoes-vegetables that can be consumed without limit PHOTO: C. Mazilu
“Summer tomatoes! You can't go wrong with tomatoes… because we're still waiting for the summer sun! What do you do when you want beautifully tanned skin? Eat reds that contain lycopene, a pigment from the carotenoid family, with a protective role against ultraviolet rays. What do you do when you want to hydrate and remineralize with a refreshing and healthy drink? You drink tomato juice, which, unlike fresh fruit juices, does not contain fructose, is not fattening and has a lot of potassium. Tomato is a vegetable-fruit that should not be missing from the menu of any summer day. It has few calories, over 95% water, lots of fiber and minerals”writes Dr. Mihaela Bilic, on Facebook.
The well-known nutritionist claims that the lycopene in tomatoes is a “fat-soluble compound, it is absorbed in the presence of fat, so put a little oil in all tomato dishes”.
The amount of lycopene does not vary significantly from one variety of tomato to another and is not influenced by the method of ripening (in the sun or in the sun). Its nutritional value increases when it is cooked, and lycopene is released faster if the tomato is crushed/mashed, made into a sauce/puree, explains the nutritionist.
“The concentration of lycopene increases 8-10 times in tomato sauce and broth, compared to fresh tomatoes, so do not hesitate to consume broth, tomato paste, tomato sauce. Cooking destroys some of the vitamin C, but the mineral and fiber content does not change. The acidity in tomato increases the absorption of iron from meat, fish and vegetables, it is no coincidence that stews, vegetable pot or pasta sauce are tastier and healthier if they are based on tomato sauce”claims Dr. Bilic.
Tomato juice also has important benefits, which is a healthier and safer alternative for the figure than orange juice.
What are the benefits of consuming tomato juice
According to the nutritionist, a glass of tomato juice contains only half the calories of any other fruit juice and only 30% of the fructose of oranges.
“Harvard researchers demonstrated a 20-35% decrease in the risk of prostate cancer in those who consume 80 g of tomato sauce/day. A Finnish study showed that the risk of heart attack decreases by 59% in those with increased lycopene intake, and researchers from Verona confirmed that this red pigment protects the heart. Lycopene has also been shown to be beneficial against lung or stomach cancer, not to mention protecting the skin from UV rays and aging”states Dr. Mihaela Bilic.
Consequently, the nutritionist claims, the tomato is a versatile and figure-friendly food, which “can be eaten fresh or cooked, in the form of salad or soup, as a drink or ingredient in stews, pasta and pizza”.
“Enjoy the summer, it's the season of tomatoes with a Romanian taste, which can be consumed without limit of quantity. Tomato adds flavor and color to any food“, concludes Dr. Mihaela Bilic.
