Tomatoes are an excellent source of antioxidants: the role of lycopene and precautions for consumption.

73. Tomatoes, an excellent antioxidant food.

Tomatoes, also known as foreign persimmons or tomatoes, and historically called "Xibao Sanyuan" or "June Persimmon," are rich in nutrients and have a unique flavor. They can be cooked, eaten raw, canned whole, or processed into tomato sauce or juice. Tomatoes are one of the most common fruits and vegetables in the world.

Currently, tomatoes, as a vegetable, have been proven to contain a variety of nutrients and vitamins, such as folic acid, vitamin A, and potassium. In particular, tomatoes contain lycopene, which is very beneficial to human health, while some fruits such as apricots, grapefruits, and watermelons contain very little lycopene.

The role of lycopene

Lycopene can effectively eliminate free radicals in the body, repair and prevent cell damage, and inhibit DNA oxidation, thus helping to prevent cancer. Lycopene also has biochemical functions such as intercellular signaling and cell growth regulation. It induces cell-cell communication, allowing signals controlling normal growth to be transmitted properly, and regulates tumor cell proliferation, resulting in significant anti-cancer effects. Studies have shown that lycopene can effectively prevent digestive tract cancers, prostate cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, skin cancer, and bladder cancer.

Lycopene is not only the most natural food coloring agent available, but also has a powerful antioxidant effect. Supplementing the body with lycopene can help fight various diseases caused by free radicals. Metabolism constantly produces oxygen free radicals in the body; drugs, air pollution, radiation, and sunlight also contribute to their production. However, as we age, the body's system for fighting free radicals gradually declines. When the body's antioxidant system is insufficient or the number of oxygen free radicals suddenly increases, these free radicals often cannot be completely eliminated. The fusion of cells with large molecules of oxygen free radicals can cause wrinkles, loss of luster and elasticity, and premature aging of the skin. Therefore, adequate lycopene supplementation is essential to strengthen the immune system and prevent disease. Lycopene can also reduce pigmentation and slow down macular degeneration.

Free radical-induced physical degeneration is a major cause of cardiovascular disease. Once a chain reaction of lipid peroxidation occurs in the blood, fatty acids polymerize. When these large lipid polymers deposit on the blood vessel walls, they cause blockage and hardening of the arteries. Because lycopene has extremely strong antioxidant effects, it can effectively prevent and alleviate cardiovascular disease, significantly reducing its risk.

Precautions for eating tomatoes

Lycopene should not be heated at high temperatures for extended periods, as it is easily decomposed by oxygen, heat, and light, thus losing its health benefits. Therefore, prolonged high-temperature heating should be avoided during cooking.

It is not advisable to eat unripe green tomatoes, as these tomatoes often contain solanine, a toxic substance. Eating unripe green tomatoes will result in an unpleasant taste, and eating too many can cause severe poisoning, leading to symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, vomiting, general fatigue, and malaise, and may even be life-threatening.

Tomatoes should not be consumed while taking anticoagulants such as dicumarol or heparin. Tomatoes contain a relatively high amount of vitamin K. Vitamin K is primarily responsible for catalyzing the synthesis of clotting factors and prothrombin in the liver. If these medications are taken while consuming tomatoes, it will restrict the synthesis of prothrombin, leading to prolonged clotting time and potentially causing muscle and subcutaneous bleeding.

It's not advisable to eat lettuce and cucumbers together. Many restaurants now offer a dish called "Harvest," which combines lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, and other vegetables with a dipping sauce for a raw meal. While eating vegetables raw does preserve most of their nutrients, the presence of cucumbers significantly reduces their nutritional value. Why shouldn't cucumbers be included in "Harvest"? Because cucumbers contain an enzyme that breaks down vitamin C, completely destroying the vitamin C in other vegetables. Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C; if eaten together, the vitamin C obtained from tomatoes will be quickly destroyed by the cucumbers, reducing the nutritional benefits.

Healthy Tomato Recipes

(1) Tomato and Egg Stir-fry

Ingredients: 2 eggs, 4 tomatoes, a little salt, ginger, scallions, and sugar.

Instructions: Finely chop a little scallion and ginger; beat the eggs; peel and dice the tomatoes. Heat oil in a pan, add the eggs and scramble until cooked, then remove from the pan. Add a little more oil to the pan, sauté the ginger and scallions until fragrant, then add the tomatoes and stir-fry. Stir-fry until the tomatoes release their juices, then add the cooked eggs back in and stir-fry briefly. Add chicken bouillon, sugar, and salt to taste.

(2) Tomato and Ham Salad

Ingredients: 3 slices of ham, 1 onion, 1 small chili pepper, 2 tablespoons of cilantro, 4 cherry tomatoes, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 2 tablespoons of fish sauce.

Instructions: Peel the outer skin of the onion, cut it in half, then slice it into thin strips. Soak the onion in cold boiled water for 5 minutes, then drain. Halve the cherry tomatoes, slice the ham into strips, mince the chili peppers, and chop the cilantro. Mix the seasonings and minced chili peppers together and set aside. Combine the ham strips, onion strips, and cilantro, add the cherry tomatoes, and mix well with the seasonings.

Tomatoes are rich in nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin B₁, malic acid, and citric acid. However, because their pulp contains pectin and soluble astringents, eating them on an empty stomach can cause a chemical reaction with stomach acid, forming insoluble lumps that can obstruct the stomach and cause abdominal pain. Therefore, we should be mindful of portion control when eating tomatoes. Additionally, tomato soup is best consumed after meals to aid digestion and nutrient absorption.