"Tom?to, Tomдto!" However you say it, we love tomatoes! Tomatoes are fruits in a botanical sense because they grow from a plant, however, they don't possess the dessert quality sweetness of other fruits. Instead tomatoes have a subtle sweetness that is complemented by a slightly bitter and acidic taste. They are prepared and served like other vegetables, which is why they are often categorized as vegetables.

• Antioxidants- Tomatoes are loaded with health-protective antioxidants such as lycopene, polyphenols, vitamin C, and vitamin A and they contain very few calories. Specific antioxidant nutrients found in tomatoes, whole tomato extracts, and overall dietary intake of tomatoes have all been associated with antioxidant protection. Sometimes this protection also comes in the form of better antioxidant enzyme functions.

Tomatoes are loaded with health-protective antioxidants such as lycopene, polyphenols, vitamin C, and vitamin A and they contain very few calories.

Here are some other interesting health aids that tomatoes provide…

• Bone Health- The connection of tomato intake to bone health involves the rich supply of antioxidant and vitamins found in tomatoes.

• Anti-cancer- Risk for many cancer types starts out with chronic oxidative stress and chronic unwanted inflammation. Vegetables, like Tomatoes, that provide strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support are often what helps prevents cancer occurrences.

• Cardiovascular- No body system has a greater need for antioxidant protection than the cardiovascular system, some of the best-researched antioxidants are found in tomatoes. Tomatoes also include vitamin E and vitamin C which provide critical antioxidant support in the cardiovascular system, and they are an important part of the contribution made by tomatoes to heart health.

• Disease- Diets that include tomatoes have been linked with reduced risk of some neurological diseases because of the antioxidants Tomatoes offer.

Tomatoes provide strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support!

History

• Botanically speaking, a tomato is a fruit. The government classified it as a vegetable in the late 1800s so it could be taxed under custom regulations.
• 93% of American gardeners grow tomatoes in their yards.
• China is the number one producer of tomatoes around the world. The U.S. is second.
• Gardeners grew tomatoes for their looks, but were afraid to eat them because tomatoes were believed to be poisonous.
• According to the USDA, Americans eat 22-24 pounds of tomatoes per person, per year.

Did you know…

• You’re not supposed to refrigerate fresh tomatoes. Because doing so spoils the flavor and texture that make up that garden tomato taste.
• When buying canned tomatoes, it is often better to buy those that are produced in the United States as many foreign countries do not have as strict standards for lead content in containers.
• Ketchup can be a surprisingly good source of tomato nutrients.
• Here is how “Tomato” is said in other countries:

-English: tomato -French: tomate -Dutch: tomaat -German: Tomate -Danish: tomat -Spanish: tomate -Italian: pomodoro

Regardless of its name or how it’s said, the tomato is a wonderfully popular and versatile food that comes in over a thousand different varieties that vary in shape, size, and color, and they're healthy so go ahead and enjoy some tomatoes!

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