It is peak tomato season! There is little that can compare to a fresh, local tomato. When it comes to these Market favorites, the early bird definitely gets the best worm!
Did you know that it’s believed over 7,500 different tomato species are grown around the world today? You’ve probably heard before that, botanically speaking, tomatoes are actually a fruit and not a vegetable. In fact, technically they’re considered a berry. They are usually red when mature, but can come in a variety of colors, including yellow, orange, green and purple. The water content of tomatoes is around 95%. The other 5% consist mainly carbohydrates and fiber.
Tomatoes are one of those easy-to-use anti-inflammatory foods that luckily taste great, too. According to the Department of Food Sciences at North Carolina State University in regard to a study on tomato nutrition, “Tomatoes are the second most produced and consumed vegetable nationwide and are a rich source of lycopene, beta-carotene, folate, potassium, vitamin C, flavonoids, and vitamin E.” They are widely known for their outstanding antioxidant content. Researchers have recently found an important connection between lycopene, its antioxidant properties, and bone health. Intake of tomatoes has long been linked to heart health. Fresh tomatoes and tomato extracts have been shown to help lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.
