Fruits and vegetables are the foods with the highest nutritional content and therefore are essential if you want to follow a healthy diet or lose weight. An example of these foods is the tomato, one of the most used ingredients in cooking recipes, especially in salads.
In this article, we tell you everything about this delicious fruit: how many calories it has, whether it makes you gain weight or not, the most common types of this food, and its health benefits.
How many calories does a tomato have?
Knowing the number of calories in a tomato is important if you are starting a new diet and want to know whether to include it in your regimen or not. Well, for every 100 grams of tomato, there are 18 calories. This means it is a low-calorie food and you can perfectly include it in your breakfast, lunch, meal, or dinner without any problem.
The average weight of a tomato varies between 150 and 300 grams. That is, you can eat up to three tomatoes a day and not even reach 100 calories consumed.
Most of the weight of natural tomatoes is water, at 94.5%, and they have a high content of vitamins and fiber. It is one of the best ways to meet the 5 daily servings of fruits and vegetables that should be consumed daily. Also, there are many types of tomatoes and recipes to include them in, so you can eat them without getting bored.
Does tomato make you gain weight?
Since this food is so low in calories, the answer is “NO.” Natural tomatoes do not make you gain weight. They can be part of your recipes without any problem and you can eat them calmly whether during the day or at night.
In their natural and raw state, tomatoes are low in fat and mainly consist of water, so that is the best way to eat them. That is why salads are always a good option.
Does fried tomato make you gain weight?
Fried tomato is different and can indeed lead to weight gain, especially if eaten in excess. As we have said, this food is low in calories, but once you add oil and start cooking it, the calories double or triple.
A sauce made from natural tomato that is then fried will have around 30 calories per 100 grams, while the manufactured ones bought in the supermarket can exceed 70 calories.
Properties of tomato and types
Tomato is rich in vitamins A, C, K, and minerals such as iron and potassium. It is a natural antioxidant and therefore a great ally for healthy skin. It also improves vision and prevents degenerative diseases in the eyes, improves blood circulation and promotes cardiovascular health, prevents constipation, and is a natural diuretic.
These are just some of the most important health benefits, so it is always good to include it in your recipes and salads.
There are many types of tomato. After all, it is one of the most popular fruits in the world. To give you a general idea, we will mention the most common types of tomato.
- Kumato Tomato: also known as black tomato due to its dark color. It is highly valued for its tasty and prized pulp, as well as for its rich flavor.
- Pear Tomato: also known as Roman tomato. It has a pear-like shape and is sweeter and milder. It has many variants: Canary tomato, Breton, Alborán, among others.
- Cherry Tomato: Of Aztec origin, they are very aromatic and the size of a cherry. It is the best for salads and there are many variations: pear cherry, round cherry, and yellow cherry among others.
- Round smooth tomato: its skin is quite tough, but it is very meaty and has few seeds. Its flavor is acidic and it is widely used in international cooking recipes.
- Moruno Tomato: It is meaty, juicy, with thin and firm skin, has very few seeds, and its flavor is sweet and slightly acidic.
0 comments