Tomato is a food spice with amazing nutritional value and tastes delicious. It is popularly known globally as an indispensable ingredient and used in preparing sumptuous delicacies by many cultures. It is eaten in different forms; it can be consumed raw or cooked.  

The origination of tomato has some controversial and fictional information. Some people believed it originated from Italy because, in modern days, it is often found in virtually all Italian delicacies. Surprisingly the fruit/vegetable was discovered in the western side of South America, including the Galapagos Islands. 

Tomato plant scientifically called Solanum lycopersicum genuinely originated in Peru and was firstly cultivated in Central America.  The Mexicans were the first natives to use this tasty food plant called tomato as an ingredient in preparing meals which eventually became known to other part of the world. 

Tomato belongs to a member of the Nightshade family. The history and its mystery can be attributed to its scientific name. Lycopersicon means, “Wolf peach” in Latin which means that “like a wolf, this fruit is poisonous. 

The French natives often called it pomme d’amour, which means “love apple,” They believed it had aphrodisiac traits. 

The Italians called it Pomodoro or “golden apple” The name “golden apple” was as a result of the coloration of the first fruit ever found in Italy. After a period of time, it was widely spread to the Mediterranean regions by Spanish Conquistadors, and used for a very long time before the Europeans saw it appealing as a healthy food spice in the mid-nineteenth century. 

The United States first domesticated it in 1820 and grew large hectares of this vegetable/fruit afterward. 

HEALTH IMPLICATIONS

There are quite a number of great health benefits associated with the consumption of tomato, It is a naturally grown fruit with different nutrients, it is rich in Lycopene, folic acid, lutein, beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, calcium, vitamin E, alpha-lipoic acid and choline.  

Lycopene which is one the most important nutrients in tomato has been proven to prevent the growth of cancerous cells, Cancer is pervasive deadly disease associated with the growth of malignant cells in body organs. 

This disease has ravaged the world in recent years. Cancer is a nutritional, lifestyle and hereditary, it can be passed on from one generation to another. Early detection is the best cure for cancer. Consumption of tomato can help prevent the occurrence of this disease. 

It is a powerful antioxidant which basically inhibits or help in the repair of body damage which are attributed to oxygen metabolism. It fortifies the human body by supporting the immune system.  Practically everyone knows the vital function of the brain. 

It is a delicate organ that controls every other part of the body and as such needs to be healthy for a productive life. Regular consumption of tomato helps protect brain cells from damage, enable proper muscular movements and improve heart efficiency.

Diabetes is a leading cause of death in America. This lifestyle disease is known to have grave health consequences. Tomato fruit provides the necessary nutrient needed to maintain normal blood sugar level. The presence of choline helps with learning and memory, better sleep, and muscle movement.

Tomato Soup with turkey

Combination meat always creates appetizer soup, do not take my word for it, try it and see what you have been missing!

Ingredients:

A portion of smoked turkey meat

A portion of beef skin meat

Dried meat

1 can 15 (ounces) of tomato sauce

Pepper 

1 ½ onion

A piece of fresh ginger (1 tsp of ginger paste)

Salt

Spices

Preparation:

1. Wash both meat and place them in the soup pot

2. Blend half onion and pour over the meat

3. Peeled 1 whole onion and drop into the soup

4. Add the powdered pepper

5. Salt the meat to taste

6. Add spices (optional)

7. Add 1 or  2 cups of water to steam the meat until the

    onion is tender

8. Remove the one and blend it and pour over the meat

9. Add the tomato sauce and add enough water to cook the soup on medium heat for less than hour or until reduced to the level you like taste to make sure it’s ready to serve and enjoy it with your family!

Note:

That I did not add fresh tomatoes I am trying to show you what is possible when you feel like having soup but, you do not have enough ingredients or you just don’t have enough for the grocery; you can make soup like that with any meat.

BENEFITS

You can rarely have a decent and palatable meal without the tomato spice in it. Tomato is an essential food ingredient that has enormous nutritional values. Adequate consumption of tomatoes helps reduce the possibility of being diagnosed for cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure. The secret behind a healthy and shiny skin is the tomato fruit; it makes your skin glow. It also aids digestion by preventing constipation. Consuming tomato does not only give you a culinary pleasure, but it also boosts the human system. 

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Tomato is a juicy berry fruit that can be cultivated anywhere in the world all that is needed is adequate soil nutrients and periodic weeding to prevent plant death.  It is globally accepted and used as an ingredient in most cuisines. It is used to garnish special delicacies from salads to sauces and soups. However, excessive intake of this squashy fruit can adversely affect the human body system.

Just as the tomato fruit has tremendous health benefits and advantages; it also has its downsides. Malic and citric acid are present in tomato fruit; these contents are capable of causing heart burns and acid reflux in the human system if is consumed excessively.  This condition makes you feel uncomfortable, as acid tend to flow up the digestive tract during digestion. Another side effect of excessive tomato consumption is prostate cancer which is common in men. Lycopene is a strong anti-oxidant found in tomato fruit, this leads to urination difficulty which can adversely affect the prostate gland. 

Tomato is rich in protein and contains certain protein compounds such as; Histamine and Solanine, they basically help to strengthen calcium tissues in the body, but can cause joint inflammation if present in high concentration. A person that consumes tomato excessively is also prone to skin rashes and diarrhea. It is therefore imperative for this spicy berry to be consumed cautiously at the right proportion in order to stay healthy.