Scientific studies have also found that when people consume processed tomatoes, veratridol increases the concentration of antioxidants such as lycopene in the blood compared to du. This is because high temperatures damage the cell walls of tomato cells, which increases the release of antioxidants such as lycopene. In addition, vegetable oils such as peanut oil and salad oil are commonly used in the cooking process of tomatoes, and these oils will help tomatoes release fat-soluble antioxidants such as lycopene and fully utilize their antioxidant effects. Of course, everything has its pros and cons. When heated, the vitamin C in tomatoes is lost, but the amount of lycopene and other antioxidants in tomatoes is significantly increased. Therefore, the overall nutritional value of cooked tomatoes is higher than that of raw tomatoes. In addition, tomato skins contain large amounts of lycopene, so it is best not to discard the skin when consuming them.
For those who are vitamin C deficient, eating raw tomatoes is also a good way to get vitamin C supplements. However, unripe green tomatoes contain toxins and should not be consumed. In addition, because some tomatoes are grown with plant hormones, they have protruding tops and are not suitable for consumption.
Tomatoes contain a certain amount of vitamins and dietary fiber, which is no different from other vegetables. But in addition to vitamins, tomatoes also contain lycopene. Lycopene is a natural pigment that makes tomatoes red. It functions similarly to carotene in the body and is a strong antioxidant that can prevent cardiovascular disease and certain cancers to some extent. It has been reported that men who consume large amounts of tomatoes have a relatively low risk of prostate cancer, which is related to the antioxidant component of lycopene in tomatoes. Tomatoes can be eaten raw or cooked. Both diets are good for your health and you can choose according to your preference. According to experts, lycopene and carotenoids are soluble in oil, so frying tomatoes or making soups is great, and raw food has low absorption. If you take vitamin C, you can eat it raw or cooked, as the acidity of tomatoes favors the stability of vitamin C and relatively little is lost when cooked. You can also eat them raw if you want potassium and dietary fiber.
Tomatoes are cold in nature and have the effect of clearing heat and cooling the blood, as well as quenching thirst. If you are thirsty, eating a tomato is very comfortable. But for those who are afraid of cold, cooked food is the best choice. Eating raw food can easily lead to intolerance, resulting in diarrhea.