All the reasons to start eating green tomatoes

We are all used to eating red tomatoes, but did you know that it is also worthwhile to eat them green, just before ripening? We have collected for you some prominent health benefits of green tomatoes. Just don’t forget that like any other food, green tomatoes should be consumed in moderation.

Green tomatoes contain beta-carotene, which is a precursor to vitamin A, which is important for preventing eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (one of the significant causes of blindness in old age) and also helps prevent certain types of cancer.

research Published in 2015 by researchers at the University of Iowa found that a certain compound in green tomatoes can protect against muscle wasting in old age. Muscular wasting is actually a group of incurable diseases manifested by the weakening of the muscles, which can lead to a state of disability. These diseases are more common among the elderly, some of them result from spontaneous DNA damage, others can be caused by a genetic defect and be inherited.

The research was done on laboratory mice and it tested the effect of tomatidine, a compound found in green tomatoes – on the muscles and whether this compound can also affect the chance of developing muscle wasting. They found that tomatidine causes genetic changes that reverse the changes that occur in body cells in people with muscle wasting. Lab mice that took a tomatidine supplement had stronger and more durable muscles.

Did you know that green tomatoes have more vitamin C than cooked spinach? Vitamin C is important, among other things, for maintaining a strong immune system, preventing diseases and maintaining the appearance of young and healthy skin. In addition, vitamin C is an antioxidant that fights free radicals that damage the body’s cells and encourage the development of various chronic diseases. Since vitamin C helps with iron absorption, it is recommended to combine green tomatoes with vegetables that contain a lot of iron.

There is nothing better than eating refreshing fruits and vegetables in the hot months. What makes vegetables and fruits refreshing? Their water content, of course. And green tomatoes have no less than 94 percent water, which not only helps us restore the water to the body that it loses when it’s hot outside – but also contributes to a more efficient digestion of the food we eat. Green tomatoes also have a significant amount of dietary fiber that contributes to maintaining a healthy digestive system, prevents constipation and diarrhea and reduces the risk of colon cancer. Have you tried green tomato gazpacho yet?

Potassium is an essential mineral that is important for the cardiovascular system, muscles, kidneys and more. Consuming foods containing potassium can reduce the risk of early death from stroke and other heart diseases and can help prevent calcium loss. Fortunately, one of the best ways to get potassium is to consume green tomatoes, which contain quite a bit of this essential mineral.