Tomatoes-The role of tomatoes in health and safety

Hello Steemit friends,

How are you there? I hope you are all well by the grace of Allah. Today, I will discuss tomatoes, which are a lightly sour and sweet fruit or vegetable. Its scientific name is Solanum lycopersicum. The tomato is one of the most widely used fruits in the world. But because it is an important cooking ingredient, it has become more known as a vegetable than a fruit. Now I am discussing about tomatoes.

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History: -

While examining the history of tomatoes, it is evident that the first cultivation of tomatoes began in the West South America and Central America. If we read the history of tomatoes, we can see that in the early 500 BC, the Aztecs and other Mesoamerican people first started cultivating tomatoes. Gradually, this delicious fruit or vegetable spread all over the world. And became equally popular among everyone.
Tomatoes are a food that is not only popular because of their taste, but also because its taste, tomatoes contain a lot of vitamin C and other nutrients. Thinking about taste and nutrition, we eat this fruit or vegetable in various ways. Sometimes we eat it directly, sometimes we eat it as a cooking vegetable, and sometimes we eat it as an ingredient in salads. In addition, tomatoes occupy a prominent place in our fast-food items, including pizza, burgers, and sandwiches.

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Tomato Producing Countries: -

Almost all countries in the world produce tomatoes. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the estimated production of tomatoes in 2023 was 186 million metric tons. And out of these, the countries producing the most tomatoes are-

China: -

China is the largest tomato-producing country in the world, and Its production was 69.25 million tons, which is the 37% or total production and in first place as the world's tomato-producing country.

India: -

India ranks second in terms of tomato production. Its production was 21.26 million tons, which is 11% of the world's total production.

Turkey: -

Turkey is third in terms of tomato production. This country produces 13.1 million tons, which is 7% of the total production.

United States: -

The United States is the fourth country that produces tomatoes, and it produces 10.47 million tons of tomatoes, which is 5.6% of the total production.

Italy: -

Italy is the fifth-largest producer of tomatoes in the world. The country produces 6.64 million tons of tomatoes, which is 3.6% of the world's total production.

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Types of tomatoes: -

There are many types of tomatoes, such as: -
Cherry tomatoes:-These are small and sweet and are suitable for salads.
Roma (plum) tomatoes: This type of tomato is characterized by its low water content and works great for making sauces.
Beefsteak tomatoes:-These types of tomatoes are large and juicy, making them ideal for making sandwiches.
Green tomatoes:- The unripe version is used in pickles or fried foods.

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Tomato Nutritional Value and Contribution to Maintaining Health: -

Tomato is a delicious fruit or vegetable that is low in calories but very high in nutrients. The nutritional values of this fruit are: -
It contains vitamins C, A, K, B9, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Tomatoes play an important role in maintaining health. The benefits of tomatoes are: -

• Lycopene helps reduce LDL cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as reducing the risk of heart disease.
• The antioxidants in tomatoes help protect against prostate, lung, and stomach cancer.
• Vitamin C increases collagen production, while lycopene protects against sun damage.
• Beta-carotene and lutein maintain good eyesight and reduce the risk of macular degeneration.
• High water and fiber content aid digestion and support a healthy gut

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Non-benefit of the tomato:-

Although tomatoes are a very tasty and nutritious fruit or vegetable, some negative effects have been observed. The negative effects of tomatoes are: -

• People with acid reflux (GERD) or heartburn may experience their previous symptoms more if they consume tomatoes or sauces and ketchup or foods made with tomatoes in large quantities.
• Many people may be allergic to tomatoes. If they consume tomatoes, various problems may occur: -
  Itching may occur in the face, lips, or throat.
  Rash or hives may develop.
  Sometimes, breathing difficulties may also occur.
• Tomatoes can cause joint pain of people with arthritis. Although more research is needed on this subject.
• Tomatoes contain oxalates and potassium. Therefore, many people may be at risk if consumed in excess.
• Some people develop gas or bloating after eating tomatoes.

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Conclusion:-

Although tomatoes have some disadvantages, there are very few compared to their benefits. Tomatoes have become so integrated into our diet that we cannot think of eating without them. However, we should eat them with care for our health. We should remember that we eat all our food to maintain our health, so if tomatoes pose a threat to our health, we should stay away from them.

Thank you so much for reading my post.