Tomato Juice – A Healthy Experience
Posted June 24th, 2011
Tomato is a red fruit that is savory and sometimes slightly sweet in taste. The name “tomato” originates from the Aztec “xitomatl”, which means “a plump thing with a navel.” It is a seasonal fruit grown between May and October. But it can be found anywhere throughout the year. Tomato was first introduced in Europe in the 1500s. The French described it as the apple of love while the German dubbed it as the apple of paradise. In any case, no matter what it is called, it is a fruit abundant in benefits! It is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants! Let us go through the details of what a tomato does for you:
· Rich in Vitamin A, B and C: The vitamin A in tomatoes will help you maintain your bones and teeth well. It will also help your eyesight and fight infectious diseases. Vitamin B on the hand gives you increased energy, good digestion, healthy skin, hair and nails plus it helps to keep your nervous system healthy. While the Vitamin C helps you get rid of tiny electrons that disrupt your cells when they combine with other cell molecule.
· Powerful antioxidants Carotene Lycopene: Found in large concentration in tomatoes, Lycopene health properties are many. It is known to shield against from heart problems and arteriosclerosis. According to research it also helps prevent some types of cancer like stomach, breast, colon, prostate and cervix cancer.
· Rich in minerals like potassium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorous, calcium and iron: Eating a tomato will also give you high intake of minerals. In addition the tomato contains beta-carotene, fibers and favonoids. This makes this fruit a great anti-oxidant and antiseptic.
This is why one should include tomatoes in one’s daily diet. One easy way of consuming tomatoes is juicing it from a juice extractor.
Here is a very simple tomato juice recipe to get you started on the road to better health:
Ingredients
· 3 pounds of fresh and ripe diced tomatoes
· 1 ¼ cups of diced celery
· 1/3 cup of diced onion
· 1 teaspoon salt
· A dash of black pepper
· 6-8 drops of your favorite Tabasco sauce
Method:
Mix all the ingredients in a large non-reactive pot (use only stainless steel). Cook the ingredients uncovered in a simmering point till the mixture becomes soupy. It will take about 25 minutes.
After 25 minutes take the mixture off the heat and force it through a sieve, chinoise or food mill. You can also use a power juicer or blender to grind the mixture thoroughly into a juice. After cooling it completely, store it covered in the refrigerator. This juice will last about a week.
Drink this juice with your family to stay fresh in the summer heat and to be healthy!
