The healthy all-rounder for your everyday life – is tomato juice a real fountain of youth?
Tomatoes are an amazing and versatile vegetable that is used in numerous cuisines around the world. Their popularity is not only due to their taste, but also the numerous health benefits they offer. From fresh salads to hearty soups or the juice that this article is about, tomatoes can be found in countless recipes and enrich any menu.
The Exciting Journey of the Tomato
Did you know that the tomato originally comes from the Andes in South America and was already cultivated by the Aztecs and other pre-Columbian cultures? This red fruit was brought to Europe in the 16th century by the Spanish conqueror Hernán Cortés after he conquered the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan (today's Mexico City). At first, tomatoes were viewed with suspicion in Europe and were even considered poisonous because they belong to the nightshade family, which also includes poisonous plants such as deadly nightshade and thorn apple.
Tomatoes are now the most popular vegetable in Germany. In 2021, German households bought an average of 13.5 kg of tomatoes per capita. Germany is the largest importer of fresh tomatoes in Europe, with a market share of around 20%. In 2022, Germany imported 633,000 tons of tomatoes worth 1.46 billion euros, mainly from the Netherlands, Spain and Morocco. To better imagine this: This amount is roughly equivalent to the weight of 126,600 adult elephants!
But what makes tomato juice so particularly healthy?
Your daily dose of health in a glass
Tomato juice is a real health booster! It is low in calories and consists of 95% water, which makes it refreshing and healthy. But what makes tomato juice so special?
Tomato juice contains many important nutrients that benefit your body. Vitamin C strengthens your immune system and helps with iron absorption, which can prevent colds and speed up healing. Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant in tomato juice, protects your cells by neutralizing free radicals. These unstable molecules can damage your cells and contribute to aging processes and various diseases. Lycopene can therefore reduce the risk of certain types of cancer and protect your skin from damage caused by UV rays. Tomato juice also contains potassium, which is good for your heart and regulates blood pressure, which can prevent heart disease and stroke.
Purchased or homemade?
Homemade tomato juice often contains more nutrients because it is fresh and without preservatives. In contrast, store-bought tomato juice is pasteurized to extend its shelf life, which can lead to a loss of some heat-sensitive vitamins such as vitamin C. Additionally, added salts or sugars can alter the nutritional value.
But be careful! Eating green parts of tomatoes or unripe fruits can cause nausea and vomiting due to the tomatidine they contain. So if you ever think about trying a green tomato smoothie, don't do it unless you want to spend the rest of the day in the bathroom!
How to bring more tomato juice into your everyday life
Tomato juice is easy to integrate into everyday life - whether as a refreshing drink, as a base for smoothies or as an ingredient in savory dishes. Here are a few simple tips:
Some of the tastiest and most nutritious tomato varieties include Brandywine, known for its rich flavor and high nutrient content. This variety contains many vitamins and minerals. Campari tomatoes are smaller, very sweet and juicy, perfect for fresh juices and cocktails. Goliath tomatoes are large fruits that are particularly rich in vitamins and have a sweet, juicy flavor. Cherry tomatoes often have higher levels of nutrients such as lycopene and vitamin C compared to larger tomato varieties.
In addition to their popularity in the supermarket, tomatoes are also easy to grow in your own garden. Growing tomatoes is not only good for your health, but also for the planet. By growing your own tomatoes, you can ensure that your tomatoes are free of pesticides, while also saving on transport, which reduces your carbon footprint. Varieties such as cherry tomatoes and determinate varieties such as the Roma tomato are particularly easy to care for and high yielding.
Large tomatoes like the beefsteak tomato are juicier and are great for making juice. However, smaller tomatoes like cherry tomatoes are often sweeter and contain higher concentrations of certain nutrients like lycopene and vitamin C. A mix of the two can produce a balanced and flavorful juice. And how can you add even more variety to your tomato juice?
Delicious recipe ideas
Tomato juice is wonderfully versatile. Refine it with a pinch of salt, pepper and a dash of lemon juice. Try a tomato smoothie by combining tomato juice with carrot juice and a hint of ginger - ideal for a healthy start to the day. Or use tomato juice as a base for a delicious, warming tomato soup, perfect for cold days.
With these tips and information, you are well equipped to enjoy the versatile tomato juice to the fullest. Cheers and bon appetit!
PS: If you find normal tomato juice too monotonous every day, then get creative and mix in other ingredients, like ginger. Why exactly ginger - what is so healthy about the tuber? You can find out more in our article on ginger, take a look!
