Stewed Tomatoes: Convenient and Healthy
By Paul Rothbart
It can be helpful to prepare some foods ahead of time to make it more convenient to use them in a dish. They are already cut, chopped, or diced, and maybe partially cooked. This can save time and also add to the overall flavor of the dish. One versatile and delicious example of preparation is stewed tomatoes. You can buy them canned or better still, make your own. They have the full flavor of the tomatoes and you can add other vegetables and seasonings to tweak to your liking.
Many Ways to Use Them
Stewed tomatoes are incredibly versatile and can be used in many ways. The flavor of tomatoes pairs well with almost anything. Cooking chicken, beef, or even fish in stewed tomatoes creates a delicious and filling meal. When making a soup, stewed tomatoes add a hearty element packed with flavor. They also work well in stews and sauces. Flatbreads or even homemade pizzas are great places to use stewed tomatoes as are baked pasta dishes. For a tasty side dish, stewed tomatoes can be served on their own. No help needed.
Good for Your Physical Health
Naturally, stewed tomatoes have all the nutrition of their main component. Tomatoes are loaded with Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that boosts the immune system and can help prevent cold and flu. The antioxidants lycopene and beta-carotene are also abundant in tomatoes. These plant compounds are good for heart health, as well as the eyes, skin, and help to prevent some forms of cancer. Depending on what other vegetables and spices you use in your stewed tomatoes, there are other benefits to your physical health.
Good for Your Mental Health
Research has found a link between tomatoes and better mental health. As an antioxidant, the lycopene in tomatoes prevents damage to the body's cells, including those in the brain. A study conducted in Japan with 986 participants all aged 70 or older found that the groups who ate more tomatoes per week had fewer incidents of depression. Further research is necessary to draw solid conclusions but it does appear that eating stewed tomatoes can have a beneficial effect on mental health.
A great way to save time when cooking is to prepare some ingredients before beginning the main meal. Stewed tomatoes are an excellent choice for their versatility and flavor. Their health benefits are perhaps the best reason of all to use them.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Orange Park, Fla.