12 Tangy Facts About Tomato

Tomatoes are fruits that nutritionists classify as vegetables. A fruit is a ripened flower ovary that contains seeds, according to botany. People were fixated on tomatoes for some reason, but the “fruit or vegetable” question could apply to any vegetable with seeds. Tomatoes are the primary dietary source of lycopene, an antioxidant linked to a variety of health benefits, including a lower risk of heart disease and cancer. Vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K are all abundant in this fruit.

1. Tomatoes and cucumbers are fruits, not vegetables.
2. The tomato is native to South America, and its history has origins traced back to the early Aztecs around 700 A.D. It was not until around the 16th century that Europeans were introduced to this fruit when the early explorers set sail to discover new lands.
3. China is the biggest producer of tomatoes in the world. It is also the biggest consumer of this tangy fruit cum vegetable.
4. Greece consumes the most tomatoes per capita, followed by other Middle Eastern and Mediterranean countries. Italy, known for its use of tomato sauces with pasta and on pizza, ranks sixth on the list.
5. In the year 2020, the annual production of tomatoes was approximately 180 million tonnes.
6. There are seven popular tomato categories: Cherry tomatoes, Grape tomatoes, Roma Tomatoes, Beefsteak tomatoes, Heirloom tomatoes, Tomato on the wine, and Green tomatoes.
7. The World Record for the tallest tomato plant is 19.8 meters (65 ft).
8. Tomatoes have a number of health benefits. Some of them are: it improves heart health, prevents cancer, and improves skin health.
9. Tomatoes are comprised of 94% water which is pretty high as compare to some other watery fruits like oranges, blueberries, and pineapples, which are comprised of 80 percent.
10. Tomatoes are grown in wide varieties as there are over 10000 different varieties of tomato.
11. Beefmaster Hybrid is the best hybrid available in the United States market. One tomato can weigh up to 1 kg on average.
12. The world record for growing the heaviest and biggest tomato is named after Dan Sutherland (USA). The tomato weighed 10 lb (4.896 kg), and its circumference was 33 in(83.8 cm)

Nutrition Facts of Tomato

Here are the nutritional profile of one cup of chopped or sliced raw tomatoes.

• Calories: 32 kcal
• Water: 170.14g
• Protein: 1.58g
• Fiber: 2.2g
• Carbohydrate: 5.8 g
• Cholesterol: 0g
• Calcium: 18 mg
• Potassium: 427 mg
• Phosphorus: 43 mg
• Vitamin C: 24.7 mg
• Vitamin A: 1499 international units (IU)