TOMATOES: FRESH AND DETERIORATION (SPOILT) IN THE MARKET

Good day, This is another post on what I have observed in the market yesterday, Some of these Tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentu) was very neat, Fresh and why others were deteriorated, I then began thinking what can lead to deteriorating the fruit or vegetable called (Tomatoes). Tomato(Lycopersicum esculentu) is the richest source of nutrients, dietary fibres antioxidant like lycopene and beta-carotene, which protect cells from cancer.

Tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentu) are the most popular vegetable in the home garden which are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colours; including red, yellow, pink and orange. They are a rich source of vitamin A and C, and also contain minerals like iron, phosphorus.

According to Research, Regular consumption of tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentu) reduced the risk of some disease like osteoporosis cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

Then, What is the Nutritional Value of Tomatoes?, What are the Health Benefit of Tomato?, What are the Public Health Benefit of Tomatoes?, How to Store Tomatoes?, What do tomatoes overripe? and What is the Production of Tomato in the World?. Don't be disturbed, all these questions are been discussed below.

Tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum) are one of the major fruits or vegetables crop popularly consumed all over the world. Tomatoes can be consumed fresh or as processed product. They are cultivated globally for the consumption of man because of its nutritional value.

Meanwhile, they are the world’s largest vegetable crop before potato and top the list of canned vegetables. They are consumed in a variety of processed products like sauce, chutney, juice, diced, soup, paste, ketchup, puree etc. or eaten directly as a raw vegetable. They are a rich source of vitamin A and C, and also contain minerals like iron, phosphorus.

Furthermore, it is the number one richest source of nutrients, dietary fibres antioxidant like lycopene and beta-carotene, which protect cells from cancer. Nevertheless, they have a short generation time of about three to four months. It is well fitted in different cropping systems of cereals grains, pulses and oilseeds.

Hence, it is the most widely grown solanaceous vegetable crops grown worldwide under outdoor and indoor conditions. Stated that tomato is one of the most popular and widely grown plants in Africa as well as in the world. It is the most important vegetable worldwide, in terms of the number of vitamins and minerals it contributes to the diet.

Also contributed to the history of tomatoes saying that they are the most popular vegetable in the home garden which are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colours; including red, yellow, orange, and pink. Sizes vary from the bite-sized cherry 6 tomatoes to the giant beefsteak varieties.

Tomatoes may be round, oblate (fruit are flattened at the top and bottom), or pear-shaped. Tomatoes are low in calories and a good source of vitamin C and antioxidants. Determinate tomatoes are small, compact plants that grow to a certain height, then flower and set all their fruit within a short time.

What is the Nutritional Value of Tomatoes?

NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF TOMATOES

Tomato has become an important cash and industrial crop in many parts of the world not only because of its economic importance but also because of its nutritional value to the human diet and human health. Tomato is rich in vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids, iron, sugar, dietary fibres, vitamin B and C, phosphorus.

Therefore serves as a source of this nutrient when consumed. Also contributed to the nutritional value of tomatoes saying that it is an excellent source 12 of many nutrients and secondary metabolites that are important for human health; mineral matter, vitamins C, and E, B-carotene, lycopene, flavonoids, organic acids, phenolic and chlorophyll.
It provides a significant proportion of the total antioxidants in the diet.

In addition, tomato skin and seeds were reported by Elsayed and Amany (2011) saying that it contains essential amino acids and the tomato seeds had higher amounts of minerals (Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu). They also have monounsaturated fatty acids especially oleic acid and linolenic acid.

What are the Health Benefit of Tomato?

HEALTH BENEFIT OF TOMATO

Regular consumption of tomatoes is good because intake of tomatoes makes people healthier and reduced the risk of some disease like osteoporosis cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Tomatoes are the biggest of dietary lycopene; a powerful antioxidant, unlike nutrients in most fresh fruits and vegetables, has even greater bioavailability after cooking and processing.

The protective mechanisms of tomatoes that contain anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic functions. According to records, the tomato contains higher amounts of lycopene, a type of carotenoid with anti-oxidant properties which helps in reducing the incidence of some chronic disease, cardiovascular disorders and such as cancer.

Although the main contributing compound in tomatoes is lycopene which is responsible for lower risk of prostate cancer and also reduces the incidence of a variety of cancer in general.

Lycopene Improves the quantity and swimming spread of sperm whilst reducing the number of abnormal sperm in man because it enhances fertility. Tomato consumption also helps to reduce old age-related diseases like diarrhoea, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases (Freeman and Relmers, 2010).

Tomatoes provide a tremendous amount of natural vitamins and minerals to the body such as vitamin K, vitamin B1, B3, B5, B6, B7, the highest average intakes of lycopene were linked to almost a 30% reduction in the incidence of cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease, respectively. Moreover, Pochelli (2015) stated twenty health benefits of tomatoes.

It is also believed to be a powerful blood purifier and clear up urinary tract infections. Tomatoes are also high in fibre which aids easy digestion and 15 can assist in weight loss. These numerous health benefits of tomatoes and tomato-based foods may be linked to the high global production.

What are the Public Health Benefit of Tomatoes?

SOME OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFIT OF TOMATO

1. Reduces breast cancer.The high amount of carotenoids including alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene present in tomatoes helps to reduce the high risk of breast cancer.

1. Prevent Stroke. Lycopene present in tomato helps to prevent stroke

3.Protect vision and degenerative eye disease. The presence of phytonutrients beta-carotene, lutein, and Zeaxanthin in tomato helps to improve vision and protect the eye from degeneration.

1. Restore biochemical balance in diabetics. Presence of lycopene in tomatoes helps to restore biochemical balance in diabetics.

5.Reduces prostate cancer risk

1. Consumption of fresh and healthy tomatoes helps to reduce the risk of prostate cancer because tomatoes are rich in natural fibre which maintains the health of the colon.

1. Increases fat burning capacity Tomatoes speed the body’s fat burning
   capacity by over 30% because it stimulates the production of the amino acid carnitine.

1. Reduces heart disease

1. Vitamin and mineral richTomatoes provide the body with a numerous amount of natural vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, vitamin K, etc.

Tomatoes can also reduce damage by smoking including second-hand smokeTomatoes contain coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid that work to protect the body from carcinogens that are produced from cigarette smoke..
They naturally enhance the flavour

1. Dense in phytonutrients Tomatoes contain flavones, flavonols, glycosides, hydroxycinnamic acids and even fatty acid derivatives.

How to Store Tomatoes?

STORAGE OF TOMATOES

If purchased from a retail outlet most ripe tomatoes retain best eating quality for two to three days if stored at room temperature.

One can hold under-ripped tomatoes from a retail outlet for as long as five days. For short time storage, it is best to keep the tomatoes in a well-vented ripening dome or a paper bag at the coolest room temperature possible.

Different species of tomato which subjected to beatified traits that extend the food storage life, examples are some large fruited “vine ripe” types, cherry aroma types, cluster tomatoes, and many. Tomato is not usually recommended for refrigerating because tomato can cause flavour loss and they may be held at room temperature for up to five days. However, softening delay of “just ripe” tomatoes by holding them for a short time in refrigerated storage flavour loss will be minimal if cold storage last less than three days.

What do tomatoes overripe?

OVERRIPE TOMATOES

The only time refrigeration is recommended is when a tomato is overripe, indicated by slightly soft flesh and very red colour. Tomatoes may be refrigerated for a preservative condition for a few additional days and flavour loss will be reduced as long as storage lasts no longer than few days or three days.

What is the Production of Tomato in the World?

Tomato is an essential fruit and grown commonly in the world as horticultural produce and by third weight ranks in global production, only behind sweet potatoes and potatoes.

In China, It’s about 4.8 million hectares of harvested land area with an estimated production of 162 million tonnes. China is the leads world tomato production with about 50 million tonnes, second by India with 17.5 million tonnes.

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