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Introduction
*Tomatoes are the fruits of the plant Lycopersicon lycopersicum, in the same family as potatoes, tobacco, peppers, etc.
*Tomatoes come in a variety of colors – yellow, green, orange, pink, red, and purple.
*Dehydrated tomatoes are chopped tomatoes from which almost all the moisture is removed. It is also available in powder form.
*These are tomatoes have extended shelf life (for several years), weigh less, easy to store, and are inexpensive than the fresh ones.
*They need to be rehydrated for about 15-20 minutes and then cooked. On rehydration, the weight and volume increases 2.5 to 3 times their dry weight.
*These are excellent as emergency foods, and widely used in army, military, hiking, etc.
*Rehydrated tomato flakes do not have a fresh look or texture like the fresh ones but cooked dehydrated tomatoes taste almost similar to cooked fresh tomatoes. They taste great in soups, stews, etc.
*Buying and storage: Select good quality dehydrated tomato flakes or powder. They keep very well for several months to several years when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. No need to refrigerate or add oxygen absorbers to the storage container.
Is it raw?
Yes and No.
*Yes, generally dehydrated tomatoes are raw.
*No, because sometimes, commercially prepared dehydrated tomatoes and tomato powder are sulphured. Make sure you read the label.
Health Benefits
1. Dehydrated tomatoes are low in calories, fats, sodium and absolutely no cholesterol.
2. The most widely studied phytonutrient in tomatoes is a carotenoid, lycopene.
3. Lycopene has powerful anti-oxidant properties.
4. Lycopene acts with other nutrients synergistically (rather than alone), inhibits the growth of caner cells, and reduces the risk of various types of cancers like prostate, breast, colon, lung, pancreas, etc.
5. Very good source of Vitamin C, a natural water soluble antioxidant. It enhances the body's immune system, increases the elasticity of skin and blood vessels, and prevents bruising of the skin.
6. Very good source of Vitamin A and betacarotenes. They enhance the eye sight, fight against acne, and result in smooth radiant skin.
7. Vitamins A and C together also act as powerful antioxidants. They reduce the risk of inflammatory, cardiovascular and degenerative diseases.
8. Good source of B-group vitamins like thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, and Vitamin B6, which are essential to enhance the energy production from the foods.
9. B-group vitamins along with a good amount potassium reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis, cholesterol build up in the blood, heart attack, diabetic heart disease, etc.
10. Very good source of manganese, which is an essential cofactor in many enzymatic reactions in the body, especially in the production of energy and antioxidants defenses.
11. Good source of copper, which reduces the risk of inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, enhances the activity of enzymes that are needed to maintain the elasticity of blood vessels, ligaments and joints.
12. Good source of iron, which helps in respiration at the cellular level by synthesizing hemoglobin that helps to carry oxygen to cells.
13. Good source of dietary fiber. It adds roughage to the contents of the intestines, promotes satiety, promotes the health of the colon, and also helps in relieving constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticular disorders, etc.
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