Scientifically known as Lycopersicon esculentum, the tomato is the fruit of a plant of the Solanaceae family, native to South America.
Despite being technically a fruit, tomatoes are generally classified as vegetables.
The water content of tomatoes is around 95%. The other 5% is composed mainly of carbohydrates and fibre.
A medium-sized tomato (123 g) contains only 18 calories. They are also very low in fat and have zero cholesterol. In addition, they are an excellent source of antioxidants, dietary fibre, minerals and vitamins.
Tomatoes have a low quantity of calories. Although they contain simple sugars that give them a slight sweetness, as well as some organic acids that provide the characteristic sour taste, the truth is that tomatoes are the ideal complement to a slimming diet.
Whether raw, fried, baked, or in a sauce, juice or soup, tomatoes are a nutritious and refreshing food due to their flavour and low calories. Especially in the summer, they are included in diets renowned for their high nutritional content, such as the Mediterranean diet. The health benefits of this simple fruit are much higher than those of many drugs because, without using chemicals that are harmful to the body, they are able to naturally generate changes for the better in the human metabolism.
The calories in this food, which belongs to the fresh vegetable category, provide our body with the energy it needs to perform the daily activities that require more effort.
Our body uses tomato calories as a source of energy for any physical activity such as running or playing sports, as well as for intellectual tasks that require a high level of concentration. Without calories such as those provided by tomatoes, we would not have enough energy to face the day.
