Have you ever questioned if a tomato is a vegetable or a fruit? Because they grow from blooming plant ovaries and have seeds, tomatoes are categorized as the fruit by botanists. But from a culinary standpoint, tomatoes are typically regarded as vegetables because they are prepared and served that way. So, savoring tomato soup could be a tasty method to maximize the health advantages of tomatoes. During the colder months, you may enjoy a hearty, warm bowl of soup or a cool, refreshing gazpacho.
The traditional tomato soup is a soup that can be eaten throughout the year. It is a flavorful, healthful soup that is tangy and appealing to children and adults. This mouthwatering soup never disappoints, whether you serve it with croutons or dunk a grilled cheese sandwich. Although it is simple to make and always delicious, is it healthy.
Tomato Soup Nutrition Facts
What is Tomato Soup?
Tomato is the main ingredient of tomato soup, including seasonings and sauces. It has a choice of sides and can be served hot or cold. One of the best comfort foods in the world, tomato soup frequently makes people think of their youth. To make it, tomatoes are blanched, and their skins are peeled and then pureed. Its flavor can be improved by adding items like celery, garlic, onion, and hot peppers.
The tomato was first cultivated in South America and brought to Europe in the sixteenth century. Up until the 19th century, these fruits were supposed to be dangerous. Joseph Campbell, a businessman, had the idea to make canned condensed tomato soup at the turn of the century to save money on shipping and storage. As a result, tomato soup gained popularity.
In India, pureed tomatoes are combined with fresh cream and served in a creamy soup garnished with fried croutons. Tomato soup is typically eaten in the US with grilled cheese sandwiches.
Is Tomato Soup Healthy?
Each bowl of tomato soup has several elements that are very good for your health. It has antioxidants, essential minerals, and vitamins E, A, C, and K that can keep you fit and healthy. Tomato soup has several health advantages, including:
Bone Health
By boosting bone mineral density, the tomato soup ingredient lycopene regulates bone metabolism and aids in the prevention of osteoporosis. Regular tomato soup consumption lowers blood levels of TNF alpha by 34%. Lycopene insufficiency can worsen oxidative stress in the bones and cause unfavorable alterations to the tissues. Make tomato soup frequently at mealtimes to prevent these problems!
Cardiovascular Health
The high levels of vitamin C in tomato soup may strengthen the heart, give arterial protection, and shield it from artery blockage and stroke. Additionally, it might aid in lowering blood vessel fat buildup and lowering harmful cholesterol. The clumping of platelet cells in the blood may be prevented by tomato soup.
Disease-Fighting Lycopene
As previously indicated, lycopene, the pigment responsible for the fruit’s vivid color, is abundant in tomato soup. Raw tomatoes have less lycopene than processed tomatoes do. Free radicals, a chemical that accelerates aging, create oxidative damage that lycopene counteracts. Additionally, a lycopene-rich diet can help prevent chronic illnesses and stroke. The amount of lycopene in a cup of tomato soup is 13.3 milligrams. That’s all your body needs to stay in fighting shape!
Blood Circulation
Tomato soup’s selenium encourages blood flow, preventing anemia. One of tomato soup’s incredible advantages! Seven micrograms of selenium, or 11 percent of the daily recommended limit, are present in one serving of tomato soup.
Mental Health
Tomato soup’s high copper concentrations strengthen the neurological system, and potassium facilitates the flow of nerve messages. All of them make sure your mental health is in tip-top shape.
Vitamins
Vitamins A and C are abundant in tomato soup. The growth of tissues requires vitamin A, and it helps the newborn cells develop into adult tissues by turning on their genes. A bowl of tomato soup contains 16% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A. It takes vitamin C to keep tendons and ligaments healthy, and twenty percent of the required daily intake of vitamins can be found in tomato soup. Consequently, eating a bowl of tomato soup daily can help maintain good health.
Weight Loss
Tomato consumption may help with weight loss. It can be quite helpful for individuals on a diet to lose weight, and its high water and fiber content helps you feel fuller for longer. Dieters advise tomato soup to burn calories and remove fat from the body, which is undoubtedly a delicious way to shed pounds.
Cancer
Lycopene and carotenoids, two antioxidants found in tomato soup, can assist both men and women reduce their risk of developing cancer. Tomato soup’s high antioxidant content lowers oxidative stress and long-term inflammation. Eating tomato soup three times a week may prevent breast, prostate, and colon cancer. Additionally, it guards against colorectal and stomach cancer.
Downsides of Tomato Soup
Despite tomato soup’s numerous health benefits, it may come with a couple of downsides:
Trigger Food for GERD
Despite being generally safe to eat, tomatoes may cause gastroesophageal reflux illness (GERD). A study of 100 persons with GERD found that 50 percent of the participants’ triggering foods were tomatoes.
One of the most prevalent diseases in the US is GERD. Heartburn, difficulty swallowing, and chest pain are typically its symptoms. Since GERD is commonly treated by identifying and avoiding trigger foods, tomato soup might not be the best option for you if you have it.
High in Salt
Furthermore, the high salt content in canned soups, including tomato soup, raises hypertension risk in children and adults. For instance, 48 percent of the DV for salt is included in one can of tomato soup. You can easily exceed your daily salt requirements if you consume this much.
Finally, whether handmade or purchased, cream-based tomato soup may cause unintended weight gain, and this is due to the cream’s potential to raise your soup’s fat and calorie content.
To control the amount of salt, fat, and calories, try making your tomato soup from scratch with premium ingredients.
Can I Eat Tomato Soup Every Day?
Don’t forget to eat your daily serving of tomato soup! Tomatoes contain potassium and vitamin B, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels and lowering the risk of stroke and heart attack. Blood flow: The selenium in tomato soup enhances blood flow and guards against anemia. After consuming too many tomatoes, your body may experience severe acid reflux.
The acidic components of tomatoes cause the stomach to release too much gastric acid once digestion begins. Lower body weight has been associated with regularly eating soup. However, research on the advantages of soup diets for weight loss is lacking. You will most likely lose weight in the short run because of the low-calorie nature of these eating patterns.
How to Make Tomato Soup?
Here is the simple way to make tomato soup:
Ingredients
Way to Prepare
- Over medium heat, combine the tomatoes, onion, cloves, and chicken broth in a stockpot. Bring to a boil, and gently boil for about 20 minutes to blend all the flavors. Remove from heat and run the mixture through a food mill into a large bowl or pan. Discard any stuff left over in the food mill.
- Melt the butter over medium heat in the stockpot that is now empty. Make a roux by stirring the flour and heating it until it reaches a medium brown color. Stir in the remaining tomato mixture after gradually whisking in a small amount to prevent lumps. Add salt and sugar to taste and season.
Can you Freeze Tomato Soup?
Yes, you can freeze tomato soup. Here are the ways to freeze tomato soup:
- Allow the soup to cool completely before freezing by bringing it to room temperature.
- Then, decide if you will freeze one large batch or several smaller ones.
- Soup freezes well in both single serving sizes and larger servings, so it’s really up to your personal preference.
- To minimize the amount of space the soup takes up in your freezer, freeze it in freezer bags. They can lay flat and be stacked in the freezer.
- Stand a freezer bag up in a large bowl by folding the edges over the sides of the bowl.
- Pour the desired amount of soup into the freezer bag using a ladle or funnel.
- Allow about an inch or two headroom to allow for expansion, then seal the bag.
- Label and date the freezer bag, then store it in the freezer.
Thawing of Tomato Soup
Are you craving tomato soup again? Let’s get to work then.
- To use frozen tomato soup, remove the soup from the freezer.
- Either thaw in the fridge before reheating or reheat from frozen.
- Give the soup a good stir to reincorporate all ingredients and to bring it back to its original consistency.
- The soup can be microwaved or reheated in a saucepan on the stove.
- For best results, consume previously frozen tomato soup within a few days of thawing and never refreeze once frozen soup.
Conclusion
Numerous health advantages of tomato soup have been reported, including better male fertility and anti-cancer effects. In addition, it might improve your heart, skin, and bone health. The various plant components in tomatoes are primarily responsible for these advantages.
However, the claims that tomato soup encourages hair growth and burns fat are unsupported by any data. If you have GERD, tomato soup might not be an intelligent choice. Making your favorite tomato soup at home will help you control the amount of salt and fat while maximizing the number of healthy ingredients in this delicious dish.
The most acceptable way to enjoy tomato soup is with a hot grilled cheese sandwich, and it’s something that, in my opinion, almost everyone can agree on. But I’ve discovered that tomato soup’s first cousins, tomato bisque and cream of tomato soup, maybe savored alongside everyone’s favorite melty cheese-based sandwich.
