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Important Elements of Tomatoes

A tomato is a fruit that is used as a vegetable. The tomato plant is a native American plant that was first discovered growing in the maize and bean fields of the Incas. But the Incas, then the Aztecs and the Mayan successfully cultivated its seeds. The Aztec named the fruit tomatl and considered it to be a gift of the gods.

  1. Nutrients

    • When the tomato was brought to Europe by the conquistadors it was shunned as an aphrodisiac and then thought to be downright toxic, as it is a relative of the deadly nightshade. Now the tomato's good qualities and important elements are well-known. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the year-round average nutrients in 100 grams of a red ripe raw tomato contain 94.52 grams water, 18 kcal of energy, 88 grams protein, 0.2 grams of total fats, 0.5 grams of ash, 3.89 grams carbohydrates, 1.2 grams total dietary fiber, 2.63 grams total sugar, including 1.25 grams glucose and 1.37 grams of fructose.

    Minerals

    • In the same serving of tomatoes there's 10 milligrams calcium, 0.27 milligrams iron, 11 milligrams magnesium, 24 milligrams phosphorus, 237 milligrams potassium, 5 milligrams of sodium, 17 milligrams of zinc, 0.059 milligrams of copper, 0.114 milligrams of manganese, and 2.3 micrograms of fluoride.

    Vitamins

    • The same serving has 13.7 milligrams vitamin C, 0.037 milligrams thiamin, 0.019 milligrams riboflavin, 0.594 milligrams of niacin, 0.089 milligrams pantothenic acid, 0.080 milligrams vitamin B-6, 15 micrograms of folate, 6.7 milligrams of choline, 0.1 milligrams of betaine, 42 micrograms of vitamin A, 449 micrograms of beta carotene, 101 micrograms of alpha carotene, 2573 micrograms of Lycopene, 123 micrograms of Lutein + zeaxanthin, 0.54 milligrams of vitamin E in its alpha-tocopherol formula, 0.01 milligrams of beta tocopherol, 0.12 milligrams of gamma tocopherol, 7.9 micrograms of vitamin K. Beta carotine, vitamin C and vitamin E are antioxidant nutrients that protect against heart disease, cancer and other degenerative diseases. Pantothenic acid helps metabolize carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Lutein + zeaxanthin are also antioxidants that promote eye health. Betaine protects cells against dehydration.

    Lipids

    • The total saturated fatty acids in 100 grams of raw red tomato is 0.028 grams. Total monounsaturated fatty acids are 0.031, total polyunsaturated is 0.083 grams. A tomato has no cholesterol and 7 milligrams of phytosterols. Phytosterols help lower bad cholesterol.

    Amino Acids

    • The amino acids in the tomato serving include tryptophan, threonine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, cystine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, valine, arginine, histidine, alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, proline and serine. Amino acids are crucial in helping to build proteins.

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