I Sliced a tomato and found it was full of sprouts! Gross! Would it have been safe to eat?

I Sliced a tomato and found it was full of sprouts! Gross! Would it have been safe to eat?

First, a little about tomatoes from Health.com:  In case you were wondering, a tomato is a technically a fruit, because it’s seed-bearing and develops from the ovary of a flowering plant. (Botanically speaking, vegetables consist of other plant parts, like roots, leaves, and stems.) But when it comes to nutrition, tomatoes —along with seedy cucumbers and zucchini—are categorized as vegetables. That’s due in part to their lower carb and sugar contents: A medium tomato provides just 22 calories, and about 5 grams of total carb, with 3 as sugar and 1.5 as fiber. But this low-calorie, low-carb package is chock-full of nutrients, and has been linked to a variety of health benefits. Here are seven, along with some simple ways to incorporate more tomatoes into your everyday meals and snacks.

Tomatoes are a great source of vitamins

A single tomato can provide about 40% of the daily recommended minimum of vitamin C.   What’s more, tomatoes supply vitamin A, which supports immunity, vision, and skin health; vitamin K, which is good for your bones; and potassium, a key nutrient for heart function, muscle contractions, and maintaining a healthy blood pressure and fluid balance.

They protect heart health

Tomatoes contain an antioxidant called lycopene, which is responsible for their red color. Research suggests that in terms of heart health benefits, it’s more effective to eat tomatoes and tomato products than take lycopene supplements. Other studies have shown that higher blood levels of lycopene are tied to lower death rates for people with metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors that raise the chances of developing heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.  

Improve your vision

Lycopene is also good for your eyes. And that’s not the only peeper-protective nutrient in tomatoes; they contain lutein and beta-carotene as well. According to research, those nutrients support vision and protect against cataracts and macular degeneration. 

Boost digestive health

The fluid and fiber in tomatoes may be helpful if you’re prone to constipation. (According to the USDA one large tomato contains 6 ounces of fluid, and 1.5 grams of fiber.) Just be aware that in some people, the acidity from cooked tomatoes may trigger or worsen acid reflux and indigestion.

Help with diabetes management

Tomatoes may be a protective food for people with type 2 diabetes. In one study, people with diabetes who supplemented with cooked tomatoes for 30 days experienced a decrease in lipid peroxidation, a chain reaction in which substances called free radicals attack fat, leading to damage that ups the risk of heart disease.  This is particularly important because diabetes doubles the risk of stroke and heart attack.

Protect against cancer

Observational studies have found links between the superstar compound lycopene and fewer incidences of prostate, ovarian, lung, and stomach cancers.

How to reap all the perks of tomatoes

You can incorporate tomatoes into your diet in several forms—fresh, dried, or as sauce, or salsa.  This also allows you to enjoy tomatoes year-round.

Add fresh tomatoes to omelets and salads, and serve them sliced, drizzled with balsamic and garnished with fresh basil, sea salt, and cracked black pepper. Dress fresh greens or steamed veggies with sundried tomato, pesto, or drizzle it over broiled fish. Toss spaghetti squash or beans with tomato sauce, or use it as a topping for sautéed green beans or potatoes. Add salsa to scrambled eggs or taco salad, or spoon onto cooked fish.

I’ve always promoted the health benefits of tomatoes.  In fact, I eat a fresh tomato (a neutral veggie on The Metabolism Miracle) every day. 

But today…..

The inside of the beautiful red tomato gave me pause.

Learn more about Diane Kress’ New York Times Bestseller, the Metabolism Miracle, and the program itself!****

If you have sliced open enough tomatoes, there is a chance that you have seen one with the seeds sprouting inside.  The sprouted seeds look strange, like small green and white worms.  Up until today, I’ve never seen the worm-like sprouts in my tomato

So, why do tomato seeds sprout inside a tomato?  Tomato seeds sprout inside a tomato due to a lack of the hormone abscisic acid.  This hormone normally keeps tomato seeds dormant until the time is right for them to sprout.  The seeds inside a tomato are more likely to sprout if the tomato was exposed to prolonged cold (more than a few days below 55 degrees Fahrenheit) and then left in a warm place.

Of course, there are other factors that will contribute to tomato seeds sprouting inside the tomato.  Let’s take a closer look at some of those factors.  Then we’ll get into how to prevent this strange phenomenon.

 Tomato seeds will normally not sprout inside a tomato, due to the presence of abscisic acid (a plant hormone that suppresses seed germination).

• Prolonged exposure to temperatures at or below 55 degrees Fahrenheit (12.8 degrees Celsius).  For example, when tomatoes experience cold weather in the early fall before harvest, or when they are shipped at cool temperatures to preserve them for grocery store shelves.
• Overripe tomatoes.  For example, fruit left on the vine too long, left on grocery stores shelves too long, or left in your house too long.
• Potassium deficiency.  For example, due to soil depletion during growth, or lack of fertilizer containing potassium (the K in NPK).
• Too much nitrogen.  For example, over fertilization using either high-nitrogen fertilizers or “hot” manure containing lots of nitrogen.

In assessing whether you should eat a viviparous tomato, you’ll also want to do a close inspection for rot or mold — given the age of the tomato, they’re both more likely.

This tomato didn’t have any spots, fuzz or squishy tissue that would indicate microbial activity that would make it not so good to eat. I chose not to eat it because it literally grossed me out!  

*****Learn more about Diane Kress, ret. RD, CDE, Medical Nutrition Specialist and her NY Times Bestselling lifetime/lifestyle program: The Metabolism Miracle!

THE BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Metabolism-Miracle-Revised-Control-Permanently/dp/0738218901/

Diane Kress’ Award Winning Blog: https://www.dianekress1.wordpress.com/

Social Media: Diane Kress @ Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Pinterest

The inside of the beautiful red tomato gave me pause.

Learn more about Diane Kress’ New York Times Bestseller, the Metabolism Miracle, and the program itself!

THE BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Metabolism-Miracle-Revised-Control-Permanently/dp/0738218901/

Diane Kress’ Award Winning Blog: https://www.dianekress1.wordpress.com/

Social Media: Diane Kress @ Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Pinterest



Podcast:   https://FathersAfter50.com/Diane-Kress/

SUPPORT SITE FOR FOLLOWERS OF THE METABOLISM MIRACLE/DIABETES MIRACLE: www.Miracle-Ville.ning.com



LEARN ABOUT THE PROGRAM ITSELF: https://www.themetabolismmiracle.com