Some may say a tomato is a vegetable, while some may contest that it's a fruit! If it's confusing, did you know that this debate went all the way to the court to determine whether it is actually a fruit or vegetable?
Unbelievable, but in 1893, tomato has been the subject of ruling whether to classify it as a vegetable or a fruit for intention of Tariff Act. In March 3, 1883, the United States Supreme Court ruled out that a tomato is a vegetable since it is usually served with lunch or dinner and not as a dessert.
Fact 1: Tomato is member of the nightshade family.
Tomato like eggplant and potato belongs to the nightshade family. It is classified as fruit of a vine in South America. It was brought to Mexico and Central America but find its entry to Spain as it was believed that it may be poisonous just like the other nightshade family.
Fact 2: Tomato was called as "Love Apples."
Early discoverers of Tomato believed that it has aphrodisiac elements. This is the reason why it was called as pommes d'amour, "love apples" by the French.
Fact 3: Did you know that tomato doesn't need to be deep red in color to be classified as a good source of lycopene?
According to Cancer.org, Lycopene is an antioxidant that provides tomatoes and other vegetables and fruits their color. Lycopene are carotenoids that make fruits and vegetables yellow, orange and red in color.
However, a study on group of healthy men and women showed that lycopene from tangerine and yellow tomato is more easily absorbed than that deep red tomato. Lycopene found in orange/tangerine tomato is tetra-cis-lycopene while the red tomato is trans-lycopene.
The research concluded that tetra-cis-lycopene is more easily absorbed compared to trans-lycopene.
Fact 4: Tomato has hundreds of varieties.
According to Foodterm.com, a tomato can be classified based on color, shape and size. There are beefsteak, globe, plum, grape, green, cherry, yellow pear, currant, heirloom, purple, bicolored and striped tomato.
Fact 5: Tomato is low in calorie, has zero cholesterol level, low in fat and abundant in dietary fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
Antioxidants present in tomato are known for its anti-cancer potential that fights prostate, colon, breast, endometrial, pancreatic tumors and lung cancer.
Tomato only has 18 calories per 100 gram.
