Ang tomato, kilala rin bilang "tomato", ay orihinal na galing sa South America, specifically Peru at Mexico. Ipinakilala sa China noong huling panahon ng Qing Dynasty, kaya tinawag itong "tomato". Ngayon, ito ay madalas itanim sa buong bansa. Ang Lu Chuan Herbal says that "tomato can generate fluids, quench thirst, improve digestion, treat dry mouth, poor appetite, etc."
**Medicinal Value**
Ang tomato ay may sweet and sour taste, at isang mild cold nature. May kapangyarihan ito na clear heat, detoxify, generate fluids, quench thirst, nourish yin, cool blood, improve digestion, etc. Ginagamit ito sa klinika para sa treatment ng dry mouth, fever, poor appetite, bitter mouth, gingival bleeding, mouth sores, hypertension, coronary heart disease, at iba pa.
Ang tomato ay puno ng carbohydrates, vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, beta-carotene, citric acid, malic acid, nicotinic acid, citric acid, adenine hydrochloride, arginine, glutathione, at iba pa. Ang mga carbohydrates sa tomato ay pangunahin ay sugars, lalo na glucose at fructose, at ang starch at sucrose ay maliit lang. Ang modernong medikal na pananaliksik ay nagpapakita na ang citric acid, malic acid, at sugars sa tomato ay nakakatulong sa digestion, at may diuretic effect para sa mga pasyente ng kidney disease. Ang lycopene ay may kapangyarihan na iwasan ang iba't ibang bacteria, at nakakatulong sa digestion. Ang tomato ay maaaring bawasan ang cholesterol sa dugo, at may epekto sa pag-iwas sa atherosclerosis.
Ang antas ng vitamins sa tomato ay napakalaki. Ayon sa analisis: ang 500 grams ng tomato ay may 52 mg ng vitamin C, katumbas ng 1250 grams ng apple, 1500 grams ng banana, at 2200 grams ng pear. Ang tomato ay may acidic nature, na nakakatulong sa pagprotekta sa vitamin C, at hindi madaling masira kapag lutuin. Ang mga vitamins sa tomato ay may mga sumusunod na benepisyo: Vitamin P ay nakakatulong sa pagprotekta sa blood vessels. Vitamin PP ay nakakatulong sa health ng balat, maintain normal secretion ng gastric juice, at mapabilis ang pagbuo ng red blood cells. Vitamin C ay nakakatulong sa mga pasyente ng gingivitis, periodontitis, nosebleed, at bleeding disorders, at nakakatulong sa pagpapalakas ng immune system at pag-iwas sa kanser. Ang beta-carotene ay nakakatulong sa pagpapanatili ng skin elasticity, mapabilis ang calcium formation sa bones, at mapigilan ang rickets, night blindness, at dry eyes sa mga bata. Ang vitamin B1 ay nakakatulong sa brain development at mapabilis ang pagpapalakas ng brain cell.
Ang latest research ay nagpapakita na ang tomato ay may anticancer effect. Ang mga researchers ay naglagay ng cancer cells sa culture medium kasama ang natural pigment ng tomato, at ang mga cells ay agad na nawala ang aktibidad at namatay. Ang mga research mula sa US at Italy ay nagpapakita na ang tomato ay nakakabawas ng prostate tumor at mapigilan ang risk ng digestive tract cancer, pancreatic cancer, at breast cancer.
**Recipe**
◆ **Stir-Fried Tomato with Loofah**
Ingredients: 250 grams of tomato, 250 grams of loofah, 10 grams of black fungus, appropriate amount of salt.
Instructions: (1) Wash the tomatoes, blanch them in boiling water, peel off the skin, cut into equal-sized pieces, and set aside. (2) Wash the loofah, peel off the skin, cut into diamond-shaped pieces, and set aside. (3) Soak the black fungus, tear into small pieces, and set aside. (4) Heat a wok over high flame, add the tomatoes and loofah pieces, stir-fry briefly, then add the black fungus, stir well, cover, and simmer until cooked. Season.
Effect: Clear liver fire, calm yang, cool blood, activate blood.
Usage: Can be eaten as a side dish or alone, twice daily—morning and evening.
Treatment: For hypertension and atherosclerosis due to liver yang hyperactivity. Symptoms include dizziness, headache, tinnitus, irritability, insomnia, and wiry rapid pulse.
◆ **Tomato and Red Date Porridge**
Ingredients: 125 grams of tomato, 50 grams of red dates, 15 grams of goji berries, 100 grams of rice, appropriate amount of rock sugar.
Instructions: (1) Wash the tomato, cut into small cubes, and set aside. (2) Remove the seeds from the red dates, wash the goji berries, and set aside. (3) Wash the rice, place together with red dates and goji berries in a clay pot, add water, bring to boil over high flame, then reduce to low flame and cook until porridge forms. (4) Add the diced tomato and rock sugar, cook for another 5 minutes.
Effect: Nourish yin and blood, strengthen spleen and stomach, generate fluids.
Usage: Twice daily—morning and evening.
Treatment: For post-illness weakness, postpartum blood and qi deficiency, general frailty. Symptoms include dizziness, blurred vision, insomnia, fatigue, poor appetite, numb hands and feet, pale tongue, white coating. Also useful for preventing tumors.
◆ **Tomato and Potato Juice**
Ingredients: 500 grams of tomato, 200 grams of potato.
Instructions: (1) Wash the tomatoes, blanch in hot water to remove skin, mash, and extract juice—150 ml. (2) Wash the potatoes, peel, cut into pieces, use a juicer to extract juice—150 ml. (3) Mix both juices, stir well, cook until heated, then consume.
Effect: Strengthen spleen and stomach, generate fluids, quench thirst.
Usage: Consume once in the morning and once in the evening, for 7–10 days as one course.
Treatment: For chronic gastritis due to stomach yin deficiency. Symptoms include dull stomach pain, discomfort, dry heaves, dry mouth and throat, hunger without appetite, hard stool, red tongue with little moisture, scanty coating.
◆ **Tomato Liver Porridge**
Ingredients: 100 grams of tomato, 100 grams of pig liver, 100 grams of rice, 3 slices of ginger.
Instructions: First, wash the pig liver, slice it, marinate with salt, soy sauce, cornstarch, and wine. Wash the tomato, cut in half. Wash the ginger, peel, slice. Wash the rice, put in a pot with water, simmer over low flame for 20 minutes. Add tomato and ginger, cook for 10 minutes. Then add the pig liver, cook until just done, season and serve as a dish.
Treatment: For weakness due to blood deficiency, malnutrition, dizziness.
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