There are many varieties of tomatoes, and when you're feeling confused about which to choose, you might consider selecting them by color, as tomatoes of different colors have different health benefits.
◆ Deep red tomatoes are rich in lycopene and carotene, which are very beneficial for preventing cancer.
◆ Orange tomatoes have less lycopene but a higher carotene content.
◆ Pink tomatoes contain a small amount of lycopene and very little carotene.
◆ Pale yellow tomatoes contain a small amount of carotene and no lycopene.
If you want to meet your Vitamin C needs, any type of tomato will do; the key is to choose fresh, seasonal, and flavorful ones. If you want to supplement with antioxidants like lycopene and carotene, you should choose deep red or orange tomatoes, rather than pink or pale yellow ones.
Tip: The most important nutrient in tomatoes is lycopene, which is renowned for its powerful antioxidant properties and cancer prevention functions. Red tomatoes not only contain lycopene but also a certain amount of carotene, which is beneficial for the eyes and skin. Both of these healthy components are "fat-soluble," meaning they are best absorbed with oil. Therefore, stir-frying or making soup with tomatoes are good methods, while eating them raw results in very low absorption rates.
In addition, tomatoes are considered cooling in nature. People with weak spleens and stomachs or who are prone to diarrhea should control their intake of raw tomatoes and are better off eating them cooked.