Tomato is a universal food in the world. People from western counties like to use it in sandwiches, hamburgers, and other dishes. Chinese people stir-fry it with eggs or make soup from it. People like it because of its fresh taste. It is especially good for those who do not have a good appetite. We are not especially aware of its nutrition, which should become the main important reason for us to consume it. Raw tomatoes as well as cooked ones are ideal food for adults, the elderly and the children. 

Tomatoes, like many other vegetables, contain a certain amount of vitamins and dietary fibers. But a natural pigment makes it different from other vegetables. That is lycopene, which makes tomatoes red in color. It functions in the human body like carotenes. It is a powerful antioxidant, playing an important role in preventing cardiovascular diseases and resisting some cancers. It is reported that eating a lot of tomatoes can help reduce the risk of prostate cancer. This has much to do with lycopene.

Compared with tomatoes, the lycopene in ketchups is more. Unfortunately, the dietary fibers are destroyed during the processing. As a result, experts say that eating fresh tomatoes or using ketchup is both acceptable. The wisest way is to have them both.

Raw tomatoes can serve as a type of fruit. It can be cooked as well. Raw tomatoes and cooked ones both do goods to our health. People can eat tomatoes as they please. Experts point out that lycopene and carotene are both fat-soluble. Cooked tomatoes are better for us to ingest these natural pigments. If we eat tomatoes for the purpose of ingesting vitamin C, potassium, or dietary fibers, raw ones can cooked ones are almost the same. Cooking does not influence the nutrition. Tomatoes can be treated as fruit, for it helps produce saliva and slake thirst. Some people can not endure raw tomatoes and they may lead to diarrhea. As for them, cooked ones are better. Some people say tomatoes contain nicotine. As a result, eating raw tomatoes equals with smoking, which may easily lead to cancer. It is a wrong and ridiculous idea. Experts argue that the tiny amount of nicotine in tomatoes can be neglected. There is no need worrying about it.

There are many kinds of tomatoes. The deeper in color, the more lycopene a tomatoes contains. Red tomatoes functions better in resisting cancer. Reddish or yellow tomatoes contain more carotenes than lycopene. Moreover, smaller ones are sweeter in taste than bigger ones. They are more suitable to be fruit. If your target is only vitamins, all types of tomatoes make no difference. If your target is carotene or lycopene, red tomatoes are your wise choice.