Tomatoes: Nutritional powerhouse or dietary risk?

At this time of year, we often find ourselves eating tomatoes daily. They're excellent in sandwiches, salads, and a variety of other dishes. This is fortunate since they're among the healthiest vegetables. However, for those with certain ailments, avoiding them or limiting their intake is necessary. Sometimes, it's also better to opt for processed tomatoes.

The benefits of tomatoes seem endless. They're packed with vitamins C, B, PP, E, and K. They're also a calcium, potassium, and iron source. Tomatoes bolster the immune system and can help lower blood pressure. They're low in calories and high in fibre.

Additionally, they're known for containing lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent cancer and heart disease. Processed tomatoes are particularly rich in lycopene. However, despite all these health benefits, tomatoes might not suit everyone.

Despite their health benefits, tomatoes are often not recommended for certain diets. The list of conditions where they can be harmful is extensive. Even though tomatoes are low in calories and have a low glycemic index, their acidic nature can lead to various side effects. Due to their high organic acid content, people with gastritis and ulcers should avoid them. What are the other contraindications?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Given their acidity, tomatoes can exacerbate symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, such as heartburn and indigestion. If the reflux is mild and occurs only after consuming heavy and fatty meals, processed tomatoes might be less harmful.

Histamine intolerance. This condition is triggered by substances naturally present in many foods, including tomatoes, especially processed foods. Those affected by histamine intolerance might experience skin issues, headaches, and fatigue after consuming them.

Food hypersensitivity. Some individuals might be hypersensitive to certain components found in tomatoes, such as solanine, which is found in the skin. This can lead to allergic reactions, like itching the tongue and lips or redness around the mouth.

Diverticula of the colon. The tiny seeds in tomatoes can lead to inflammation and exacerbate symptoms for those with this condition. Only sieved products, which are seedless, are recommended.

Kidney diseases. Tomatoes contain significant amounts of potassium, which might be harmful in such cases. A diet for those with kidney issues often requires eliminating many seasonal vegetables and fruits, including strawberries.

Rheumatoid arthritis. Consuming tomatoes may worsen pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints of the hands and feet for those with this condition.

Tomato allergy. This can cause a range of symptoms after eating tomatoes, such as skin erythema, hives, itching, and swelling in the mouth, as well as nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, sneezing, a runny nose, or laryngeal oedema.

Dermatosis. Tomato juice, containing organic acids, can irritate the skin, often affecting the hands or the area around the mouth.