A nutritionist has revealed why cherry tomatoes could be more beneficial for you than their larger, heritage counterparts – and it’s entirely due to their skin. A summer salad favourite with a healthy reputation, tomatoes are available in numerous shapes and sizes, from oval plum varieties to larger types such as the Whittemore, but it appears even the modest cherries deliver a substantial nutritional benefit.
In a recent article on the topic, nutritionist Rob Hobson outlined the advantages of cherry tomatoes. He observed that while all tomato varieties contain lycopene, cherries may provide a more concentrated hit owing to their “skin-to-flesh” ratio. Lycopene is a plant nutrient that gives tomatoes their characteristic red hue and is known for its antioxidant properties.
Healthline reports it’s been linked to better heart health and even protection against certain cancers.
Rob told the Mail: “Many of the protective plant compounds are just beneath the skin because this is the part of the fruit exposed to sunlight and environmental stress. The skin contains fibre and is rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, which are antioxidants.”
According to Rob, cherries may contain more compounds per gram. He said: “You are likely to eat more than one cherry tomato in one go which means you’ll consume proportionally more skin than you would if you were eating a single beef or heritage tomato.”
It doesn’t mean that bigger types are bad for you, but it helps explain “some of the nutritional differences”, he further stated. In related news, Gardeners’ World star Monty Don has revealed how to protect your homegrown tomatoes from blight.
Tomatoes can reportedly fall victim to a range of problems, including blossom-end rot, tomato blight, and fruit splitting and cracking.
He shared the guidance in his July blog post, where he outlined the “best defence”. Monty wrote: “I do not plant my outdoor tomatoes until June. But once they are in the ground, they will grow strongly and need regular tying up.
“This is, of course, if you are growing cordon tomatoes rather than blush or determinate varieties. The latter can be propped up rather like a herbaceous plant rather than tied regularly in.”
He also removes the side shoots and waters them. As for blight, a disease that impacts tomato foliage and fruit and leads to rot, Monty said the risk increases in late July.
Monty continued: “From late July, the risks of blight increase, dependent as it is upon the combination of high humidity and warm days and nights.
“The best defence for outdoor tomatoes is good ventilation and stripping off the lower leaves as the fruits develop, which helps this.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
