Are Sun-Dried Tomatoes Healthy?

Solar-dried tomatoes are tomatoes which were harvested and dried within the solar. In response to some sun-dried tomato manufacturers, this sun-drying course of can take as much as 10 days.

As soon as the tomatoes dry out, they tackle a chewy texture and get much more flavorful than recent tomatoes.

Solar-dried tomatoes can even final for much longer at room temperature than recent tomatoes, in order that they make a handy pantry staple. Acidic merchandise like sun-dried tomatoes can last as long as 18 months in a cool, dry pantry.

Right here’s the vitamin information for a 28-gram serving of sun-dried tomatoes:

• Energy: 72
• Protein: 4 grams
• Carbs: 15.6 grams
• Fiber: 3.4 grams
• Sodium: 30 milligrams
• Vitamin C: 11 milligrams
• Provitamin A: 12.4 micrograms

Solar-dried tomatoes are a superb supply of fiber and several other nutritional vitamins and minerals, together with provitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium. Simply remember that sun-dried tomatoes could also be packed in oil, which might change their dietary worth.

Solar-dried tomatoes supply some spectacular well being advantages because of their excessive focus of plant compounds, nutritional vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Right here’s what all that goodness can do for you.

Glorious supply of health-protective plant compounds

Tomato merchandise, together with sun-dried tomatoes, are filled with plant compounds (like carotenoids) that would profit your well being in plenty of methods.

Lycopene is a carotenoid that has highly effective antioxidant and anti inflammatory results. Analysis means that diets excessive in lycopene are related to a decrease danger of well being circumstances like metabolic syndrome and heart disease.

Lycopene could even assist forestall certain cancers, though extra analysis is required.

Your physique can’t make lycopene, so it’s essential to get it by your weight loss plan on the reg. Tomatoes and tomato merchandise are the main dietary source of lycopene, so deliver on the sun-dried tomatoes!

Professional tip: Lycopene is a fat-soluble compound. Meaning having fun with sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil or including some sort of fats to your dish is a good way to enhance your physique’s absorption of lycopene.

Excessive in nutritional vitamins and minerals

Tomatoes are loaded with vitamins, however they’re particularly excessive in sure essential nutritional vitamins and minerals (like vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium).

Vitamin C helps assist the well being of your immune system, skin, and extra. Plus, it capabilities as a potent antioxidant in your physique. Meaning it helps defend your cells from oxidative harm that’s linked to plenty of well being results.

Potassium is a mineral that’s concerned in fluid regulation, muscle and nerve operate, and blood stress management.

Provitamin A is a kind of vitamin A that’s present in plant meals. Provitamin A carotenoids, reminiscent of beta carotene, might be transformed into vitamin A in your physique and play different essential roles in well being. Like vitamin C, provitamin A may also help defend in opposition to oxidative stress.

However that’s not all. Solar-dried tomatoes additionally comprise smaller quantities of different important vitamins like magnesium, riboflavin, and iron.

Good supply of fiber

Fiber is essential in any nutritious diet. Fruits, veggies, beans, and oats are some examples of fiber-rich meals.

Fiber helps preserve your digestive system wholesome and operating easily and may even allow you to really feel happy longer after meals. Diets excessive in fiber could assist defend in opposition to heart disease, colon cancer, inflammatory bowel illness, and different circumstances.

Most individuals in the USA don’t get sufficient dietary fiber. Including fiber-rich meals like sun-dried tomatoes to your weight loss plan may also help you meet the recommended fiber intake of 30 to 35 grams per day for males and 25 to 32 grams per day for ladies.

Although sun-dried tomatoes could be a wholesome addition to your weight loss plan, they could be a bit excessive in sodium, relying on the model.

For instance, a 1-ounce (28-gram) serving of Meals to Reside Organic Sun-Dried Tomatoes with Sea Salt accommodates simply 70 milligrams of sodium, or 3% of the Every day Worth (DV), whereas a 1/2-ounce (14-gram) serving of Fratelli Carli Sundried Tomatoes delivers 250 milligrams of sodium, or 11% of the DV.

A small quantity of added salt isn’t an issue for many peeps, however of us with sure circumstances (like hypertension) could profit from limiting their consumption.

Solar-dried tomatoes are an excellent ingredient to maintain available.

As a result of they’ve extra concentrated taste than recent tomatoes, they’ll add curiosity to dishes like pasta, grains, soups, and extra.

Listed here are a number of methods to make use of sun-dried tomatoes:

• Add them to pesto pasta.
• Add some pizzazz to baked hen breast utilizing this delish recipe.
• Combine them into savory bread dough together with basil and Parmesan.
• Toss chopped sun-dried tomatoes into frittatas and omelets.
• Add taste to grain dishes like rice and quinoa.
• Whip up sun-dried tomato hummus to your subsequent get-together.
• Attempt them on this vegan Sun-Dried Tomato White Bean Soup.
• Prime your fave salad with chopped sun-dried tomatoes so as to add a burst of taste.

Solar-dried tomatoes have a candy and salty taste that works completely in nearly any savory dish. Don’t be afraid to experiment with this tremendous tasty ingredient!

Solar-dried tomatoes are nutritious, versatile, and flavorful. In addition they have a protracted shelf life, which makes them an ideal pantry staple.

They’re excessive in lycopene, vitamin C, provitamin A, and potassium — plus, they’re a superb supply of fiber.

Attempt including some sun-dried tomatoes to dishes like omelets, salads, soups, and grain bowls for a pop of taste and a kick of additional vitamins.