Tomatillos are small delightful vegetables that are native to Mexico. You may have mistakenly identified it as tomato, but it is not –they are different from each other. Nevertheless, they are both beneficial for the health. As a matter of fact, tomatillo possesses a lot of essential nutrients. All of which are beneficial for overall health. Not only that, but there are also some amazing health benefits of tomatillos that are very surprising. These include aiding in weight loss, lowering the blood pressure level, improve the vision health, prevent various types of cancer, increase the energy levels, increase the cellular growth, boost the immunity, increase the digestive system health, and reduce the risk of diabetes, among others. If you want to learn more about tomatillos, feel free to give this article a read.
Tomatillos: What are these?
The tomatillos, as what I have said earlier, are small delightful vegetables native to Mexico. It comes from the nightshade plant family. Even though they look like tomatoes, they are actually more closely related to the cape gooseberries. Scientifically, they call it the Physalis philadelphica. Furthermore, it is a staple in a lot of cuisines in South and Central America. In spite the fact that the closest nutritional match of tomatillo isn’t tomato, the common names that it has are husk cherry, husk tomato, and Mexican tomato. In addition, as the plant grows, it actually develops a light brown-colored husk, which may eventually break off when the vegetable is already ripe or is already ready to get picked. The ideal texture and color of tomatillo must be bright green and must be rather firm.
In the culinary use, tomatillo forms the main ingredient of the famous Mexican green sauces and some other sauces. On the other hand, the cultivars that produce the purple or the red tomatillos are more suitable for preserves and jams as they have a bit of a sweet taste. You may also steam, broil, or fry the tomatillo, just like the traditional tomatoes.
Moreover, the term tomatillo is actually derived from the term tomato as the European explorers saw small green vegetable and is in association with the small tomatoes. For this particular reason, even though the rest of the world refers to the red tomatoes as tomatoes, those who are from Central America and Mexico still call these green vegetables tomate. Just like a lot of other vegetables and fruits, tomatillos are rich in nutrients and the distinct blend of minerals, vitamins, as well as organic compounds make it a great addition to the nutritious diet.
Nutritional Content of Tomatillos
The tomatillos have dietary fibers in significant levels, low levels of fat, and very few calories. Moreover, they contain adequate levels of magnesium, manganese, potassium, as well as niacin, vitamin K, vitamin A, and vitamin C. when it comes to its organic compounds, however, tomatillos has flavonoids and withanolides, like beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, and lutein.
Health Benefits of Tomatillos
Here are some of the most amazing health benefits of tomatillos:
- Helps in lowering the blood pressure levels and improve the heart health. The positive ratio of sodium to potassium is an indication that the blood pressure can be reduced. This is since the potassium acts as vasodilator, thus relaxing the blood vessels and reducing the strains on the cardiovascular system.
- Helps in boosting the energy. Niacin is part of the vitamin B complex family, which are often overlooked in the health. Niacin is actually a major element in the so-called enzymatic processes that break down the food and the multifarious molecules into a more functional energy for the body. This is by way of making the availability of the energy increase and making the method more efficient.
- Aids in losing weight. The tomatillos are one of those valued vegetables for those who want to get rid of some weight. Low-fat, low-calorie levels, and nutrient-rich vegetables with high levels of fiber, like the tomatillos help those who want to feel full and reduce the chance of overeating.
- Helps in improving the vision. The vitamin A content of the tomatillos is essential in improving the vision health. Furthermore, it also has beta-carotene in it, which is a derivative of vitamin A. This functions as an antioxidant and prevent the onset of macular degeneration and some other eye conditions.
- Helps in preventing cancer. The tomatillos possess distinct antioxidant properties called withanolides. These have been directly in connection to antibacterial and anticancer functions. The antioxidants are essential in combatting the effects of free radicals that may cause the onset of cancer. This is one of the best health benefits of tomatillos.
Possible Cautions on Tomatillos Consumption
The nightshade vegetables tend to possess high levels of alkaloids that may exacerbate the inflammation on the joints if you already have an existing inflammation or arthritis. Nevertheless, tomatillos have relatively low levels of alkaloids. Having said, you must consult your doctor before you add tomatillos to the diet. If you are suffering from these kinds of health issues. Other than that, add tomatillos to the diet and enjoy it all you want.
