This is what happens when you eat a spoonful of tomato paste every day

Tomato paste makes wrinkle-free – at least that’s what dermatologist and nutritionist Yael Adler is convinced of. And we explain why she is on the right track with it.

Tomato paste for a radiant complexion and a strong heart? An advertising slogan that at least we haven’t heard yet. But in fact, tomato paste is attributed a whole range of protective effects. Nutritionist and dermatologist Yael Adler is well aware of this, having highlighted the healthy effects of processed tomatoes more than once in various media.

But what exactly makes tomato paste so healthy? Couldn’t you just eat the fruiting vegetable instead? We’ll tell you why the food is so good for you and what happens when you treat yourself to a tablespoon a day.

Wrinkle-free thanks to tomato paste

“There are a few favorite foods that I use myself and recommend to my patients, such as a tablespoon of tomato paste every day,” the doctor says in an interview with SWR 1. The cause is that tomato paste has a high concentration of lycopene, a carotenoid with antioxidant properties that reduces cell stress.

The pigment lycopene, which gives tomatoes their color, is mostly present in their skin. Additionally, ko-Test verifies that the pigment is one of the “strongest antioxidants”. They shield the tomato from potentially damaging environmental influences, including as UV rays from the sun, which can produce free radicals. Thus, lycopene also offers natural skin protection for people when it is present in sufficient amounts. Furthermore, it is claimed that the “radical scavenger”

Adler’s tip: Take the tomato paste daily with a drop of olive oil to prevent wrinkles and cell decay.

Why tomato paste has particularly high levels of lycopene

Now, of course, you can eat a lot of tomatoes – or reach for tomato paste, which contains particularly high levels of lycopene. As Öko-Test explains, this is mainly because the tomatoes have been allowed to ripen for a particularly long time during the production of the pulp – in contrast to fresh tomatoes, which are usually plowed unripe to survive the long journey to the supermarket and ripen.

Another advantage of tomato paste: lycopene is released only when heated and can therefore be better absorbed and utilized by humans. By the way, tomatoes are not the only source of the pigment: watermelon, grapefruit and papaya, for example, also contain lycopene – but not nearly as much as tomato paste: 100 grams contain about 55 milligrams of lycopene, while a grapefruit contains just 1.135 milligrams per 100 grams.

It is better to prepare tomato paste yourself

Anyone purchasing pre-made spice paste from a store should study the ingredients carefully because tomato paste frequently contains excessive amounts of salt and sugar. Every second tested variety of tomato paste, according to ko-Test’s findings, contains mold toxins. Three organic goods were particularly seriously damaged. The report also notes that “questionable pesticides are partly a problem in the tomato paste in the test.”

Tomato paste can be prepared with few ingredients – only time should be taken when cooking: Basically, boiled vegetables should be boiled down twice – the second heating should take place at least 24 hours after the first. The effort is worth it, not only because of the healthy ingredients, but also because the tomato paste – if stored and prepared correctly – can be kept unopened for about 12 months.