Lift your mood with tomatoes: the benefits of eating tomatoes

Do you ever get that feeling where everything just feels a little bit harder than it should? The world is just a little too noisy, the people around you are just a little too irritating, and even getting up out of bed seems like an insurmountable task?

Maybe what you need is a mood boost, and luckily for you, tomatoes can help with that. Read on to learn all about the benefits of eating tomatoes and how they can help improve your mood. You might be surprised by all the ways in which tomatoes can make your day a little bit brighter.

The Mood-Boosting Benefits of Tomatoes

Tomatoes are not only a delicious and versatile food, but they can also help improve your mood.

The benefits of eating tomatoes are numerous, but one of the most notable is their ability to boost your mood and energy levels. Tomatoes are rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, potassium, folate, and lycopene.

All of these nutrients work together to support a healthy nervous system and cognitive function. Additionally, the antioxidants in tomatoes can help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.

How to Add More Tomatoes to Your Diet

One easy way is to add them to your breakfast routine. Throw some diced tomatoes into your omelet or scramble, or top your toast with tomato sauce or salsa.

You can also add tomatoes to lunch and dinner dishes. soups, stews, pasta sauces, pizzas, and salads are all great options. If you're looking for a quick snack, try eating a slice of fresh tomato with some mozzarella cheese or dipping cherry tomatoes in hummus or guacamole.

Recipes that Include Tomatoes for a Mood Boost

If you need some recipe inspiration, here are some delicious dishes that include tomatoes:

-Roasted Tomato Soup

Ingredients:

• 12 medium tomatoes, halved

• Olive oil

• Salt and pepper

• ½ cup chopped onion

• ¼ cup chopped celery

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Arrange tomatoes on a baking sheet, cut side up.

Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Roast for 45 minutes to an hour, or until the tomatoes are very soft. Let cool slightly, then remove the skins.

In a large pot, sauté onion and celery in olive oil over medium heat until softened.

Add the roasted tomatoes and their juices and bring to a simmer.

Puree the soup using an immersion blender or food processor.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serve hot topped with croutons or grilled cheese croutons (recipe below).

-Tomato Basil Pizza

Ingredients:

• One pound pizza dough

• Olive oil

• One 14-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained

• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

• Fresh basil leaves

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough to a 12-inch circle.

Transfer to a greased baking sheet and brush with olive oil.

Bake for eight minutes.

Remove from oven and top with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and basil leaves.

Bake for an additional 12 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.

-Summer Salad with Tomato Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

• One pound of cherry tomatoes, halved

• One cucumber, peeled and diced

• One yellow bell pepper, diced

• One tablespoon olive oil

• Two tablespoons white balsamic vinegar or white vinegar

• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions: In a large bowl, mix together cherry tomatoes, cucumber, yellow bell pepper, and olive oil.

In a small bowl or jar, whisk together white balsamic vinegar (or white vinegar), salt and pepper. Pour over salad and gently toss to coat.

-Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

• One tablespoon olive oil

• One onion, diced

• Three cloves garlic, minced

• One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

• Salt and pepper to taste

• One pound spaghetti

Directions: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat.

Sauté onion and garlic until softened.

Stir in crushed tomatoes and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer and let cook for at least 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti according to package directions. Drain and add it to the tomato sauce. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese on top.

-Chicken Parmesan

Ingredients:

• One pound chicken breast, pounded thin

• Salt and pepper

• ½ cup all-purpose flour

• Two eggs, beaten

• One cup Italian-seasoned bread crumbs

• Olive oil

• One 24-ounce jar tomato sauce

Directions: Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Place flour in a shallow dish. In another shallow dish, beat the eggs. In a third shallow dish, mix together bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese.

Dip chicken in flour, then egg, then bread crumb mixture.

In a large skillet or frying pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about three minutes per side.

Remove chicken from pan and place on a baking sheet. Pour tomato sauce over chicken and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.

Broil for two to three minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve with spaghetti on the side.

The Best Time of day to eat Tomatoes for Optimal Mood Enhancement:

Tomatoes are best eaten in the morning or early afternoon. This is because they contain high levels of lycopene, which is an antioxidant that helps to protect against cell damage. Lycopene is also thought to have mood-boosting properties, so eating tomatoes in the morning or early afternoon can help to improve your mood and mental state for the rest of the day.

Tips for Choosing the Right Type of Tomato for Your Needs:

When choosing tomatoes for mood enhancement, it is important to choose a variety that is high in lycopene. Some of the most popular varieties of tomatoes that are high in lycopene include Roma tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and heirloom tomatoes. You can also get lycopene from tomato-based products such as tomato sauce, ketchup, and sun-dried tomatoes.

Tomato-Based Products that Can Improve Your Mood:

There are a number of different tomato-based products that can improve your mood. These include fresh tomatoes, canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, ketchup, sun-dried tomatoes, and tomato soup.

Each of these products contains high levels of lycopene, which is an antioxidant that helps to protect against cell damage. Lycopene is also thought to have mood-boosting properties, so eating or drinking any of these products can help to improve your mood and mental state.

If you’re looking for a mood-boosting food that is also low in calories and full of nutrients, tomatoes may be the perfect choice for you. Tomatoes are not only delicious, but they are also good for your mental health. So next time you’re feeling down, reach for a ripe tomato instead of a bag of chips or chocolate bar. You may be surprised at how much better you feel after eating them.