If there is a soup for all seasons, it is the classic tomato soup. Tangy and delicious, it is a delicious and nutritious soup that is enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Serve it with croutons or dunk a grilled cheese into it, this lip-smacking soup never fails. It's easy to make and is always delicious, but is it nutritious? Let's find out.
What is Tomato Soup?
Tomato soup uses tomato as its primary ingredient and is flavoured with condiments and spices. It can be served hot or cold and served with a variety of sides. Tomato soup is one of the top comfort foods in the world and often reminds one of one's childhood. It is prepared by blanching tomatoes, removing their skins, and then blending them into a puree. Garlic, onion, chilli peppers, celery and other ingredients may be added to enhance its taste.
Tomato, originally grown in South America, was introduced to Europe in the 16th century. These fruits were thought to be poisonous till the 19th century. Towards the end of the century, a businessman Joseph Campbell came up with the idea of producing canned condensed tomato soup, reducing storage and shipping costs. Thus tomato soup became popularised.
In India, cream of tomato soup is very popular where pureed tomatoes are mixed with fresh cream and topped with fried croutons. In the United States, tomato soup is usually consumed with grilled cheese sandwiches.
Tomato soup nutrition
A 100 ml of tomato soup contains the following nutrients:
| Nutrients | Measure |
| Calories | 30 |
| Protein | 0.8 g |
| Sodium | 190 mg |
| Potassium | 112 mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 7 g |
| Vitamin C | 10% |
| Iron | 2% |
| Magnesium | 1% |
Health benefits of tomato soup
Tomatoes are very supportive in enhancing your heart health and also bolster your immunity levels considerably. Enjoying tomato soup may be a delicious way to make the most of the health benefits of tomatoes.
Tomato soup may offer numerous health benefits such as reducing the risk of cancer and improving sperm count and fertility in men. It may also benefit heart, skin, and bone health, among others.
However, store-bought tomato soup, especially the canned variety may contain high sodium, which is bad for cardiovascular health. It may raise blood pressure and increase bloating. To reap the benefits of tomato soup, freshly prepared homemade varity is the best.
- Rich in antioxidants
- May have cancer-fighting properties
- Promotes healthy skin
- Improves vision
- Improves bone health
- May reduce the risk of heart disease
- Enhance male fertility by improving sperm count
- Boosts immunity
- Reduces risk of chronic diseases
May have cancer-fighting properties: Tomatoes contain cancer-fighting properties due to their high lycopene content. They may be especially effective against prostate and breast cancer. Lycopene and other carotenoids present in tomato soup may reduce the risk of prostate and breast cancers. Cooked tomatoes appear to have a more potent effect than raw tomatoes. Tomatoes also contain ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol that reduce cancer-causing oxidative stress in the body.
Good for heart health: Tomatoes contain lycopene, which reduces the risk of heart disease and myocardial infarction. Lycopene also fights cholesterol and plaque in the arteries. Regular consumption of tomato soup can therefore improve heart health.
Improves eye health: Lutein in tomatoes is great for improving vision. It reduces age-related macular degeneration or vision loss.
Reduces risk of chronic diseases and inflammation: Tomato soup is rich in lycopene, beta carotene, lutein, vitamin E, vitamin C, polyphenols, quercetin, phenolic acids, cinnamic acids and tannins which fight oxidative stress and inflammation that leads to chronic diseases.
References:
1. Story, E. N., Kopec, R. E., Schwartz, S. J., & Harris, G. K. (2010). An update on the health effects of tomato lycopene. Annual review of food science and technology, 1, 189–210. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.food.102308.124120
2.Salehi B, Sharifi-Rad R, Sharopov F, Namiesnik J, Roointan A, Kamle M, Kumar P, Martins N, Sharifi-Rad J. Beneficial effects and potential risks of tomato consumption for human health: An overview. Nutrition. 2019 Jun;62:201-208. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2019.01.012. Epub 2019 Jan 25. PMID: 30925445.
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