Still little known in many parts of the world, tomatillo represents a real treasure of health benefits.
It’s a distant relative of the well-known tomato. So tomatillo isn’t a tomato, but they are connected.
It originates from Mexico, and it’s mostly applied in Latin America, where people use it as an essential ingredient in many recipes.
This exotic fruit has a broad application. It can be used as an addition to desserts or jams.
What they taste like
If you’re wondering what tomatillo tastes like, the answer is no surprise. Since tomatillo is the real link between fruits and vegetables, the taste is a mixture of tomato, peach, and apple.
Tomatillo is not spicy food. However, it’s possible to use it in hot sauce, which is the case in Mexico and neighboring countries.
When they are raw, the taste isn’t the most pleasant. Some people may develop an allergy to the tomatillo. So, you need to be careful when you try it for the first time.
The colors are exciting. They can be green, yellow, or even purple. You will need plenty of sun and moisture to grow tomatillo. Only fruits can be eaten. All other parts of the plant are toxic and need to be thrown away.
Health Benefits Of Tomatillo:
1. Rich in minerals and vitamins
Tomatillo is an excellent source of essential nutrients. It is rich in iron, potassium, and folate.
Tomatillo is also low in calories. It consists predominantly of water. Hence, the tomatillo is a great choice if you’re on a diet.
Since it doesn’t contain many carbs, the tomatillo is a keto-friendly food.
Nutrition Facts:
100 grams of tomatillo provides the following nutrients (1).
- Water: 91.63 grams
- Calories: 32 kcal
- Protein: 0.96 grams
- Fat: 1.02 grams
- Carbohydrate: 5.84 grams
- Dietary Fiber: 1.9 grams
- Sugars: 3.9 grams
- Calcium: 7 mg
- Iron: 0.62 mg
- Magnesium: 20 mg
- Phosphorus: 39 mg
- Potassium: 268 mg
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Folate: 7μg
- Vitamin C: 11.7 mg
- Vitamin K: 10.1 μg
2. Helps reduce blood sugar levels
When it comes to health, tomatillo seems to be a real friend to people.
Tomatillo is very low on carbs and contains a significant amount of fiber.
Additionally, studies in rats reveal that tomatillo helps reduce blood sugar levels (2).
Hence, adding tomatillo to your regular diet may help you manage diabetes.
3. Possesses anti-inflammatory effects
It’s also important to mention that tomatillo has been proven to have anti-inflammatory activity. It works similarly to standard pain relievers, such as aspirin or ibuprofen (3).
Constant use of pills makes the situation worse in the long run. Therefore, tomatillo could be a valuable natural alternative to standard pain relievers.
4. Good for your heart
Tomatillo is an excellent source of potassium. The abundance of potassium means rest for your heart and circulatory system.
Potassium relaxes blood vessels. It will give you better blood flow and extra energy. Not to mention how important this is for stroke prevention.
What’s more, research shows that tomatillo is beneficial for reducing blood cholesterol levels and body weight (4).
5. Fights against cancer
Tomatillo also appears to be able to act on cancer cells (5).
The chemical composition of this fruit seems to be ideal for fighting cancer, especially colon cancer (6).
Additionally, researches show that tomatillo can be used in the fight against kidney diseases (7).
6. Rich in antioxidants
Studies find that tomatillo is remarkably high in antioxidants (8). Antioxidants are a great source of health.
They protect against the deterioration of the vascular system, slow down aging.
Antioxidants also help reduce the possibility of cancer cells and help with many chronic diseases. In short, they protect your cells from damage.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, the tomatillo is an appealing and yet unexplored fruit. But it’s already clear that its medicinal uses are enormous. Include them in your kitchen and feel a rapid health improvement.