Online rumors that eating tomatoes on an empty stomach is dangerous have been rejected by a nutritionist.
Suggestions that astringents in tomatoes could harden and block the digestive tract when they interact with stomach acids are unfounded, Changhua Christian Hospital nutritionist Chen Yan-hua (陳燕華) said.
Eating tomatoes offers many health benefits, Chen said.
Every 100g of cherry tomatoes has 1.5g of dietary fiber, 609.8mg of vitamin A, 3.65mg of beta-carotene, 49.9mg of vitamin C, 200mg of potassium and only 35 calories, Chen said, citing Food and Drug Administration data.
Tomatoes contain the antioxidant lycopene, a cancer-preventative phytonutrient that can help dissolve fatty substances in the body, she said, adding that lycopene is easily absorbed by the body.
“However, those with certain chronic illnesses like diabetes should eat tomatoes sparingly, and not directly after a meal, because they are a fruit and contain natural sugars,” she said.
Those with high blood-sugar levels should wait at least two hours after a meal to eat sweeter types of tomatoes and should not eat more than about 15 cherry tomatoes at a time, Chen said.
Those with chronic kidney disease should not eat too many tomatoes in one sitting because of the high level of potassium in tomatoes, she said.
Those who suffer from hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and hypertension should consult a dietitian to determine whether it is safe for them to eat tomatoes, she added.
People who are attempting to lose weight should eat more tomatoes because they are low in calories and an easy snack, Chen said.
However, all food types should be eaten in moderation, even if they are high in nutrition and offer health benefits, she said.
Nipah virus infection is to be officially listed as a category 5 notifiable infectious disease in Taiwan in March, while clinical treatment guidelines are being formulated, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. With Nipah infections being reported in other countries and considering its relatively high fatality rate, the centers on Jan. 16 announced that it would be listed as a notifiable infectious disease to bolster the nation’s systematic early warning system and increase public awareness, the CDC said. Bangladesh reported four fatal cases last year in separate districts, with three linked to raw date palm sap consumption, CDC Epidemic Intelligence
The manufacture of the remaining 28 M1A2T Abrams tanks Taiwan purchased from the US has recently been completed, and they are expected to be delivered within the next one to two months, a source said yesterday. The Ministry of National Defense is arranging cargo ships to transport the tanks to Taiwan as soon as possible, said the source, who is familiar with the matter. The estimated arrival time ranges from late this month to early next month, the source said. The 28 Abrams tanks make up the third and final batch of a total of 108 tanks, valued at about NT$40.5 billion
Two Taiwanese prosecutors were questioned by Chinese security personnel at their hotel during a trip to China’s Henan Province this month, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday. The officers had personal information on the prosecutors, including “when they were assigned to their posts, their work locations and job titles,” MAC Deputy Minister and spokesman Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) said. On top of asking about their agencies and positions, the officers also questioned the prosecutors about the Cross-Strait Joint Crime-Fighting and Judicial Mutual Assistance Agreement, a pact that serves as the framework for Taiwan-China cooperation on combating crime and providing judicial assistance, Liang
A group from the Taiwanese Designers in Australia association yesterday represented Taiwan at the Midsumma Pride March in Melbourne. The march, held in the St. Kilda suburb, is the city’s largest LGBTQIA+ parade and the flagship event of the annual Midsumma Festival. It attracted more than 45,000 spectators who supported the 400 groups and 10,000 marchers that participated this year, the association said. Taiwanese Designers said they organized a team to march for Taiwan this year, joining politicians, government agencies, professionals and community organizations in showing support for LGBTQIA+ people and diverse communities. As the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex
RSS