Husk tomatoes are also known as Mexican or Mayan husk tomatoes or tomatillos, according to Purdue University. They are biologically fruits, but you can use them as vegetables, such as in sauces and recipes for main dishes. Husk tomatoes are nutritious foods, and they may provide some health benefits when you eat them in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
Lower Blood Pressure
Husk tomatoes may help lower your blood pressure because they are sodium-free. A high-sodium diet can cause high blood pressure, or hypertension, which raises your risk for heart disease, stroke and kidney disease, and healthy adults should have no more than 2,300 mg sodium per day, according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Keep the sodium content low by cooking fresh husk tomatoes without salt or by purchasing low-sodium canned or jarred products.
Weight Control
Each 1-cup serving of chopped husk tomatoes, or 132 g, provides only 42 calories. Low-calorie foods, such as tomatillos, can help you maintain or achieve a healthy weight and lower your risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Count any other calories that you consume when you eat tomatillos, such as extra calories from cooking them in oil or lard.
Prevent Nutritional Deficiencies
Vitamin C is an antioxidant, and an essential nutrient for healthy wound healing and immune system function, and each cup of husk tomatoes provides 15 mg, or 25 percent of the daily value for vitamin C. You need vitamin K for proper blood clotting after you get cut, and husk tomatoes have 16 percent of the daily value. They are a source of potassium, which supports a normal blood pressure, as well as manganese and niacin.
Other Benefits
Husk tomatoes may lower your cholesterol because each cup of raw tomatillos provides 2.6 g dietary fiber, or 10 percent of the daily value. Dietary fiber comes from the parts of plant foods that your body cannot digest, and it lowers levels of bad LDL cholesterol in your blood, according to the Mayo Clinic. Another benefit of the fiber from tomatillos is that it helps stabilize your blood sugar levels because it slows the release of nutrients into your bloodstream.
References
- Purdue University; Mexican Husk Tomato; June 2011
- Mayo Clinic: Corn Tamales with Avocado Salsa
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Vegetables and Vegetable Products
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010; January 2010
- Mayo Clinic: Dietary Fiber: Essential for a Healthy Diet
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