Strong muscles are essential both for athletes striving to be at the top of their game and for the rest of us getting through day-to-day life. Interestingly, scientists at the University of Iowa have discovered a common vegetable that contains a compound capable of building muscle and maintaining muscle strength: green tomatoes.
A muscle-building compound
Green tomatoes contain a natural chemical known as tomatidine. This versatile compound has been shown to protect against muscle atrophy and help create new muscle tissue. What’s more, tomatidine also seems to help the body put on less fat while building muscle.
The researchers hope the chemical can be used in the elderly, who commonly suffer from muscle deterioration as a result of aging. Muscle atrophy presents challenges for individuals, their families, and the health care system as a whole.
“However, we lack an effective way to prevent or treat it. Exercise certainly helps, but it’s not enough and not very possible for many people who are ill or injured,” explains researcher Christopher Adams.
Intriguingly, when fed to lab animals, tomatidine also kept their body fat to a minimum. As such, it has the potential to be used as a way to manage weight and promote overall health.
How to incorporate green tomatoes into your diet
Green tomatoes can be eaten safely in moderation, but questions remain regarding the dosage needed to get the same level of tomatidine found in the lab tests conducted on mice. Additionally, researchers are still investigating whether such doses of tomatidine would be safe for human consumption and if they would have the same effect as in mice.
“We are working hard to answer these questions, hoping to find relatively simple ways that people can maintain muscle mass and function, or if necessary, regain it,” says Adams.
In the meantime, there are various tasty ways you can get the benefits of green tomatoes in your diet or even supplement with tomatidine. You can find green tomatoes at grocery stores, farmers’ markets, or even grow them in your garden. Green tomatoes can be used in many recipes, such as salsa verde, chutneys, soups, and salads. Not to mention, the classic and delicious fried green tomatoes, although this method of cooking might not be the healthiest option to maximize their muscle-building benefits.
If you prefer to supplement with tomatidine, various products are available on the market. However, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any supplements, especially those with specific health concerns or taking medication.
Other ways to support muscle health
While we wait for more definitive research on incorporating green tomatoes into our diets to build muscle strength, there are other proven methods to maintain or improve muscle mass for all fitness levels:
Exercise
Incorporating regular exercise into your routine, both cardiovascular and strength training, is essential for muscle health. Activities like walking, running, swimming, and dancing are all excellent options for maintaining healthy muscle mass.
Adequate protein intake
Protein is a necessary building block for muscle tissue; make sure your diet includes plenty of high-quality protein sources such as lean meats, fish, poultry, dairy, beans, and lentils.
Balanced diet
A well-rounded diet that includes an appropriate balance of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals is essential for overall health, including muscle growth and maintenance.
Get enough sleep
Sleep is restorative for the body, and that includes your muscles. A good night’s sleep allows your muscles to recover and repair, contributing to greater muscle health.
Stay hydrated
Muscles require water to function correctly, so making sure you’re adequately hydrated throughout the day is crucial for muscle health.
In conclusion, green tomatoes, with their tomatidine content, hold significant potential in the fight against muscle atrophy and could greatly benefit people worldwide, especially the elderly. So go ahead and give this versatile vegetable a chance to improve your muscles and overall health!
