036: Sun-Dried Tomato Spread

Sun-Dried Tomato Spread is probably a product you're not very familiar with, mainly because, as far as we know, we're one of the few people who make it. So we're making a quick episode, as requested by listeners, to explain this product.

We'll explain exactly what it is, why you might want to use it, and how to use it.

We go into more depth in the podcast, but below are some show notes as well.

What is Sun-Dried Tomato Spread?

Sun-dried tomatoes blended with extra virgin olive oil and spices to create a product that's somewhere between a ketchup and a paste.

We use those mainly just a reference so you know a bit of the taste and consistency of the spread.

It naturally a tiny bit sweet due to the concentration of the tomotoes and it is thick like a tomato paste but has much more flavor than just a paste.

Why use it?

Lycopene.

Sun-dried tomatoes are said to provide the most lycopene, gram per gram, than any other food and have 20 times more lycopene than fresh tomatoes.

Plus, the spreads are made with extra virgin olive oil which improves lycopene absorption by the body. That's not counting the extra virgin olive oil benefits!

So in the end, you've got one powerful—yet delicious—antioxidant spread without any sugar, corn syrup or any sweetener of any kind, no any preservatives or chemicals!

Just deliciousness!

Why is Lycopene important and what is it?

(Note: Please see full disclaimer below stating I am NOT a doctor nor nutritionist. This is general information I have found on the internet and curated for you.)

Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant from the Vitamin A (carotenoid) family. Like any anti-antioxidant, it is believed that it may help protect cells from damage.

It's what gives fruits and vegetables their red color, thus you can also find lycopene in watermelons, pink grapefruits, apricots and pink guavas.

I stand corrected from what I say in the podcast in that it appears gac (????) has the highest content of lycopene of any know fruit or vegetable. It's found in southeast Asia, but since most of us have never heard it, much less tried it, 85% of lycopene for most people come from some sort of tomato product. If someone has ever has gac please let me know in the comments!

When you cook the tomatoes, as we do when making the spreads, it actually makes it easier for the body to access and use the lycopene (which is why I believe ketchup is also a high lycopene product).

As for the health benefits, as I said, it's considered a power anti-oxidant which is protects us for free radicals. Several articles I read mentioned tons of things lycopene is being studied to see if it helps, everything from asthma, cancer prevention, coronary artery disease, and the one that got a tone of press, enlarged prostate. It seems not study has definitely proved lycopene's effectiveness in treating any of these ailments.   While, there is unclear scientific evidence for all these, that certainly won't keep me from enjoying them.

But, the best benefit, it's just damn delicious!

Sources: Mayoclinic, WebMd, Foodtrients, Wikipedia

How do you use it?

Snack attack!

Put it on a cracker or small piece of toast and you have an instant appetizer or snack! So quick, yet so delicious.

Dip it, baby!

Dip cracker, chips or raw vegetables (or yes, even just your spoon) in a bowl of it and enjoy.

No more ketchup!

Use this wherever you would ketchup. Sandwiches, hot dogs, and burgers. You won't be coating your food with a layer of essentially sugar and it gives you a super concentrated, delicious tomato flavor.

Sauce it up!

In stead of tomato paste in your favorite sauce recipe, add the same amount of Sun-Dried Tomato Spread. It acts on the same principle of being a concentrated tomato flavor, but adds so much more flavor.

Bring back the meatloaf!

Use it in your favorite meatloaf recipe in place of ketchup or tomato paste and enjoy.

Any fans out there have another great what they've used our Sun-Dried Tomato Spread?  Let us know in the comments!

Oh, and click here to get the Sun-Dried Tomato Spread and here to get the Spicy Sun-Dried Tomato Spread or save and get them both in our Healthy Ketchup Collection.

Note: I should state I am not a doctor nor nutritionist, nor do I play one on TV.  This podcast and show notes pro­vide gen­eral infor­ma­tion and dis­cus­sion about med­i­cine, health, and nutrition.  The words and other con­tent pro­vided in this podcast and show notes, and in any linked mate­ri­als, are not intended and should not be con­strued as med­ical advice. If the listener or reader or any other per­son has a med­ical con­cern, he or she should con­sult with an appropriately-licensed physi­cian or other health care worker.

Never dis­re­gard pro­fes­sional med­ical advice or delay in seek­ing it because of some­thing you have heard on the podcast or read here or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a med­ical emer­gency, call your doc­tor immediately. The views expressed on the podcast and show notes and web­site have no rela­tion to those of any academic, hospital, practice or other insti­tu­tion with which the authors are affiliated.