Sun Dried Tomato in Olive Oil

This sun-dried tomatoes recipe is a great one for your pantry to whip out on any given occasion and is truly reminiscent of the Italian South. Sundried tomatoes are endlessly versatile- simply stir into pasta, salads or top a pizza with these jewels. They preserve well under Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil, but once opened make sure you keep them in the fridge.

Nutrients

One cup of sun-dried tomatoes has 139 calories, 8 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber. This means that men get 14 percent of the recommended daily intake of protein and 18 percent of fiber, while women gain 17 percent of their daily intake of protein and 28 percent of fiber. A one-cup serving of sun-dried tomatoes has 39 percent of the recommended daily intake of potassium, which is essential for muscle contraction and the transmission of nerve impulses. Men get 82 percent and women obtain 27 percent of the recommended daily intake of iron. The same serving size provides 23 percent of the daily intake of thiamine and riboflavin, as well as 31 percent of niacin. These B vitamins are essential for converting food to energy, maintaining the nervous system and keeping skin healthy. You’ll also receive 19 percent of the daily intake of vitamin K, which is necessary for blood clotting and regulates bone mineralization.

Antioxidants

Free radicals are natural by products of chemical processes in your body, but they damage cells and contribute to diseases, such as arthritis, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Antioxidants protect your health by neutralizing free radicals and lowering inflammation. One cup of sun-dried tomatoes provides 23 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C and 16 percent of vitamin A. Vitamin C supports the immune system and neutralizes free radicals throughout the body. Vitamin A refers to a group of substances with different roles. As a vitamin, it’s essential for vision and strengthens the immune system. Three other members of the vitamin A family – lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin – work as antioxidants. One cup of sun-dried tomatoes has about 1 milligram of lutein and zeaxanthin and 25 milligrams of lycopene. Lutein and zeaxanthin protect your eyes from age-related diseases, such as cataracts and macular degeneration. All three exhibit anti-cancer activity, but lycopene is specifically associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer.

 

Heart Health

Antioxidants contribute to heart health by reducing inflammation in the blood vessels. A serving of sun-dried tomatoes delivers further heart benefits by providing 6 percent of the recommended daily intake of calcium and 25 percent of magnesium. Calcium is a well-known component of bones, but it also stimulates the contraction of heart muscles. Magnesium has the opposite role, helping to ensure normal heart rhythm by causing the heart muscles to relax. Calcium and magnesium also regulate blood pressure by coordinating the contraction and relaxation of blood vessel walls.

 

Strong Bones

In addition to containing 6 percent of the daily intake of calcium, 1 cup of sun-dried tomatoes has 25 percent of the recommended intake of magnesium and 27 percent of phosphorus. Calcium combines with phosphorus to create the primary bone-building mineral hydroxyapatite, while magnesium helps form the matrix that supports the other minerals