Cherry tomatoes may pack a more concentrated nutritional punch than larger heritage varieties, according to nutritionist Rob Hobson, who points to the fruit's skin-to-flesh ratio as the key factor.
Lycopene and antioxidant benefits
Hobson explained that all tomatoes contain lycopene, the plant nutrient responsible for their red colour and known for antioxidant properties. Healthline notes lycopene has been linked to better heart health and protection from some cancers. However, cherry tomatoes deliver a more concentrated hit because many protective compounds lie just beneath the skin, which is exposed to sunlight and environmental stress.
"The skin contains fibre and is rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, which are antioxidants," Hobson told the Mail. Since cherry tomatoes have a higher skin-to-flesh ratio, eating multiple in one sitting means consuming proportionally more skin than with a single beef or heritage tomato.
Practical implications for diet
Hobson emphasised that larger tomatoes are not unhealthy, but the difference helps explain some nutritional variations. "You are likely to eat more than one cherry tomato in one go which means you'll consume proportionally more skin than you would if you were eating a single beef or heritage tomato," he said.
In related gardening advice, Gardeners' World favourite Monty Don shared tips on avoiding tomato blight. He recommends planting outdoor tomatoes in June and ensuring good ventilation. "From late July, the risks of blight increase, dependent as it is upon the combination of high humidity and warm days and nights," Monty wrote in his July blog. "The best defence for outdoor tomatoes is good ventilation and stripping off the lower leaves as the fruits develop."
