Tomatoes and ketchup are often associated with junk food, but in reality, ketchup is made from ripe tomatoes that have undergone a series of processing steps to create a flavorful condiment. It is typically used for hot cooking to add color, acidity, and freshness to dishes.

When comparing the nutritional value of fresh tomatoes and canned tomato paste, tomato paste has a higher nutritional content. The paste is made from fresh tomatoes through cleaning, selecting, preheating, crushing, evaporating, concentrating, and sterilizing.

This process increases the content of most nutrients, except for vitamin C. For example, the content of vitamin E in tomato paste is 8 times higher than that of tomatoes and the content of lycopene is much higher due to concentration.

However, when cooking vegetables with tomato paste, the organic acid in it helps to protect the vitamin C in vegetables, thus ensuring the intake of the body. Consuming 20 grams of tomato paste per day is enough to get 9 mg of lycopene, which is much easier than eating 250 grams of raw tomatoes.

The ingredients used in factory-made flavored ketchup are tomatoes, sweeteners, onion powder, spices, salt, and white vinegar.

What is often eaten with French fries and fried chicken is actually tomato sauce, which is made by adding sugar, salt, and other additives to ketchup to create a richer, sweeter taste. However, added sugar and salt also increase the calorie content and lower the nutritional value.

Many people also mention that ketchup is junk food because they think that it contains a lot of preservatives. However, the addition of preservatives in food is a normal practice that is in line with international requirements.

Under normal circumstances, eating ketchup and tomato sauce will not be harmful to the body. Overall, ketchup can be a healthy addition to meals when consumed in moderation.

It's important to note that while ketchup and tomato paste has some health benefits due to their high lycopene content, they should still be consumed in moderation.

Ketchup, especially, often contains high levels of sugar and sodium, and consuming too much can contribute to health issues such as obesity and high blood pressure.

When choosing ketchup, it's a good idea to look for brands that use natural sweeteners, like honey or maple syrup, instead of artificial sweeteners or high fructose corn syrup. Additionally, opting for low-sodium or no-salt-added versions can help reduce the overall sodium content.

Another option is to make your own homemade ketchup. This allows you to control the ingredients and ensure that it is made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Homemade ketchup can be made with tomatoes, onion, garlic, vinegar, sugar, and spices.

In conclusion, ketchup and tomato paste can be a healthy addition to meals when consumed in moderation. They are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that can help reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.

However, it's important to choose ketchup that has natural sweeteners and is low in sodium and to consume it in moderation. Making your own ketchup is also a great option.