Ajit Karn
Health Benefits of Tomatoes: The tomato sitting on your kitchen counter is a low-calorie packet of nutrients, which may come as a surprise to you. Tomatoes are beneficial to your health whether eaten fresh, dried, or processed into a sauce, salsa, or paste.
You may use fresh tomatoes in omelettes and salads, or you can slice them and serve them with balsamic vinegar, fresh basil, sea salt, and cracked black pepper. Toss spaghetti squash or beans with tomato sauce, or use pesto made from sun-dried tomatoes to top steaming vegetables. Spread salsa on baked salmon, black beans, brown rice, or a taco salad. Whether you’re making hummus with roasted garlic and harissa or vegetarian chilli, tomato paste is a must-have ingredient.
As for the good news? Tomatoes are delicious and good for you. Seven Health Benefits of Tomatoes are listed here.
Health Benefits of Tomatoes
1. Tomatoes are a great source of vitamins.
About 40% of the recommended minimum daily vitamin C intake may be met by a single tomato. Tomatoes also include vitamin K, which is beneficial for bone health, and vitamin A, which is excellent for immunity, eyesight, and skin. Potassium, found in tomatoes, is essential for normal nerve and muscle activity, as well as blood pressure and fluid balance.
2. They protect heart health.
Tomatoes contain the antioxidant lycopene, which is also responsible for their red colour. Higher levels of lycopene in the blood have been linked to reduced mortality rates among individuals with metabolic syndrome (a complex of risk factors that increases the likelihood of developing heart disease, diabetes, and stroke).
3. They support healthy vision.
Lycopene is good for your eyes, too. And that’s not the only peeper-protective nutrient in tomatoes; they contain lutein and beta carotene as well. These nutrients support vision and protect against eye conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
4. They boost digestive health.
The fluid and fiber in tomatoes may be helpful if you’re prone to constipation. (According to the USDA, one large tomato contains 6 ounces of fluid and 1.5 grams of fiber.) Just be aware that in some people, the acidity from cooked tomatoes may trigger or worsen acid reflux and indigestion.
5. They may help fend off diabetes complications.
Tomatoes may be a protective food for people with type 2 diabetes. In one study, people with diabetes who supplemented with cooked tomatoes for 30 days experienced a decrease in lipid peroxidation (a chain reaction in which substances called free radicals attack fat, leading to damage that ups the risk of heart disease).
6. They can contribute to skin health.
Research has found that the combination of tomato paste and olive oil protects against sun damage and boosts the production of pro-collagen, a molecule that gives the skin its structure and keeps it firm. Scientists believe that the lycopene in tomatoes is key: It’s at its highest concentration in cooked tomatoes (while olive oil boosts its absorption from your digestive system into your bloodstream).
Also read: The Health Benefits of Vegetables
7. They may help protect against cancer.
Observational studies have discovered a correlation between lycopene consumption and a lower risk of prostate, ovarian, lung, and gastric malignancies. What is there not to love?
