The Health Benefits Of Tomatoes
Tomatoes. Who doesn’t eat them every once in a while? If anything, it’s more likely that you eat them on a regular basis. Well, just like all fruits and vegetables, tomatoes have an abundance of health benefits to them that you may or may not have been aware of. There’s a good reason it’s such a popular fruit – aside from their delicious taste, tomatoes are a staple in every kitchen. Let’s find out just why they’re so healthy.
Great Source Of Vitamins
You might not have known this, but tomatoes are filled with all kinds of essential vitamins and minerals. In fact, a single tomato can provide around 40% of the daily recommended minimum of vitamin C! On top of that, tomatoes are full of vitamin A, vitamin K, and potassium.
Good For The Heart
Tomatoes have an antioxidant in them called lycopene. It’s responsible for the vibrant red color that the fruit has. Well, research suggests that it’s more effective to eat tomatoes and tomato products than to take lycopene supplements for heart health. Higher blood levels of lycopene are connected to lower death rates for people who have metabolic syndrome.
Better Sight
Lycopene is an antioxidant that’s good for your eyes as well. It’s not the only nutrient in tomatoes that’s good for the eyes. In fact, tomatoes contain lutein and beta-carotene as well. Studies have shown that these nutrients support your vision and protect against eye conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration.
Improved Digestive Health
The fluid and fiber found in tomatoes might be helpful if you’re someone who’s prone to constipation. Just keep in mind that with some people, the acidity from cooked tomatoes might trigger or worsen acid reflux and indigestion.
Diabetes Management
Tomatoes might just be a protective food for people who have type 2 diabetes. One study found that people with diabetes who supplemented with cooked tomatoes for a month experienced a decrease in lipid peroxidation – a chain reaction in which substances called free radicals attack fat. This leads to damage that raises the risk of heart disease. This is especially important since diabetes doubles the risk of a stroke and heart attack.
Good For Skin Health
In 2011, a study discovered that the combination of tomato paste and olive oil protected against sun damage and also boosted the production of pro-collagen. That is a molecule that gives the skin its structure and keeps it plump and young. Scientists are convinced that the key is the lycopene in the tomatoes. It’s at its highest concentration when the tomatoes have been cooked. In addition, olive oil boosts its absorption from your digestive system into your bloodstream.
Prevents Cancer
Some studies have found links between lycopene and fewer incidents of prostate, ovarian, lung, and stomach cancers. However, more research has to be done on the subject. All the same, the vitamins and nutrients found in tomatoes are all great for your health. From vitamin C to lycopene, they all take part in keeping your body as healthy as possible.
