Amazing Benefits Of Tomatoes
Tomatoes are
well known and enjoyed around the world, making them one of the most popular
and accessible vegetables around. They are extremely versatile and can be
served in both savory and sweet dishes. They can be eaten raw or cooked and can
be made into soups, juices and even alcoholic beverages, such as the Bloody
Mary.
There are many interesting facts about
tomatoes. There are around 25,000 varieties of tomatoes and they have a lot of
medicinal properties including the ability to reduce cancer risks, improve
cardiovascular health, lessen hypertension, regulate blood pressure and reduce
inflammation. They can also improve our skin, hair, nails and bones. Tomatoes
have so many health benefits because they are rich in minerals and nutrients that are
necessary for optimal well being. However, not many people are aware of
these facts and it makes tomatoes one of the most underrated foods.
Read on to see
how the following properties and benefits of tomatoes surprise you!
1. Tomatoes are good for our heart and circulation
Tomatoes
contain a mineral called potassium which is necessary for optimal vein and
muscle health. It can help reduce cholesterol and stabilise blood
pressure. It also assists kidneys to filter the wastes in blood. Potassium
levels in the body can be maintained by eating tomatoes and this will radically
reduce the possibility of stroke and heart attack.
The amount of potassium in tomatoes varies,
depending on the quality and size of the tomato you pick. To absorb the largest
amount of potassium from tomatoes, you should eat them raw. You can either
dice tomatoes for salads, slice them up for sandwiches or blend
them into a refreshing juice. Keeping tomatoes uncooked and combining them
with other fresh ingredients, you do not only enjoy delicious meals but
also have sufficient daily potassium intake.
2. Tomatoes make us feel and look good
Tomatoes are
packed with antioxidants such as Vitamin C, Vitamin A and beta carotene. These antioxidants help prevent
irreparable damage of cells caused by free radicals. The relationship between antioxidants and free radicals is
crucial to good health and well being.
Apart from
making us feel healthier, tomatoes also make us look more attractive. For
example, tomatoes can keep our hair shiny and strong, maintain good
eye health and allow our skin to stay glowing. Eat them raw or use them
directly on your skin with the flesh side down, as the Florida Tomato Committee recommends.
It may cause some redness on our skin at first, but this is not serious and
will not last long.
3. Tomatoes boost the health of teeth and bones as we age
The human body
contains copious amounts of calcium. Around 1% of calcium is used for the
metabolic functions of our veins, muscles and nervous system. The
other 99% is stored in our bones and teeth and can be lost dramatically as
we age. Calcium is absorbed and removed from bones and teeth at different rates
depending on how old we are.
“Bone itself
undergoes continuous remodeling, with constant resorption and deposition of calcium into new bone. The balance between
bone resorption and deposition changes with age. Bone formation exceeds
resorption in periods of growth in children and adolescents, whereas in early
and middle adulthood both processes are relatively equal. In aging adults,
particularly among postmenopausal women, bone breakdown exceeds formation,
resulting in bone loss that increases the risk of osteoporosis over time.” U.S. Department of Health & Human
Services, National Institutes of Health
Other than
drinking milk, eating tomatoes can help strengthen your bones and teeth as they
are a great source of calcium too! The amount of calcium in tomatoes depends on
how they are consumed, but this can be easily calculated. It
appears that sun-dried tomatoes contain the highest levels of calcium.
4. Tomatoes reduce the risk of cancer
Tomatoes
contain a red pigment called Lycopene.
Lycopene is found in a lot of red fruits and vegetables and also in some that
are not actually red like asparagus and parsley. It occurs naturally in the
human body and is found in the liver, blood, adrenal glands, lungs, prostate,
colon, and skin. Eating foods like tomatoes that contain Lycopene helps boost
the quality and quantity of the pigment in those areas of the body and can
assist in the prevention of cell damage that can possibly turn into cancer.
Research has shown that consuming Lycopene-rich
tomatoes can help to prevent cancer occurring in prostate,
lung and stomach without bringing any adverse effects
to the body. To extract the optimum levels of Lycopene from tomatoes, it
is best to consume them when they are cooked and combined with a little fat.
Tomato soup is unquestionably one of the greatest options you should consider!
5. Tomatoes are a great help to diabetics
Chromium is the
mineral found in tomatoes that causes insulin spike and therefore
regulates your blood sugar level. It is a beneficial property aiding in the
prevention and management of diabetes. When you consume a diet high in
carbohydrates, your blood tend to absorb most of the sugar in the diet.
Luckily, studies have shown that chromium can reduce the risk of
diseases arising from high sugar consumption. Canadian doctor Ben Kim says that chromium in food:
“Helps to
regulate your blood sugar level by enhancing the effects of insulin
Helps to
prevent cardiovascular disease, including type II diabetes, through its effect
on insulin
Helps your body
make protein, fats, and cholesterol through its effect on insulin”
He also
lists the types of foods that contain chromium, including tomatoes, and
the recommended daily intake of chromium for each age group.
6. Tomatoes can repair the damage done by smoking
Tomatoes
contain coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid, which can help
repair the damage caused by carcinogens in cigarettes. Like many of the other
properties found in tomatoes, chlorogenic acid is a powerful antioxidant that
can reduce inflammation and prevent cancer.
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