TOMATOES AND ITS BENEFITS
Description
The
tomato is the fruit of the plant Lycopersicon esculentum. (Botanically
speaking, tomato is not only a fruit, but also a berry since it is formed from
a single ovary.) Originally, tomato was named after the food family to which it
belongs - the Solanaceae (sometimes called "solanoid" or
"nightshade") family. The botanical name Solanum lycopersicum
for tomatoes has now largely been replaced by the name Lycopersicon
esculentum. (The genus/species name Lycopersicon esculentum is also
sometimes used to refer to tomatoes.)
The
French sometimes refer to the tomato as pomme d'amour, meaning "love
apple," and in Italy, tomato is sometimes referred to as
"pomodoro" or "golden apple," probably referring to tomato
varieties that were yellow/orange/tangerine in color.
Regardless
of its name, the tomato is a wonderfully popular and versatile food that comes
in over a thousand different varieties that vary in shape, size, and color.
There are small cherry tomatoes, bright yellow tomatoes, Italian pear-shaped
tomatoes, and the green tomato, famous for its fried preparation in Southern
American cuisine.
Whether you refer to a tomato as a fruit or a vegetable, there is no doubt that a tomato is a nutrient-dense, super-food that most people should be eating more of.
The tomato has been referred to as a "functional food," a food that goes beyond providing just basic nutrition. Due to their beneficial phytochemicals such as lycopene, tomatoes also play a role in preventing chronic disease and deliver other health benefits
Tomatoes are loaded with many, many health benefits. In fact, they
are incredibly versatile and can be prepared in a seemingly endless number of
dishes, as well as being great to eat alone
Did you know that tomatoes do not have to be a deep red color to
be an outstanding source of lycopene?
BENEFITS
The
benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables of all kinds, including tomatoes,
are impressive. As the proportion of plant foods in the diet increases, the
risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer goes down.
High
fruit and vegetable intake is also associated with healthy skin and hair,
increased energy and lower weight. Increasing consumption of fruits and
vegetables significantly decreases the risk of obesity and overall mortality.
1) Cancer
As an
excellent source of vitamin C and other antioxidants, tomatoes can help combat
the formation of free radicals known to cause cancer.
Prostate Cancer: Lycopene has been linked with prostate
cancer prevention in several studies.7 According to John Erdman,
Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of the department of food science and human nutrition
at the University of Illinois, "There's very good, strong, epidemiological
support for increased consumption of tomato products and lower incidence of
prostate cancer."7
Among
younger men, diets rich in beta-carotene may play a protective role against
prostate cancer, according to a study conducted by the Harvard School of Public
Health's Department of Nutrition.
4)
Blood pressure
The
fiber, potassium, vitamin C and choline content in tomatoes all support heart
health. An increase in potassium intake along with a decrease in sodium intake
is the most important dietary change that the average person can make to reduce
their risk of cardiovascular disease and Bp, according to Mark Houston, M.D.,
M.S., an associate clinical professor of medicine at Vanderbilt Medical School
and director of the Hypertension Institute at St. Thomas Hospital in Tennessee.
Tomatoes also contain folic acid, which helps to keep homocysteine levels in
check, thereby reducing a risk factor for heart disease. High potassium
intakes are also associated with a reduced risk of stroke, protection against
loss of muscle mass, preservation of bone mineral density and reduction in the
formation of kidney stones.
Diabetes
Studies
have shown that people with type 1 diabetes who consume high-fiber diets
have lower blood glucose levels, while people with type 2 diabetes may have
improved blood sugar, lipids and insulin levels. One cup of cherry tomatoes
provides about 2 grams of fiber.
The Dietary
Guidelines for Americans recommends 21-25 g of fiber per day for women and
30-38 g/day for men.
Skin
Tomatoes
are good for your skin. Tomatoes
contain a high level of lycopene, which is a substance that is used in some of
the more pricy facial cleansers that are available for purchase
over-the-counter.
If you want to try tomatoes for skin care, you need to start with about eight to twelve tomatoes. Peel the tomatoes and then place the skin on your face with inside of the tomato touching your skin.
Leave the tomatoes on your face for a minimum of ten minutes, then wash. Your face will feel clean and shiny. Some redness may occur, but should fade with time.
If you want to try tomatoes for skin care, you need to start with about eight to twelve tomatoes. Peel the tomatoes and then place the skin on your face with inside of the tomato touching your skin.
Leave the tomatoes on your face for a minimum of ten minutes, then wash. Your face will feel clean and shiny. Some redness may occur, but should fade with time.
Bones
Tomatoes help maintain strong bones. Tomatoes contain a
considerable amount of calcium and Vitamin K. Both of these nutrients are
essential in strengthening and performing minor repairs on the bones as well as
the bone tissue.
Constipation
Eating
foods that are high in water content and fiber like tomatoes can help with
hydration and promote regular bowel movements. Fiber adds bulk to stool and is
essential for minimizing constipation.
Eye
health
Tomatoes
are a rich source of lycopene, lutein and beta-carotene, powerful antioxidants
that have been shown to protect the eyes against light-induced damage
associated with the development of cataracts and age-related macular
degeneration (AMD). The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) recently found
that people with high dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin (both carotenoids
found in tomatoes) had a 35 percent reduction in the risk of neovascular AMD.8
10) Pregnancy
Adequate
folic acid intake is essential before and during pregnancy to protect against
neural tube defects in infants.
11) Depression
The
folic acid in tomatoes may help with depression by preventing an excess of
homocysteine from forming in the body, which can prevent blood and other
nutrients from reaching the brain. Excess homocysteine interferes with the
production of the feel-good hormones AA, dopamine, and
norepinephrine, which regulate mood, sleep and appetite.
Antioxidants
Tomatoes provide essential antioxidants. Tomatoes contain a great deal of
Vitamin A and Vitamin C. This is primarily because these vitamins and
beta-carotene work as antioxidants to neutralize harmful free radicals in the
blood.
Free radicals in the blood stream are dangerous because it may lead to cell damage. Remember, the redder the tomato you eat is, the more beta-carotene it contains. In addition, you also want to keep in mind that cooking destroys the Vitamin C, so for these benefits, the tomatoes need to be eaten raw.
Free radicals in the blood stream are dangerous because it may lead to cell damage. Remember, the redder the tomato you eat is, the more beta-carotene it contains. In addition, you also want to keep in mind that cooking destroys the Vitamin C, so for these benefits, the tomatoes need to be eaten raw.
Kidney
Tomatoes are good for your kidneys. Adding tomatoes without seeds to your
diet has been proven in some studies to reduce the risk of kidney stones.
Eyes
Tomatoes are
good for your eyes. The Vitamin A found in
tomatoes is fantastic for improving your vision. In addition, eating tomatoes
is one of the best foods to eat to prevent the development of night blindness.
Tomatoes
are packed full of the valuable mineral known as chromium. It works effectively
to help diabetics keep their blood sugar levels under better control.
Other Health Benefits
While
not as thoroughly researched as these other areas of antioxidant support,
cardiovascular support, and anti-cancer benefits, several other health benefit
areas are important to mention with respect to tomatoes. Diets that include
tomatoes have been linked with reduced risk of some neurological diseases
(including Alzheimer's disease) in multiple studies. Tomato-containing diets
have also been linked in a few studies with reduced risk of obesity.
Tomatoes help
repair damage caused by smoking. No, eating tomatoes is not
the most recent fad to help you quit smoking. However, tomatoes can reduce the
amount of damaged done to your body by smoking cigarettes. Tomatoes contain
coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid that work to protect the body from carcinogens
that are produced from cigarette smoke.
Tomatoes are
good for your hair. The
Vitamin A in tomatoes works perfectly to keep your hair shiny and strong. In
addition, it also does wonders for your eyes, skin, bones and teeth.
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