Health Benefits of Tomato

Health Benefits of Tomato

Not only are tomatoes delicious, they also have many health benefits. Tomatoes may help in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and provide cancer fighting abilities. Tomatoes are high in phytochemicals and recent research has focused on the phytochemical lycopene which is found in tomatoes. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant. Lycopene is a carotenoid thatgives tomatoes their red color. There are hundreds of carotenoids found in fruits and vegetables that contribute to yellow, orange, and red colors in these fruits and vegetables. Beta-carotene, which is found in carrots, is probably the most familiar carotenoid. Tomatoes, which  are actually a fruit and not a vegetable, are loaded with all kinds of  health benefits  for the body.

Nutritive Values of Tomato : Per 100 gm.

• Vitamin A : 1,000 I.U.
• Vitamin B : Thiamine .06 mg.;
• Vitamin C : 23 mg.
• Vitamin K : amount uncertain
• Calcium : 11 mg.
• Iron : .6 mg.
• Phosphorus : 27 mg.
• Potassium : 360 mg.
• Protein : 1.0 gm.
• Calories : 20

Health Benefits of Tomato :
1. A large consumption of tomato can help improve skin texture and color.

2. Tomato is a good blood purifier.

3. Tomato helps in cases of congestion of the liver (protects the liver from cirrhosis) as well as for dissolving gallstones.

4. Tomato is a natural antiseptic therefore it can help protect against infection.Nicotinic acid in tomatoes can help to reduce blood cholesterol, thus helps prevent heart diseases.

5. Vitamin K in tomatoes helps to prevent hemorrhages.

6. Tomato contain lycopene (the red pigment in tomato), this pigment is a powerful antioxidant that can also fight cancer cells.

7. Lycopene may also reduce the risk of heart disease.lycopene reduces oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) which is known as the bad cholesterol.

8. Tomatoes contain all three high-powered antioxidants: beta-carotene (which has vitamin A activity in the  body), vitamin E, and vitamin C. A U.S. Department of Agriculture report, What We Eat in America, noted that a third or we get too little vitamin C and almost half get too little vitamin A.

9. Tomatoes are rich in potassium, a mineral most of us don't get enough of. A cup of tomato juice contains 534 milligrams of potassium, and 1/2 cup of tomato sauce has 454 milligrams.

10. 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.

11. Because of the Vitamin B and potassium  in tomatoes, they are effective in reducing cholesterol levels and lowering blood pressure. Therefore, by including tomatoes in your regular balanced diet you can effectively prevent heart attacks, strokes as well as many other heart related problems that may threaten your life.

12. Adding tomatoes without seeds to your diet has been proven in some studies to reduce the risk of kidney stones.

13. 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.

14. Tomatoes are good for diabetics.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 .