Tomatoes, being rich in the antioxidant lycopene, can lower your risk of atherosclerosis (causing your arteries to narrow & harden) by 50%.

Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives tomatoes their color. According to a study done by Korean researchers, lycopene may help to prevent hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis. In the study, researchers found that the women with the highest lycopene levels in their blood had the least stiffness in their arteries and women with the lowest lycopene levels had the most.