10 Health Benefits of Tomatoes

You find tomatoes in most of your favorite dishes. Tomatoes really add taste to the sandwiches, pizzas and to other tasty delights. In fact, you derive much enjoyment while having a simple salad made of cucumber, onion and tomato slices. But tomatoes are not just tastemakers! These vegetables have incredible health benefits including the capabilities to prevent cancer. Let's explore the various health benefits of tomatoes:

1. Presence of Antioxidants: Tomatoes are packed with lycopene, a bright red carotene and carotenoid pigment responsible for the red color of the tomatoes. Lycopene has been extensively studied for its antioxidant and cancer-preventing properties. In research on humans, lycopene has been linked to the protection of DNA inside of white blood cells due to its antioxidant function to help protect cells from free radical damage. Cooked tomato products such as pasteurized tomato juice, soup, sauce, and ketchup contain the highest concentrations of bioavailable (easily absorbable by body) lycopene from tomato-based sources. As lycopene is fat-soluble, consuming tomato or tomato products with fat-rich foods, such as olive oil, avocado or nuts, also makes it absorbed better than lycopene from raw tomatoes. In addition to lycopene, tomatoes are also an excellent source of other antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin A (through its concentration of carotenoids including beta-carotene). All these antioxidants travel through the body neutralizing dangerous free radicals that could otherwise damage cells and cell membranes, escalating inflammation and the progression or severity of diabetic complications, atherosclerosis, asthma, and colon cancer. One cup of tomato provides 57.3 percent of the daily recommended value for vitamin C, and 22.4 percent of the daily recommended value for vitamin A.
2. Effect on Cancer Cells: The powerful antioxidant called lycopene present in tomatoes has been found to be protective against many cancers, particularly prostate cancer, cervical cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, oral cancer, and the cancers of the esophagus, pharynx and the rectum. According to meta-analysis of 21 studies published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, men who ate the highest amounts of cooked tomatoes were found to have an 19 percent reduction in risk for prostate cancer, and those who ate the most raw tomatoes showed 11 percent reduction in prostate cancer risk. According to researchers, lycopene content alone is not responsible for such benefits. It is the synergy of lycopene with other phytonutrients naturally present in tomatoes that confers it with so much health value.
3. Cholesterol Fighting Behaviors: According to a study conducted on 21 healthy people and published in the British Journal of Nutrition, a high dietary intake of tomato products significantly reduced total and LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) levels. Blood samples taken after the study also showed an increase in the ability of circulating LDL cholesterol to resist oxidation. Oxidized LDL can produce inflammation in arteries that supply blood to your organs and other tissues, thus promoting atherosclerosis and increasing your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
4. Effect on Hypertension: Tomatoes are a very good source of potassium, and diets rich in potassium have been shown to lower high blood pressure and hence, reduce the risk of heart disease. One cup of tomato provides 11.4 percent of the daily recommended value for potassium.
5. Reduction in Heart Disease Risk: Apart from preventing cancer, lycopene in tomatoes also provide cardiovascular benefits. As part of a research conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, researchers tracked around 40,000 middle-aged and older women with no cardiovascular disease and cancer for more than 7 years. The researchers found that women who consumed 7 to 10 servings of lycopene-rich foods (tomato based products, including tomato and pizza) each week had 29 percent lower risk of heart disease when compared with women eating less than 1.5 servings of tomato products weekly. Other benefits of tomato like lowering of cholesterol and high blood pressure also contribute towards heart health.
6. Beneficial Effects on Vision: Tomatoes contain Vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene which converts to vitamin A in the body) which improves vision and prevents vision-related problems like night blindness and macular degeneration.
7. Cleansing Properties: Being a good source of fiber, tomato prevents extreme cases like diarrhea or constipation and maintains the overall health of the digestive tract. It also conducts a detoxification mechanism in the body.
8. Effect on Diabetes: Tomatoes are a good source of the mineral called chromium. Chromium has been shown to help diabetic patients keep their blood sugar levels under control. One cup of tomato provides 7.5 percent of the daily recommended value for chromium. Tomato juice also offers special benefits to type 2 diabetes patients who are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. When the health of blood vessels is impaired, as in the case of diabetes, platelets (parts of blood responsible for the preservation of healthy blood vessels) stick to the lining of the vessel wall, which, over time, can lead to the development of cardiovascular disease. As part of an Australian study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 20 people with type 2 diabetes were given 250 ml of tomato juice or a tomato-flavored placebo daily. Researchers found that after 3 weeks, platelet aggregation (clumping together and clotting of platelets) was significantly reduced among those drinking real tomato juice, while no such effect was noted in those receiving placebo.
   
9. Impact on Skin: Tomato juice is known as an anti-tan remedy. Regular intake of tomatoes ensures protection against erythema (a skin condition characterized by redness or rash) caused by the UV radiations. A study conducted at Manchester and Newcastle Universities found that people who added five tablespoons of tomato paste to their daily diet had 33 percent more protection against sunburn, the equivalent of a very low factor sun cream, and much higher levels of pro-collagen, a molecule which gives the skin its structure and keeps it firm. Also, applying tomato paste on your face for 15 minutes can help treat oily skin by absorbing excess oil and sebum. No wonder tomato has found a distinct position in the preparation of several anti-aging products.
10. Effect on Bone Health: Tomatoes are a very good source of vitamin K, which contribute towards bone health by activating osteocalcin, the major non-collagen protein in bone that is needed to bind calcium to the bone matrix. One cup of raw tomato provides you with 17.8 percent of the daily recommended value for vitamin K.

Numerous studies have established the effectiveness of tomatoes in the treatment of certain chronic ailments and cancer. Processed foods like tomato ketchup and puree can retain the antioxidant value of the vegetable. It has been found that more lycopene is produced in cooked tomatoes in comparison to the raw ones. So, what about savoring a hot tomato soup tonight?