Health Benefits of Tomatoes
A juicy red tomato has become an icon of summer and one of the most widely consumed foods around the world. But tomatoes are not just delicious; they’re also extremely nutritious, packed with vitamins and disease-fighting antioxidants that can improve your health. Here are 10 surprising health benefits of tomatoes that you may not have heard about before, along with suggestions on how to incorporate more tomatoes into your diet!
1) Prevents Cancer
In addition to helping protect against cardiovascular disease, lycopene helps prevent cancer. A study found that men who consumed high amounts of lycopene had a 31 percent lower risk of prostate cancer and a 48 percent lower risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer. Lycopene has also been shown to decrease rates of lung, stomach, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers.
2) Prevents Alzheimer’s Disease
Studies have shown that consuming tomatoes can reduce a person’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, researchers at Tufts University found that people who ate 10 or more servings of tomato products per week had 42 percent less risk for Alzheimer’s disease than those who did not eat any. The benefit is thought to be linked to the lycopene, an antioxidant compound found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables.
3) Protects Against Heart Disease
Research shows that those who eat foods high in lycopene, such as tomatoes, have a reduced risk of heart disease. Lycopene is an antioxidant found in tomato products and may also help protect against prostate cancer. One cup (174 grams) of raw cherry tomatoes contains 23% RDA for vitamin C.
4) Helps with Digestion
When you’re looking to lose weight or just clean up your diet, start with tomatoes. A healthy dose of lycopene in red and ripe tomatoes helps lower LDL cholesterol, a leading cause of heart disease. The vitamin C found in tomatoes also improves your body’s ability to absorb iron, which can reduce anemia and boost energy levels. Lycopene is also thought to help fight cancer.
5) Keeps Skin Clear
A study found that tomatoes contain a compound called lycopene, which has been proven to reduce skin cancer and may have anti-aging properties. According to New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital, Tomato consumption is associated with a reduced risk for nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC). It also prevents sunburn.
6) Reduces Inflammation in the Body
Because of their antioxidant, vitamin, and mineral content, tomatoes can reduce inflammation in your body. Inflammation—the response to infection or injury that you feel as heat, swelling, pain, and redness—can occur anywhere in your body when your immune system kicks into overdrive. When there’s too much inflammation for too long or without an apparent cause (known as chronic inflammation), it can take a toll on your health by raising your risk for heart disease and cancer.
7) Fights Allergies and Other Respiratory Diseases
Eating tomato and tomato-based products regularly can reduce your risk of developing allergic reactions by 60 percent. This is mostly due to lycopene, a carotenoid pigment that gives tomatoes their signature red color. Lycopene is also associated with a reduced risk of asthma, COPD, and other respiratory diseases.
8) Anti-inflammatory Properties
The health benefits of tomatoes are mostly linked to their high concentration of antioxidants, which reduce inflammation throughout your body. For example, an Indian study found that just 100 grams (about 3.5 ounces) per day helped reduce symptoms associated with inflammatory diseases. The same research found that women who consumed 10 or more servings of tomato a week saw a decrease in risk for several diseases linked to inflammation, including heart disease and even cancer.
9) Great Source of Vitamin C, Folate, Vitamin K, Potassium, and Copper
The health benefits of tomatoes are largely due to their high vitamin and mineral content. A single tomato provides more than 20% of your daily recommended intake for several vitamins including A, B6, C, and K. Folate is an essential nutrient that helps fight cancer by repairing DNA damage in cells; a diet rich in folate can help prevent certain types of birth defects, such as neural tube defects. Meanwhile, copper has been linked to normal thyroid function and helps reduce joint pain associated with arthritis.
10) Improves Bone Health
Tomatoes have long been touted for their bone-building abilities, as they contain vitamins and minerals like vitamin C and potassium that are essential to bone health. A study by Baylor College of Medicine in Houston found that women who ate a lot of foods containing lycopene—which is what gives tomatoes their red color—had stronger bones than those who consumed less lycopene.
