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Tomatoes are delicious superfood with a lot of vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, potassium, phosphorus and calcium.
Tomatoes are fruits, but as well used in cooking as vegetables; and its a member of nightshade family.
They are of different colors such as yellow, orange, green, purple and red, it appears red when matured or ripped.
They are known scientifically as Solanum lycopersicum and grown virtually all over the world, and a native of south America.
Tomatoes are excellent source of natural compounds like lycopene, Beta -carotene, chlorogenic acid, which are linked to the health benefits.
Health Benefits of Tomatoes are: prevents cancer, maintains the eyes, contains folic acid, constipation, prevent high blood pressure, protects the skin, prevents cardiovascular disease.
Nutrition facts
Water – 95%
Carbs – 3.8g
Fat 0.9
Calories 17g
Fiber 1.2g
Sugar 2.6g
7 Health Benefits Of Tomatoes
1. Prevent cancer
Tomatoes are very good in the prevention of cancer, as it helps remove free radicals in the body. This is due to vitamin C, and anti oxidant. Tomatoes have high amount of beta -carotene, which helps prevent tumor that causes prostrate cancer. Tomatoes are loaded with lycopene, which also contribute in prostate cancer prevention. Several studies have shown that food with high amount of anti oxidant, lycopene, and dietary fiber can prevent cancer like, colon cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer.
2. Maintains the eyes
Regular intake of tomatoes is said to protects you from light damage, cataracts, night blindness and muscular degeneration. Tomatoes contains, vitamin A, lycopene, beta-carotene. These act as anti oxidant in the eye, the effect removal of free radicals,as well as protect the eyes against being affected by light induced damage. Free radicals are natural toxins, when accumulated could cause various kinds of eye defects.
3. Source Of folic acid
Tomatoes are good source of folic acid. Lack of folic acid in the body, especially the pregnant woman triggers, anaemia, weakness and neural tube defects in infants. It is a good supplement for pregnant women as it enhances the formation of RNA and DNA.
4. Constipation
Tomatoes is an excellent source of dietary fiber. Consumption of food with fiber content help maintain effective bowel movement as well as maintaining your digestive system..
5. Prevent high blood pressure
Tomatoes play a vital role in terms of blood pressure regulation and control. They are powerhouse of vitamins and minerals such as potassium. High amount of potassium and low sodium in the intracellular fluid are associated to the low risk of high blood pressure. It also help in widening the arteries and enhancing free flow of blood.
6. Protect the skin
When you have burns, wrinkles, black spots, aczma and wounds eating of tomatoes becomes necessary due to their nutrients content. Tomatoes are loaded with vitamin C, anti oxidant. Anti oxidant helps in detoxifying the skin against this illness. Synthesis of collagen is attributed to the consumption of food that contains high amount of vitamins . Connective tissue, nails, hair,and are major component of the skin. Lack of vitamin C leads to scurvy.
7. Prevents cardiovascular disease
Heart failure, stroke, heart attack and high blood pressure are the major causes of cardiovascular disease. Tomatoes are rich in fiber, choline, Vitamin C, and potassium etc. Choline found in tomatoes help prevent circulatory disease such as blood pressure. Maintaining and balancing of body fluid are associated to high content of potassium in tomatoes. Fiber binds and removes unwanted products on the arteries, which could trigger cardiovascular disease.
