Benefits of tomato:

Benefits of tomatoes — fried, fresh, baked

Tomatoes come in red, yellow, brown, and green. They are eaten fresh, fried, stewed, dried, dried, canned and pickled. It is one of the most common vegetables. Although it is actually a berry. Tomatoes have many useful properties due to their rich composition. Let’s understand what are the benefits and harms of tomatoes for humans.

The main benefits for human health

Tomatoes are a rich source of vitamins and minerals:

  • Vitamin K is important for bone health and blood clotting.
  • Folic acid is essential for cell division, especially important for pregnant women.
  • Vitamin C strengthens immunity, helps in wound healing, improves skin health.
  • Potassium supports normal heart function, regulates blood pressure.

Tomato as an antioxidant

Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that gives tomato its red color. It reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer (especially prostate cancer in men), and helps protect the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light. Beta-carotene improves eye health and prevents age-related vision changes. As you can see, the particular benefit of tomato for men is preserving sexual function.

Benefits for the cardiovascular system

Lycopene, potassium and antioxidants in the composition of tomatoes help:

  • Reduce levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL).
  • Reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and heart attacks.
  • Regulate blood pressure.

Maintain digestive health

The benefits of tomato are seen in helping the GI tract. The high dietary fiber content (especially in the peel) improves bowel function and helps prevent constipation. You will go to the toilet more often, which is good. The natural acids in tomatoes stimulate the production of gastric juice, which promotes better digestion. It is helpful for those who don’t feel appetite before eating.

Here are other types of benefits of eating tomatoes:

  • Lycopene and other antioxidants in tomatoes fight oxidative stress, which promotes the development of cancer cells.
  • Vitamin C and lycopene improve skin health, prevent premature aging, protect against the negative effects of the sun. Tomato-based masks help to cleanse the skin and shrink pores.
  • Tomatoes are low in calories, contain a lot of water and fiber, which makes them an ideal part of the diet for those who want to lose weight.

What is the right way to consume tomatoes to avoid harm?

The best way to consume tomatoes is raw. This way all the vitamins are preserved. When cooked (e.g., stewed or in sauces), the concentration of lycopene increases, especially if cooked with oil. But the vitamins disappear. 

Warning. People with high stomach acidity, gastritis or peptic ulcer disease should limit the consumption of fresh tomatoes, as they can cause discomfort. Salted tomatoes on the contrary are harmful to the prostate, so they can cause harm to men. Fried tomatoes are bad for the pancreas.

Here is a selection of interesting facts about tomatoes:

  • Is tomato a fruit or a vegetable? Botanically speaking, a tomato is a fruit, or more specifically, a berry. However, in 1893, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that tomatoes are classified as a vegetable for tax purposes.
  • Native to South America. Tomatoes were first domesticated in South America, in present-day Peru and Ecuador. The Aztecs and Mayans cultivated tomatoes long before the arrival of Europeans.
  • European skepticism. After tomatoes were imported to Europe, they were long considered poisonous. Because of their bright red color and belonging to the nightshade family, people were afraid to eat them.
  • A name with a romantic connotation. In Italy, the tomato is called pomodoro, which translates as “golden apple”. This is due to the fact that the first tomatoes brought to Europe were yellow.
  • Tomato as an ornamental plant. In 18th century Europe, tomatoes were grown as ornamental plants in gardens and on windowsills before they were widely used in cooking.
  • Largest tomato. The heaviest tomato in the world was grown in the United States in 2020. Its weight was 4.89 kg!
  • Variety of shapes and colors. Tomatoes are not only red. There are yellow, orange, green, purple, black and even striped varieties. Their shape can also vary from round to pear-shaped and even heart-shaped.
  • Tomato is a world record holder. Tomatoes are the most popular crop in the world. According to the UN, about 180 million tons of tomatoes are grown every year.
  • Tomato soup as a signal of poverty. In the United States during the Great Depression, tomato soup was considered a symbol of survival. It was made from water and ketchup to feed families with minimal effort.
  • Lycopene is the superhero of tomatoes. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and some cancers. Lycopene is especially abundant in cooked tomatoes or tomato paste.
  • Tomato Fights. Spain annually holds the famous festival *La Tomatina*, where participants organize mass fights with tomatoes. This event attracts thousands of people from all over the world.
  • Long-lived seeds. Tomato seeds can keep germinating for decades. In laboratory conditions found seeds that germinated even after 50 years.
  • Space tomatoes. Tomatoes were sent into space aboard the space shuttle to study their growth in microgravity. Experiments have shown that they can bear fruit even in space.
  • Tomatoes as soft weapons. In history, tomatoes are known to have been used to express discontent. In the 19th century, they were thrown at artists who performed poorly on stage.
  • Tomatoes as inspiration. Scientists have created robotic devices based on the structure of the tomato plant. They can adapt to the environment, like the stems and leaves of a tomato.

Tomatoes are good for the heart, immunity, skin and vision due to their content of vitamins (C, K), minerals (potassium), fiber and the antioxidant lycopene. They reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, support digestion and help control weight. Let’s eat more tomatoes, but do it the right way.

To learn about the benefits of other products, go to the Benefits food page.

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