Tomato has special importance in Indian cuisine. It is used from making vegetables, in salads, as soups, as chutneys and even as a beauty product. Tomatoes are found in sufficient amounts of vitamin C, lycopene, vitamin, potassium. In addition, cholesterol-lowering elements are also sufficient in this. It is also very beneficial for those who want to lose weight, but the biggest feature of tomato is that even after ripening tomato, its nutrients remain. The tomato, commonly seen in a vegetable basket, is rich in many unusual qualities. It not only enhances the taste of food, but also contains many beneficial elements like Vitamin-A and Vitamin-C found inside it. In this article we will learn about the advantages of tomatoes for health.
Good for the Skin and HairGiven the rising levels of pollution, our skin and hair end up bearing a lot of brunt. Incorporating tomatoes in your regular diet actually helps to battle the wear and tear our skin goes through. Tomatoes contain lycopene, which is also used for facial cleansers. And apart from eating them as salad, you can also peel the tomatoes, and use the skin as a mask on your face. It cleanses and refreshes your skin. And the Vitamin A in tomatoes protects your hair from external damages as well!
Immune SystemLycopene is an antioxidant -- it fights molecules called free radicals that can damage your cells and affect your immune system. Because of that, foods high in lycopene, like tomatoes, may make you less likely to have lung, stomach, or prostate cancer. Some research shows they might help prevent the disease in the pancreas, colon, throat, mouth, breast, and cervix as well.
They protect heart healthTomatoes contain an antioxidant called lycopene, which is responsible for their red color. Research suggests that in terms of heart health benefits, it's more effective to eat tomatoes and tomato products than take lycopene supplements. Other studies have shown that higher blood levels of lycopene are tied to lower death rates for people with metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors that raise the chances of developing heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
It’s Anti-CarcinogenicThe Lycopene in tomatoes is reported to control the growth of cancer cells, especially prostate, stomach, and colorectal cancer. If you cook tomatoes, the production of lycopene actually increases, so you can curry it as much as you like.
What’s So Great About Them? Tomatoes are loaded with a substance called lycopene. It gives them their bright red color and helps protect them from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. In much the same way, it can help protect your cells from damage. Tomatoes also have potassium, vitamins B and E, and other nutrients.
Good for Your BonesDid you know that tomatoes are loaded with Vitamin K and Calcium? According to United States Department of Agriculture, hundred grams of tomatoes contain 110 mg of calcium. That means your bones stay strong as long as you eat tomatoes.
Repairs Damages from SmokingKiwi is known to help our system when we quit smoking. But the coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid in tomatoes help to protect the body from the adverse effects of cigarette smoke, and that includes passive smokers as well.
Controls Blood SugarTomatoes are known to have a mineral called chromium. And did you know that chromium works in keeping blood sugar levels in check? So for those who have diabetes, or the history of it in the family, it’s a good fruit to include in your diet.