|
The health benefits of tomatoes include
improved eye sight, good stomach health, and reduced blood pressure, as well as
relief from diabetes, skin problems and urinary tract infections. Furthermore,
tomatoes can increase digestion, stimulate blood circulation, reduce
cholesterol levels, improve fluid balance, protect the kidneys, detoxify the
body, prevent premature aging, and reduce inflammation and related conditions.
Tomatoes consist of a large number of antioxidants that have been proven to
fight different forms of cancer. It is a rich source of vitamins and minerals
and exerts a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases.
The health benefits of tomatoes have been
known to mankind since ancient times. Tomatoes are rich sources of antioxidants
that have been proven to be effective against many forms of cancer. Some of the
other health benefits of tomatoes are as follows:
Abundant Source of
Antioxidants: Tomato contains a large amount of lycopene,
an antioxidant that is highly effective in scavenging cancer causing free
radicals. This benefit can even be obtained from heat-processed tomato products
like ketchup. The lycopene in tomatoes defends against cancer and has been
shown to be particularly effective in fighting prostate cancer, cervical
cancer, cancer of the stomach and rectum as well as pharynx and esophageal
cancers. It also protects against breast cancer and cancer of the mouth,
according to studies published by the Harvard School of Public Health.
Rich Source of
Vitamins and Minerals: A single tomato can provide about
40% of the daily vitamin C requirement. Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant
which prevents against cancer-causing free radicals from damaging the body’s
systems. It also contains abundant vitamin A and potassium, as well as iron.
Potassium plays a vital role in maintaining nerve health and iron is essential
for maintaining normal blood health. Vitamin K, which is essential in blood
clotting and controls bleeding, is also abundant in tomatoes.
Reduces Cholesterol
and Protects the Heart: The lycopene in tomatoes prevents
serum lipid oxidation, thus exerting a protective effect against cardiovascular
diseases. The regular consumption of tomatoes has been proven to decrease the
levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. These lipids are the
key culprits in cardiovascular diseases and lead to the deposition of fats in
the blood vessels.
Counters the Effect
of Cigarette Smoke: The two main components of
tomatoes, coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid, fight against nitrosamines which
are produced in the body and are the main carcinogens found in cigarettes. The
presence of vitamin A in such high quantities has also been shown to reduce the
effects of carcinogens and can protect you against lung cancer.
Improves Vision: Vitamin A, present in tomatoes, aids in improving vision, as
well as in preventing night-blindness and macular degeneration. Vitamin A is a
powerful antioxidant that can be formed from an excess of beta-carotene in the
body. A lot of vision problems occur due to the negative effects of free
radicals, and vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant.
Digestive Health: Tomatoes keep the digestive system healthy by preventing both
constipation and diarrhoea. It also prevents jaundice and effectively removes
toxins from the body. Furthermore, tomatoes have a large amount of fibre, which
can bulk up stool and reduce symptoms of constipation. A healthy amount of fibre
helps to stimulate peristaltic motion in the smooth digestive muscles, and also
release gastric and digestive juices. This can regulate your bowel movements,
thereby improving your overall digestive health and helping you avoid
conditions like colorectal cancer.
Lowers Hypertension:
Consuming a tomato daily reduces the risk of developing
hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. This is partially due to the
impressive levels of potassium found in tomatoes. Potassium is a vasodilator,
meaning that it reduces the tension in blood vessels and arteries, thereby increasing
circulation and lowering the stress on the heart by eliminating hypertension.
Manages Diabetes: A study conducted by the Journal of the American Medical
Association shows that daily consumption of tomatoes reduces the oxidative
stress of type 2 diabetes.
Healthy Skin: Tomatoes aid in maintaining healthy teeth, bones, hair and skin.
Topical application of tomato juice is even known to cure severe sunburns.
Daily consumption of tomatoes protects the skin against UV-induced erythema.
Tomatoes rank high in the preparation of anti-aging products.
Prevents Urinary
Tract Infections: Tomato intake also reduces the
incidence of urinary tract infections, as well as bladder cancer. This is
because tomatoes are high in water content, which can stimulate urination, so
tomatoes are a diuretic in certain ways. This increases the elimination of
toxins from the body, as well as excess water, salts, uric acid, and some fat
as well!
Prevents Gallstones:
Regular consumption of tomatoes can also provide relief from
gallbladder disease such as gallstones.
There have been various studies to prove the
efficacy of tomatoes against many chronic diseases and varieties of cancer. The
antioxidant properties of tomatoes can also be derived from processed foods,
including tomatoes found in ketchup and purees. Daily consumption of tomatoes fulfils
the daily requirement of vitamins and minerals and exerts an overall protective
effect on the body.
|
