Health benefits of tomato consumption

Are tomatoes fruits or vegetables? Tomatoes actually belong to the fruit category, contrary to the common belief that they are vegetables.

Tomatoes contain a large variety of vitamins including A and C and they also contain potassium, folate, fibres and antioxidants which are all very beneficial to health in general.

Lycopene, the red pigment of tomatoes, also serves a cancer fighting purpose. Tomatoes also have one special quality and that is the fact that they do not lose any of their nutritional value even when exposed to high heat, so that means that even in canned or sauce form they are still as beneficial as when they are fresh.

Tomatoes are very good at lowering one’s blood pressure and keeping it in check as well. Over a period of eight weeks, people who suffered from mild hypertension may see their systolic and diastolic blood pressures drop significantly if they consume a regular daily dose of tomatoes. Four weeks of a daily intake of tomatoes also reduces high cholesterol levels by up to 15 percent.

Some studies have shown that tomato consumption can also cut the risks of developing prostate cancer by almost 45 percent. Raw tomatoes reduce the risk of rectal, colon, and stomach cancer development by 60 percent. The tomatoes’ red pigment greatly reduces the development of lung, breast, and endometrial cells as well.

Being very rich in potassium as well as niacin, Vitamin B6 and folate, tomatoes are also very good at reducing the risks of various heart diseases. Lycopene and beta carotene stand out as very effective anti-aging substances which reduce free-radical damage to DNA. Both of them are even more enhanced when tomatoes are cooked or heated in various ways.

Tomatoes are very diet friendly because they are an extremely important source of fiber and are very low in calories, so they should be an important part of any weight-loss oriented nutrition plan.

Tomato juice is rich in carotenoids, which increase the ability of fending off various viruses and bacteria over the period of just a few weeks. Vitamin C helps all kinds of bacterial infections and protects greatly against declining mental abilities. Tomato juice is also very good at reducing blood-clotting tendencies.

One cup of raw tomato contains almost 18 percent of the suggested daily value for Vitamin K, which makes it marvelous at building and healing bones.

Vitamin A is a must in keeping cell growth normal and it helps the skin, hair, and mucous membranes to develop properly. It also aids good vision, teeth and bone development and reproduction. Beta-carotene gets converted into Vitamin A after being consumed and that greatly helps to improve the skin\'s texture and color as well.