Discover what makes this ruby red fruit so good for you, from vitamins and minerals to lycopene.
HealthylifeHow.com
Superfood Tomato
Reasons why Tomato is considered a Superfood
Juicy and sweet, fresh tomatoes are a delicious addition to salads, while the canned variety can be used to make delicious sauces for pasta dishes, stews and curries. But did you know that tomatoes also pack a whole host of health benefits too?
Although often treated as a vegetable in cooking, the tomato is actually a fruit that belongs to the nightshade family, along with aubergines, peppers and potatoes. They come in a range of sizes and varieties from small cherry to big beef, and traditionally they're red in color, but you can also get tomatoes in yellow, green, purple and orange.
What is the nutritional profile of tomatoes?
Tomatoes are mainly a carbohydrate with some fibre, but they are best known for their vitamin content which includes beta-carotene (which becomes vitamin A when consumed), vitamins C and E, some B vitamins and vitamin K. They also contribute some minerals including calcium and magnesium.
Are tomatoes good for heart health?
A hundred grams of tomatoes would provide about 6% of the Nutrient Reference Values (NRV) of potassium for adults. There is evidence that higher dietary potassium intake is associated with lower rates of stroke and may be associated with lower rates of heart disease.
Tomatoes contain a compound called lycopene, which gives them their red color, and there is growing research into its properties and potential for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Are tomatoes good for your eyes?
Tomatoes contain a group of phytochemicals called carotenoids, including lycopene, lutein and beta-carotene. These compounds are important to maintain eye health and may protect against age-related macular degeneration and other eye diseases.
Are tomatoes good for your skin?
The carotenoids found in plants, including tomatoes, may help prevent UV damage in humans. A 2006 study found that after a 10-12 week study there did appear to be a decrease in sensitivity as a result of increasing dietary carotenoids. However, this is not to say that you won't burn if you eat lots of tomatoes – it's still important to follow guidelines and be careful in the sun to avoid UV damage. Read the NHS's sun safety tips for more information.
Can tomatoes help with blood clotting and wound healing?
Tomatoes are a good source of vitamin K which is necessary for blood clotting and wound healing, with 100g of tomatoes containing 6 mcg of vitamin K. There is also increasing evidence that vitamin K may be of benefit in bone and cardiovascular health too.
The NHS recommends 1 mcg of vitamin K per kg of body weight and you should be able to easily achieve this through eating a varied and balanced diet.
Can tomatoes help reduce menopausal symptoms?
A 2015 study by the Nutrition Journal found that tomato juice intake did help alleviate some menopausal symptoms such as anxiety, resting energy expenditure and heart rate. This study was carried out on 95 women aged 40-60 years old and they had to consume 200ml of unsalted tomato juice, twice daily, for eight weeks. While this was a small trial, the results are encouraging and warrant further research into this area.
Is it better to cook tomatoes or eat them raw?
Although often treated as a vegetable in cooking, the tomato is actually a fruit that belongs to the nightshade family, along with aubergines, peppers and potatoes. They come in a range of sizes and varieties from small cherry to big beef, and traditionally they're red in color, but you can also get tomatoes in yellow, green, purple and orange.
What is the nutritional profile of tomatoes?
Tomatoes are mainly a carbohydrate with some fibre, but they are best known for their vitamin content which includes beta-carotene (which becomes vitamin A when consumed), vitamins C and E, some B vitamins and vitamin K. They also contribute some minerals including calcium and magnesium.
Are tomatoes good for heart health?
A hundred grams of tomatoes would provide about 6% of the Nutrient Reference Values (NRV) of potassium for adults. There is evidence that higher dietary potassium intake is associated with lower rates of stroke and may be associated with lower rates of heart disease.
Tomatoes contain a compound called lycopene, which gives them their red color, and there is growing research into its properties and potential for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Are tomatoes good for your eyes?
Tomatoes contain a group of phytochemicals called carotenoids, including lycopene, lutein and beta-carotene. These compounds are important to maintain eye health and may protect against age-related macular degeneration and other eye diseases.
Are tomatoes good for your skin?
The carotenoids found in plants, including tomatoes, may help prevent UV damage in humans. A 2006 study found that after a 10-12 week study there did appear to be a decrease in sensitivity as a result of increasing dietary carotenoids. However, this is not to say that you won't burn if you eat lots of tomatoes – it's still important to follow guidelines and be careful in the sun to avoid UV damage. Read the NHS's sun safety tips for more information.
Can tomatoes help with blood clotting and wound healing?
Tomatoes are a good source of vitamin K which is necessary for blood clotting and wound healing, with 100g of tomatoes containing 6 mcg of vitamin K. There is also increasing evidence that vitamin K may be of benefit in bone and cardiovascular health too.
The NHS recommends 1 mcg of vitamin K per kg of body weight and you should be able to easily achieve this through eating a varied and balanced diet.
Can tomatoes help reduce menopausal symptoms?
A 2015 study by the Nutrition Journal found that tomato juice intake did help alleviate some menopausal symptoms such as anxiety, resting energy expenditure and heart rate. This study was carried out on 95 women aged 40-60 years old and they had to consume 200ml of unsalted tomato juice, twice daily, for eight weeks. While this was a small trial, the results are encouraging and warrant further research into this area.
Is it better to cook tomatoes or eat them raw?
Information about Superfoods
Superfood are food that help us to ensures short and long term health and to get a physical body that is strong, flexible and fit through each stage of our lifes.
HealthyLifeHow.com
Follow Us for the latest HEALTH Information and News:
The goal is to ensures short and long term vitality & health and to get a physical body that is strong, flexible and fit through each stage of our lifes.
HealthyLifeHow.com
