Eat it raw or put them in salads. Put it in a sandwich or sprinkle it up in your dishes – Tomatoes the ‘Superfood’ will enrich all your dishes with a variety of nutrients.
What’s in a Tomato?
A medium size tomato just contains less than 20 calories and provides significant amounts of vitamin C, potassium, lycopene and other nutrients. Why would anyone hate the mighty – Tomato?
So next time you cringe for having a tomato soup, think again. A cup of tomato soup provides 13.3 mg of lycopene, that is enough to keep your body fighting fit. Filled with nutrients and antioxidants, not only they help combat several diseases, but helps keep your health in good shape.
1. For a Flat Stomach Munch on Tomatoes – Tomatoes contain mostly water and potassium, this helps in flushing excess sodium, water and bloat from your body and belly. It also scores extra brownie points for being packed with fibres.
Expert Advice: “You should always eat tomatoes along with foods containing healthy fats like olive oil, nuts or avocado as lycopene present in tomatoes is Lipo-soluble, which means that it is absorbed in the body only along with fats.”
To take full advantage of the health benefits of tomatoes, you should eat 1 cup of fresh tomatoes at least four to five times a week.
You should avoid eating tomatoes along with starches such as bread, pasta, potatoes, beans, peas, lentils and corns, because these combinations create high acidity in your stomach causing poor digestion and heartburn.
Is a Daily Glass of Tomato Juice a Secret to Lose Weight?
“tomato juice is very helpful for weight reduction. You should avoid starchy carbohydrates, sweets and saturated fats, if you are on a tomato juice diet for weight loss. Protein such as lean meat, fish, fresh and steamed vegetables should be included in the diet for best results.”
Tomato-rich Diet May Lower Breast Cancer Risk – Numerous studies have shown that eating a diet rich in Tomatoes may help protect at-risk postmenopausal women from breast cancer. The breast cancer risk rises in postmenopausal women as their body mass index climbs. According to many different studies a diet high in tomatoes had a positive effect on the level of hormones that play a role in regulating fat and sugar metabolism.
Not only does a tomato ward off the risks of breast cancer, it is also beneficial for lung and stomach cancers. Did you know a substance called lycopene, which is responsible for tomatoes, red colour, is the reason for this cancer protective effect?
3. Tomatoes are Good for Your Eyes – Tomatoes are rich in Vitamin A and C thus helps in improving your eyesight. Not only this, it also prevents night-blindness and macular degeneration.
4. Tomatoes Take Care of Your Heart – Chomping on tomatoes could cut the risk of heart disease in you – A study done by scientists at Tufts University in Boston, USA, suggests that if a person regularly eats lycopene then their heart will stay protective from any heart diseases. Not to forget tomatoes contain important nutrients like niacin, folate and vitamin B6, which have associated with the reduction of heart disease risk.
Another study found that women who ate 7 to 10 servings of tomato products per week had a 29 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease than women who consumed less than a serving and a half of tomato product each week.
5. Eat Tomatoes for Glowing Skin – Ladies the secret is out, for healthy and glowing skin eat a tomato daily. Did you know Vitamin C can help you brighten your skin? Tomatoes are known to have a high amount of Vitamin c – a medium size tomato contains 28% of Vitamin C.
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