What do tomatoes do for your body

They also show a protective effect on the inner layer of blood vessels and may decrease your risk of blood clotting 32 , Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that spread beyond their normal boundaries, often invading other parts of the body. Observational studies have noted links between tomatoes — and tomato products — and fewer incidences of prostate, lung, and stomach cancers 34 , While the high lycopene content is believed responsible, high-quality human research needed to confirm the cause of these benefits 36 , 37 , A study in women shows that high concentrations of carotenoids — found in high amounts in tomatoes — may protect against breast cancer 39 , Tomatoes are considered beneficial for skin health.

Tomato-based foods rich in lycopene and other plant compounds may protect against sunburn 41 , According to one study, people who ingested 1. Studies show that tomatoes and tomato products may reduce your risk of heart disease and several cancers. This fruit is also beneficial for skin health, as it may protect against sunburns.

When tomatoes start to ripen, they produce a gaseous hormone called ethylene 44 , Commercially grown tomatoes are harvested and transported while still green and immature. To make them red before selling, food companies spray them with artificial ethylene gas. This process inhibits the development of natural flavor and may result in tasteless tomatoes If you buy unripened tomatoes, you can speed up the ripening process by wrapping them in a sheet of newspaper and keeping them on the kitchen counter for a few days.

Just make sure to check them daily for ripeness. Tomatoes are often harvested while still green and immature, then ripened artificially with ethylene gas. This may lead to less flavor development, resulting in bland tomatoes. Tomatoes are generally well tolerated and tomato allergy is very rare 47 , Although tomato allergy is rare, individuals allergic to grass pollen are more likely to be allergic to tomatoes.

This condition is called pollen-food allergy syndrome or oral-allergy syndrome In oral-allergy syndrome, your immune system attacks fruit and vegetable proteins that are similar to pollen, which leads to allergic reactions like itching in the mouth, scratchy throat, or swelling of the mouth or throat Just be aware that in some people, the acidity from cooked tomatoes may trigger or worsen acid reflux and indigestion.

Tomatoes may be a protective food for people with type 2 diabetes : In one study , people with diabetes who supplemented with cooked tomatoes for 30 days experienced a decrease in lipid peroxidation, a chain reaction in which substances called free radicals attack fat, leading to damage that ups the risk of heart disease.

This is particularly important, because diabetes doubles the risk of stroke and heart attack. A study found that the combination of tomato paste and olive oil protected against sun damage, and boosted the production of pro-collagen, a molecule that gives the skin its structure and keeps it firm and youthful.

Scientists believe that the lycopene in tomatoes is key. Observational studies have found links between the superstar compound lycopene and fewer incidences of prostate , ovarian , lung , and stomach cancers. Your can incorporate tomatoes into your diet in a number of forms—fresh, dried, or as sauce, salsa, or paste. This also allows you to enjoy tomatoes year-round.

It works effectively to help diabetics keep their blood sugar levels under better control. Florida Tomatoes. Contact Us Recipe Finder. Twitter YouTube Facebook. Newsletter Sign Up. Tomatoes are good for your skin. Tomatoes help prevent several types of cancer. Tomatoes help maintain strong bones. Tomatoes help repair damage caused by smoking.

Tomatoes provide essential antioxidants. Tomatoes are good for your heart. Had I known tomatoes are replete with such wonderful benefits, I would have made them my favorite from since my childhood. Tomatoes are excellent sources of lycopene, beta-carotene, lutein, and vitamin C. Well, those are what we have in the humble tomato. Tomatoes are great.

But it all depends on what kind of tomatoes you pick. Because we know what goes into the production of conventionally grown tomatoes — and it definitely is not something very healthy. Natural tomatoes contain more antioxidants.

The antioxidants, especially the polyphenols, are formed in the tomatoes as they ripen. As organic tomatoes take a longer time to ripen unlike the ones pumped with chemicals for quicker ripening , they are likely to have higher levels of polyphenols. There was a study carried out by the research scientists from the University of Barcelona and the Institute of Health in Spain. The findings of the study stated that organic tomatoes had the upper hand. They had higher concentrations of flavones like phenolic and hydroxycinnamoylquinic acids, flavanones like naringenin, and flavonols like quercetin and rutin.

Organic tomatoes were also found to have double the concentration of kaempferol, another flavonoid with potent antioxidant properties. This difference between organic and conventionally grown tomatoes, as per experts one of them being Stephen Kaffka, a Ph. Conventionally grown tomatoes receive commercial fertilizer made of soluble inorganic nitrogen. Plants take up this nitrogen very quickly and ripen fast.

But the organically grown tomatoes get their nitrogen naturally from manure. This organic material must first be broken down by the microbes in the soil, post which the nitrogen is released to the plants.

It takes time. The plants might grow slower, but they have more time to generate secondary plant metabolites or, in simple terms, the real healthy stuff like flavonoids. Yes, they could be smaller, but they pack a higher dose of healthy nutrients. The fact that they are not treated with chemicals encourages the production of nutrients within the fruit. This forces the tomatoes to fend for themselves. Simply put — making life less easy for tomatoes or any food, for that matter can bring about improvements in quality.

So now you know which type of tomatoes is better. But, how are you going to pick the right one? And what about storage? Make good use of your nose while picking tomatoes in the market. Smell the blossom end of the tomatoes not the stem. The best ones will have a rich aroma. Go for only those tomatoes that are round and feel heavy for their size. They must feel full.

And have no bruises or blemishes. The skin of the tomatoes must be taut, not shriveled. Coming to storage, ensure you put fresh and ripe tomatoes in a cool and dark place. You need to place them stem-side down, and use them within a few days. Refrigeration is not recommended. Because it nullifies the flavor of the fruit. But if you must refrigerate, take it out an hour before using it. Talking about canned tomatoes, if they are unopened, they must be used with 6 months.

If opened, you can store them in a covered glass container in the refrigerator for up to a week. The leftover tomato paste or sauce can be refrigerated for up to 2 months. There are infinite ways to include tomatoes in your diet. And since they are low in carbs even a large tomato only has about 5 grams of carbs , you can happily fit them into your diet the way you want.

But there is some not-so-good stuff too. Which is as important. Tomato leaves are unsafe. In large quantities, they are known to cause poisoning. Some research suggests that all the parts of the plant, except the tomato, could lead to digestive upset As per anecdotal evidence, other symptoms of tomato leaf poisoning include severe irritation of the throat and mouth, dizziness, headache and, in severe cases, death.

Tomatoes are naturally acidic. Consuming too many of them can cause acid reflux. If you constantly experience heartburn, which could be more than twice a week for a number of weeks, you must consult your doctor. Intolerance to tomatoes can cause stomach pain and gas.

The symptoms, however, might vary from individual to individual. Tomatoes have a high fructose content, and this causes issues in people suffering from fructose malabsorption. It can lead to constipation. Tomatoes the soup, especially also contain salicylates, glutamates, and amines — all of which are natural food chemicals that might trigger constipation. Canned tomatoes can be high in sodium — one cup of canned tomatoes contains mg of sodium, while 1 cup of fresh tomatoes contains only 9 mg.

Though canned tomatoes are as beneficial as the fresh ones, do take note of the sodium content. There are certain questions most people have in their minds — which we have covered in the next section.

Technically, it is a fruit as it contains seeds. But most cookbooks refer to it as a vegetable. What matters is if you include it in your diet — because the benefits are amazing. The same benefits you would have by eating tomatoes any time of the day. One additional advantage could be weight loss, which is attributed to lycopene. A theory suggests that lycopene releases the growth hormone in your body, which results in fat breakdown, giving a boost to your metabolism. Now, there is no research behind this, yet.

So, we are not sure how true the theory is.