Five reasons why tomatoes are healthy

A healthier body thanks to tomatoes

1: Healthy heart and vascular system

Tomatoes are very versatile. Both raw and cooked they taste good, and you can add them to lots of salads, sauces and soups. But there are even more reasons to love tomatoes: they are also extremely healthy. In this article we have therefore listed five important health benefits of the tomato for you.

Eating tomato regularly contributes to a healthy heart and vascular system. Tomatoes are rich in potassium; a mineral that has a blood pressure lowering effect. This is an important mineral if your blood pressure is increased because high blood pressure is a major risk factor for various cardiovascular diseases.

In addition, tomatoes also contain various antioxidants (including chlorogenic acid) that are thought to have a blood pressure lowering effect in patients with high blood pressure.

2: Rich in antioxidants

Tomatoes owe their beautiful red color to the large amount of lycopene they contain. This is a dye that is also a very valuable antioxidant at the same time. In general, the more red the tomato, the more lycopene it contains.

Lycopene can help with:

Protecting your body against oxidative stress

Tomatoes contain a good amount of beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is also called provitamin A, because it is converted into vitamin A in your body. This substance is also both a dye and an antioxidant.

The lowering your LDL cholesterol (the type of cholesterol that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease)

Protecting your skin from sunburn

Combating various fungal infections

Keeping your eyes healthy

Strong keeping your bones

Good to know: if you combine tomatoes with a small amount of healthy fat, such as olive oil or avocado, your body will absorb the lycopene better.

3: Source of beta-carotene

Beta-carotene helps, among other things:

It may be clear that tomatoes are healthy, but what about other tomato paste suppliers products such as ketchup and tomato puree? You might think that these processed products are unhealthy, but that is not always the case. Tomato sauces and tomato puree contain a lot of lycopene (see point 2). The amount of lycopene in these products is often even higher than in fresh tomatoes.

Fighting free radicals

Keeping your lungs healthy

Slowing down cognitive decline

Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease

The absorption of beta-carotene also improves if you combine it with a small amount of fat.

4: Strong immune system

Tomatoes are a good source of vitamin C. This vitamin contributes to a well-functioning immune system. A strong immune system is important to protect your body against all kinds of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. In addition, it also helps to clean up waste products in your body.

Vitamin C also contributes to healthy skin, the absorption of vegetable iron and the strong maintenance of your bones and teeth.

5: A healthy bowel movement

Eating tomatoes can help you keep your bowel healthy and prevent constipation. This is because tomatoes contain a lot of moisture and fiber. The combination of these two ensures that your stool gets more volume and remains supple.

Good to know: healthy tomato products

Despite the various benefits that tomatoes offer, it is advisable to eat them in moderation if you are sensitive to vegetables from the nightshade family. Chances are that you are sensitive to the lectins that are in tomato.

Always check the ingredient list. Sometimes the products contain a lot of sugar, salt and / or unhealthy flavors, so they are not a healthy choice.

Family of the nightshade

The French remove the seeds and the peel of the tomato to avoid the greatest concentration of lectins. If you eat a lot of tomatoes or have a sensitive digestive system, it is advisable to do so.

Tomatoes help you in different ways to keep your body healthy. They contain several powerful antioxidants that help you protect your body against oxidative damage, they contribute to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and they support your immune system.

Hasan is a creative writer and a social media strategist. He is a post-graduate in Marketing but his flair for writing made him foray in the world of words. With writing running in his veins, he has authored two novels.