Nutritional Facts about Tomato

The tomato not only tickles the taste buds and lightens the dinner table, but also helps fight diseases. The tomato, however, comes under the fruit category. It is a food that we ordinarily think of and use as a vegetable. Red ripe tomatoes are used to decorate and beautify many food recipes, and enhance the flavor in many dishes. They can be eaten raw, canned or cooked in summer or winter; any time is a good time for this versatile superfood. A study conducted by Dr. Edward Giovannucci, Harvard School of Public Health, Cambridge, Massachusetts reviewed that the more tomatoes one consumed, the lower was the his risk of cancer. Given below are some nutritional facts about tomatoes.

• Different studies have consistently shown that the more tomatoes and tomato products people consume, lower are the risks of the different kinds of cancers like colorectal, breast, lung, endometrial, pancreatic, bladder, cervical, and skin cancer. Its mystery lies in 'lycopene', the chemical that gives the tomato its red color and is well known for its disease fighting abilities.
• Unlike many foods, some nutritional value of tomatoes actually meliorates with cooking.
• Eating tomatoes with a small amount of fat helps our body to absorb lycopene in a better way.
• Lycopene is considered to prevent prostate cancer, which puts tomatoes on the list of healthy food.
• Tomatoes are low in saturated fats, cholesterol, and sodium.
• As Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant, it protects the body cells from damage.
• Tomatoes are a rich source of many nutrients and contain a high amount of vitamin C and a substantial amount of vitamin A and vitamin B. They also contain magnesium, phosphorous, and calcium. A medium-sized tomato provides 40% vitamin C and 20% vitamin A of the recommended dietary allowance.
• Tomatoes are also a good source of chromium, thiamine, vitamin K, vitamin E, copper, and manganese.
• Lycopene has also been shown to help in the prevention of heart diseases and can slow down the development of cataracts and mascular degeneration, an age-related vision problem that can lead to blindness.
• Tomatoes contain niacin that lowers high cholesterol levels, and potassium that lowers high blood pressure.
• Tomatoes also contain vitamin B6 and folate that convert the homocysteine in our body into harmless molecules. High levels of homocysteine can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
• The dietary fiber in tomatoes lowers cholesterol levels, prevents colon cancer, and helps keep blood sugar at a lower level.
• Tomatoes are a good source of riboflavin which has been proved to be helpful for migraine patients as it decreasing the frequency of headache.
• The nutritional value of tomatoes makes them a good option for weight gain and for maintaining optimum health.
• Tomatoes help prevent diseases and disorders such as eye disorders, night blindness, liver disorders, intestinal disorders, urinary tract infections, jaundice, indigestion, constipation, diabetes, diarrhea, and morning sickness.
• On the negative side, tomatoes contain glycoalkaloids which are believed to lead to arthritis symptoms. However, there is no research conducted to back this belief.

Perhaps, there are many more nutritional facts about tomatoes that are yet to be discovered. Considering the innumerable benefits of tomatoes, they are surely worth being included in our daily diet.