Health
In the earlier time, the tomatoes were considered toxic. They were known as the causes of appendicitis, “brain fever” and cancer. You will be surprised to know that tomatoes were not even eaten in the US until the early 1800s, when an eccentric New Jersey gentleman Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson brought them back from a trip overseas. He was an adventurous man and so he decided to do something. He announced that an amazing act will take place on September 26, 1820. He was in his hometown Salem. On that particular day of September, he shocked his whole town by consuming an entire basket of tomatoes in front of a big crowd. The whole crowd was expecting that Robert will die. Obviously, he did not and since then tomatoes have been a staple part of the American diet and everyone knows the healthy benefits of a tomato.
Lycopene is the red pigment which is contained in a tomato. This compound or pigment acts as an antioxidant which neutralizes the free radicals that can damage cells in our body. A study also says that men who consume 10 servings of tomatoes a week can cut the risk of developing prostate cancer by a formidable 45 percent. On the other front the Italian researchers have found that those who consume more that 7 servings of raw tomatoes may lower the risk of developing rectal colon or stomach cancers by 60 percent. Israeli researchers have also found that lycopene also helps in inhibiting lung, breast and endometrial cancer cells.
A research has also indicated that lycopene in this vegetable called tomato can also help the older people in a unique way. It can help older people stay active longer.
This is true that a large consumption of tomato can help you get a beautiful skin as it improves the skin texture and color and provides it a healthy glow.
Tomato is a natural antiseptic and therefore it can help protect against infection. So if your children want to eat tomatoes let them have a lot of tomatoes!
When you choose tomatoes, be sure to pick those tomatoes which have got bright red colour. This bright red colour indicates the highest amounts of betacarotene and lycopene. The best feature about tomatoes is that they do not lose their benefits when they are cooked. The raw tomatoes as well as the cooked tomatoes are great for you. As the lycopene is located in the cell wall of the tomato so cooking just helps in releasing this compound in a better way. The nutritional values of a tomato are many and thus we should consume them frequently. Tomatoes are also easy to grow in your garden.
Health Benefits of Eating Tomato
I love eating tomatoes, do you? Well, I know most of us like tomatoes either in form of tomato soup, tomato sauce, raw cherry tomato or just in form of vegetable. The health benefits of tomatoes are many and we will surely discuss them but before that let me tell you an interesting fact related to tomatoes.
Interesting fact about tomato :
In the earlier time, the tomatoes were considered toxic. They were known as the causes of appendicitis, “brain fever” and cancer. You will be surprised to know that tomatoes were not even eaten in the US until the early 1800s, when an eccentric New Jersey gentleman Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson brought them back from a trip overseas. He was an adventurous man and so he decided to do something. He announced that an amazing act will take place on September 26, 1820. He was in his hometown Salem. On that particular day of September, he shocked his whole town by consuming an entire basket of tomatoes in front of a big crowd. The whole crowd was expecting that Robert will die. Obviously, he did not and since then tomatoes have been a staple part of the American diet and everyone knows the healthy benefits of a tomato.Tomatoes contain vitamin C, A : Every tomato contains vitamin C. This vitamin C in tomatoes provide 40 percent of the daily value (DV). T Not only this but the tomatoes also contain 15 percent DV of vitamin A, 8 percent DV of potassium, and 7 percent of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of iron for women and 10 percent RDA for men. Isn’t it great that you get so many things altogether from one source called tomato?
Lycopene in tomato :
Lycopene is the red pigment which is contained in a tomato. This compound or pigment acts as an antioxidant which neutralizes the free radicals that can damage cells in our body. A study also says that men who consume 10 servings of tomatoes a week can cut the risk of developing prostate cancer by a formidable 45 percent. On the other front the Italian researchers have found that those who consume more that 7 servings of raw tomatoes may lower the risk of developing rectal colon or stomach cancers by 60 percent. Israeli researchers have also found that lycopene also helps in inhibiting lung, breast and endometrial cancer cells.Older people stay active :
A research has also indicated that lycopene in this vegetable called tomato can also help the older people in a unique way. It can help older people stay active longer.Improves skin texture :
This is true that a large consumption of tomato can help you get a beautiful skin as it improves the skin texture and color and provides it a healthy glow.Purifies blood : The impurity of blood can create many problems. To get rid of the impurity eating a tomato is a good option. Tomato is a good blood purifier and thus helps you in purifying blood.
Protect liver : A tomato also helps in cases of congestion of the liver and protects the liver from cirrhosis as well as for dissolving gallstones.
Natural antiseptic :
Tomato is a natural antiseptic and therefore it can help protect against infection. So if your children want to eat tomatoes let them have a lot of tomatoes!Reduces cholesterol : Tomato also contains nicotinic acid. This acid helps in reducing the blood cholesterol and thus helps prevent heart diseases.
While picking the tomatoes :
When you choose tomatoes, be sure to pick those tomatoes which have got bright red colour. This bright red colour indicates the highest amounts of betacarotene and lycopene. The best feature about tomatoes is that they do not lose their benefits when they are cooked. The raw tomatoes as well as the cooked tomatoes are great for you. As the lycopene is located in the cell wall of the tomato so cooking just helps in releasing this compound in a better way. The nutritional values of a tomato are many and thus we should consume them frequently. Tomatoes are also easy to grow in your garden.
