If only everyone were fully aware of the many amazing tomato health benefits, then perhaps we would have more respect for this lowly fruit. Today, our culture is so concerned with convenience and comfort that we take foods like the tomato for granted. One classic example: we've failed in teaching our kids the importance of eating fresh tomatoes every day. Instead, we've allowed them to love ketchup and spaghetti sauce without really educating them about the true value of the tomato fruit itself.
Thankfully, it's never too late to make a healthy change. If you are guilty of taking tomatoes for granted, take stock of the following tomato health benefits so you can re-orient your understanding and appreciation for what the tomato fruit brings to the table.
· Tomatoes pack a lot of vitamins which are essential for disease prevention. A 150-gram serving of fresh tomatoes is able to deliver our daily dietary requirement for Vitamin A, C and K as well as the necessary minerals potassium and folate. On top of this, tomatoes also contain generous amounts of Vitamin B6, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, niacin and thiamin which are vital for the healthy function of many organ systems. Without potassium, for example, the heart would cease to beat involuntarily disrupting the transport of the blood to the different parts of the body. The fact that we can get all these in just one serving truly emphasizes that tomato health benefits are readily available to us on a daily basis.
· Tomatoes have a lot of beta carotene. We've always associated beta carotene with Vitamin A but even by itself, it leads to many health benefits. Beta carotene can help promote healthy skin by protecting it from harmful UV rays when you are exposed to intense sunlight during the day. Without it, your skin could easily wrinkle and age. It could even lead to the onset of serious skin conditions such as melanomas.
· The antioxidants in tomatoes lead to a plethora of tomatoes health benefits. One of the most important is that it helps prevent a variety of cancers that are caused by free radical damage at the cellular level. The main antioxidant responsible for this is lycopene which is abundant in tomatoes. The most common types of cancers addressed by the antioxidants in tomatoes include cervical cancer, prostate cancer, and cancers of the digestive tract.
· The same antioxidants also lead to other tomato health benefits associated with lowering the risks for heart ailments. This is made possible because the antioxidants reduce the concentration of bad cholesterol in the blood. This frees up the arteries and minimizes the risk of blockages and the onset of high blood pressure. When the blood can flow freely with minimal effort from the heart, the risks of heart ailments are considerably lowered and cardiovascular diseases are kept at bay.
Tomato health benefits abound in every serving of fresh or cooked tomatoes. We only need to consciously enjoy a serving or two of this marvelous fruit every single day. This will not be easy given our culture's love for anything "instant" but with small changes in our daily eating habits, we should be able to enjoy the full benefits of the tomato fruit one healthy serving at a time.
By Robert N. Perry
Thankfully, it's never too late to make a healthy change. If you are guilty of taking tomatoes for granted, take stock of the following tomato health benefits so you can re-orient your understanding and appreciation for what the tomato fruit brings to the table.
· Tomatoes pack a lot of vitamins which are essential for disease prevention. A 150-gram serving of fresh tomatoes is able to deliver our daily dietary requirement for Vitamin A, C and K as well as the necessary minerals potassium and folate. On top of this, tomatoes also contain generous amounts of Vitamin B6, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, niacin and thiamin which are vital for the healthy function of many organ systems. Without potassium, for example, the heart would cease to beat involuntarily disrupting the transport of the blood to the different parts of the body. The fact that we can get all these in just one serving truly emphasizes that tomato health benefits are readily available to us on a daily basis.
· Tomatoes have a lot of beta carotene. We've always associated beta carotene with Vitamin A but even by itself, it leads to many health benefits. Beta carotene can help promote healthy skin by protecting it from harmful UV rays when you are exposed to intense sunlight during the day. Without it, your skin could easily wrinkle and age. It could even lead to the onset of serious skin conditions such as melanomas.
· The antioxidants in tomatoes lead to a plethora of tomatoes health benefits. One of the most important is that it helps prevent a variety of cancers that are caused by free radical damage at the cellular level. The main antioxidant responsible for this is lycopene which is abundant in tomatoes. The most common types of cancers addressed by the antioxidants in tomatoes include cervical cancer, prostate cancer, and cancers of the digestive tract.
· The same antioxidants also lead to other tomato health benefits associated with lowering the risks for heart ailments. This is made possible because the antioxidants reduce the concentration of bad cholesterol in the blood. This frees up the arteries and minimizes the risk of blockages and the onset of high blood pressure. When the blood can flow freely with minimal effort from the heart, the risks of heart ailments are considerably lowered and cardiovascular diseases are kept at bay.
Tomato health benefits abound in every serving of fresh or cooked tomatoes. We only need to consciously enjoy a serving or two of this marvelous fruit every single day. This will not be easy given our culture's love for anything "instant" but with small changes in our daily eating habits, we should be able to enjoy the full benefits of the tomato fruit one healthy serving at a time.
By Robert N. Perry
