Many people mistakenly believe that the tomato is a vegetable. But, botanically speaking, the tomato is actually a fruit since it contains seeds and grows from a flowering plant. However, concerning nutrition, the tomato is considered a vegetable (much like zucchini and cucumbers). This is mainly because tomatoes contain lower sugar, calorie, and carb content than most fruits. A medium tomato is only 22 calories and contains just 5 grams of carbs.
The best part of tomatoes is that they are chock full of essential nutrients and can be linked to many health benefits. Here are 7 reasons to add tomatoes to your diet.
Tomatoes Help With Your Vision
Tomatoes contain lycopene, lutein, and beta-carotene which are all nutrients that are good for your eyes. Research suggests that these nutrients protect against eye diseases including macular degeneration and cataracts while supporting your overall vision health.
Tomatoes Contain Loads of Vitamins
If you need more vitamin C in your diet, look no further than the mighty tomato. A medium tomato provides up to 40% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C. Also, tomatoes contain vitamin K which promotes bone health and vitamin A, which supports your immune system and aids in skin and vision health. Finally, tomatoes contain potassium, which is an important nutrient for maintaining heart functions, healthy blood pressure, fluid balance, and muscle contractions.
Tomatoes Improve Your Digestive Health
If you suffer from constipation, the fiber and fluid content of tomatoes might alleviate your symptoms. One medium tomato contains 1.5 grams of fiber and 6 ounces of fluid. Make sure to add tomatoes to your diet to keep your digestive system healthy.
Tomatoes Can Protect You From Cancer
There are also a few studies available that link the nutrient lycopene with fewer occurrences of ovarian, prostate, lung, and stomach cancers.
Tomatoes Help With Diabetes
Diabetes is a severe disease that doubles the risk of heart attack and stroke. Therefore, people with type 2 diabetes may be happy to learn of the protective qualities of tomatoes. One study suggests that diabetics who added cooked tomatoes to their diet for 30 days experienced a drop in lipid peroxidation – a reaction in which free radicals attack fat and eventually cause damage that can increase the risk of heart disease.
Another study suggests that tomato paste can boost the production of pro-collagen which is a molecule that keeps skin youthful and firm.
Tomatoes Protect Your Heart
Lycopene is an antioxidant that makes tomatoes red. Several studies suggest that people who have higher levels of lycopene in their bloodstreams experience a lower incidence of metabolic syndrome which is a collection of risk factors that increase the chance to develop diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Final Thoughts
With all of the health benefits of tomatoes, you’re probably ready to incorporate them into your diet. Obviously, there are many ways to enjoy tomatoes such as in salads, over broiled fish or chicken, or mixed into scrambled eggs. Bon appétit!
