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Are tomatoes good for you? They can be, as they are a source of beta-carotene, lycopene...CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE>>>
, and vitamin C—all of which are antioxidants that protect against cell damage. Research has shown that nutrients in tomatoes and tomato products might reduce your risk of heart disease, neurodegenerative disease, and type 2 diabetes.1
People often consider tomatoes a vegetable for nutritional and culinary purposes due to their taste, use in meals, and nutrient content.2 Tomatoes come in many types—including cherry, grape, and Roma—and are technically a fruit because they fit the botanical definition of one. Read on to learn more about tomatoes, including nutrition and possible benefits.
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1. Linked to Lower Cancer Risk
Several studies have found that men with high intakes of tomatoes, particularly cooked tomatoes, have a reduced prostate cancer risk.3 Beta-carotene and lycopene, antioxidants in tomatoes, might have anticancer properties. Antioxidants protect against the kind of DNA damage in cells that can lead to the development of cancer and cause cancer cells to die off.4
2. Help Improve Heart Health
A tomato-rich diet may reduce your risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death for adults in the U.S.51 One review reported that a high intake of lycopene—as well as high blood levels of the antioxidant—reduced heart disease risk by 14%.1
Another study examined the effects of eating tomatoes, tomato sauce, and gazpacho—a cold tomato soup—on blood pressure in older adults. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a risk factor for heart disease. The researchers found that increased tomato intake resulted in a 36% risk decrease for high blood pressure.6
3. May Prevent Constipation
Inadequate fiber intake can trigger constipation.7 Eating tomatoes, which are sources of insoluble and insoluble fiber, may help if you have problems related to constipation.
Soluble fiber retains water to create a gel-like texture during digestion, while insoluble fiber adds bulk to stool. Both of those changes form waste that’s easy to pass.8 In particular, the cellulose, hemicelluloses, and pectin fibers in tomatoes are resistant to digestion in the large intestine and help form a healthy stool.9
4. Might Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk
Nearly 15% of adults in the U.S. have diabetes. Another 38% of adults have prediabetes, or higher-than-normal blood sugar.10 Some evidence has suggested that lycopene might prevent type 2 diabetes by protecting cells from damage and reducing inflammation.11
5. Support Brain Health
More than six million adults aged 65 and older in the U.S. have Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a form of dementia that affects behavior, memory, and thinking.12 There’s no cure for AD, and the condition worsens over time.13
Some evidence has suggested the antioxidants in tomatoes, such as lycopene, may protect against AD. Research has found, for example, a slower decline in cognitive function among people aged 70 and older with a higher lycopene intake than others.1 More human research, specifically on adults aged 60–65, is needed to better understand the possible protective benefits of tomatoes and AD…CONTINUE READING>>
