Have you ever head the saying " you are what you eat" and food being medicine? Yes that is true.Many plant based food we consume also acts medicinal and provides great benefits to our body system helping to heal and protect!
Tomato is one of the super food we are fortunate to be blessed withand has a lot of antioxidant to help prevent cancer.
Research has shown that Tomatoes are the major dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has
been linked to many health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and cancer.
They are also a great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K
- Vitamin C. This vitamin is an essential nutrient and antioxidant. One medium-sized tomato can provide about 28% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI).
- Potassium. An essential mineral, potassiumis beneficial for blood pressure control and heart disease prevention (
3 ). - Vitamin K1. Also known as phylloquinone, vitamin K is important for blood clotting and bone health (4,
5 ). - Folate (vitamin B9). One of the B vitamins, folate is important for normal tissue growth and cell function. It’s particularly important for pregnant women (
6 ,7
The main plant compounds in tomatoes are:
- Lycopene. A red pigment and antioxidant, lycopene has been extensively studied for its beneficial health effects (
11 ). - Beta carotene. An antioxidant that often gives foods a yellow or orange hue, beta carotene is converted into vitamin A in your body.
- Naringenin. Found in tomato skin, this flavonoid has been shown to decrease inflammation and protect against various diseases in mice (
12 ). - Chlorogenic acid. A powerful antioxidant compound, chlorogenic acid may lower blood pressure in people with elevated levels (
13 ,14 ).
Chlorophylls and carotenoids like lycopene are responsible for the rich color of tomatoes.
Happy eating!
Source:https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/tomatoes#plant-compounds