Here are some of the amazing benefits that tomatoes have to offer: (By Shenrina Badri)
Great source of vitamin A
Tomatoes are a great source of vitamin A. Vitamin A assists in the maintenance of healthy hair, skin, bones, teeth as well as mucous membranes. “One cup of chopped tomatoes provides over half of the recommended daily amount of vitamin A for women.” It can therefore be relatively easy to get adequate amounts of vitamin A, especially if you love eating tomatoes!
Tomatoes are packed with lycopene!
Lycopene contains antioxidant properties and can be found in the skin of tomatoes. It also helps to give tomatoes the beautiful red colour. The antioxidant properties help to protect our immune cells from destructive free radicals.
Try cooking or blending fresh tomatoes in a food processor to make a delicious paste or sauce. Cooking them in a small portion of canola oil may help to carry the lycopene into our bloodstream. There are endless ways in which you can prepare tomatoes so take a look through recipe books or search the Internet for methods that you prefer.
Healthy heart
In addition to vitamin A, tomatoes are also an excellent source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is associated with lowering the risk of heart disease.
In which part of the tomato can vitamin C be found?
It seems that majority of the vitamin C that is contained in tomatoes, can be found in the ‘jelly-like’ substance that surrounds the seeds. So be sure not to discard the seeds when including tomatoes in your meals!
Salicylates can also be abundantly found in tomatoes – they have an “anti-clotting effect on the blood” and also help to reduce the risk of heart disease.
See a dietician
If you need help in creating a diet plan of healthy and balanced meals, seek the help of a dietician.