Health Benefits and Risks of Tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of the most popular and common foods in the world. They are added to salads, sauces, soups, and many other dishes, giving them not only bright color but also their unique taste. However, there is an opinion that tomatoes can be harmful to human health due to their belonging to the nightshade family. In this article, we will examine how well-founded this opinion is and what research says about the effects of tomatoes on the human body. We will look at both the beneficial and potentially harmful properties of tomatoes and make recommendations for eating them in your diet.
- Why Tomatoes Should Be Included in Your Diet?
- Lycopene Is a Strong Antioxidant That Protects Cells from Damage and Helps Prevent Various Diseases
- Why Tomatoes Are the Best Source of Lutein for Your Vision?
- Nutritional Properties of Beta-Carotene in Tomatoes
- Are There Any Side Effects of Eating Tomatoes?
- Conclusion
Why Tomatoes Should Be Included in Your Diet?
Although there were previously concerns about the safety of eating tomatoes, today their safety and health benefits have been confirmed by numerous scientific studies. Moreover, tomatoes are widely used in cooking around the world because of their bright taste and variety of cooking methods.
Today, tomatoes are included in the diet of many people and are often recommended by nutritionists as a healthy and low-calorie food. They can reduce the risk of many diseases such as stroke, diabetes and obesity. Importantly, tomatoes are a source of potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure and improves heart and kidney function. In addition, tomatoes can help maintain a healthy digestive system because of their fiber content, which helps regulate blood cholesterol levels and improves intestinal peristalsis.
Tomatoes are a very healthy food that contains fiber, ascorbic acid and little sugar. In addition, tomatoes are rich in vitamins and trace elements such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin C. But the most important component of tomatoes are carotenoids, which are represented by three main types – lycopene, lutein and beta-carotene.
Lycopene Is a Strong Antioxidant That Protects Cells from Damage and Helps Prevent Various Diseases
Lycopene, a carotenoid found in tomatoes, is the most well-known carotenoid researched for its triple action on the body. First, lycopene provides anti-cancer protection because its molecule contains many unsaturated electron bonds, which allows it to trap free radicals in the body.
Free radicals are chemical particles that do not have a paired electron, which makes them very reactive and capable of damaging cells and tissues in the body. Their levels can increase due to various factors such as the environment, diet, stress, etc. Damage to the DNA of cells can cause the body to become dysfunctional and cause tumors to form. In addition, increased levels of free radicals can lead to various diseases, such as inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as age-related illnesses.
Lycopene also has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system due to its antioxidant properties and ability to reduce blood cholesterol levels. So, eating tomatoes and other lycopene-containing foods may reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. Lycopene also helps to protect skin and eyes from damage caused by sunlight. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that can help prevent free radicals from damaging skin cells and the retina from UV rays.
There have been epidemiological studies that have shown that lycopene can reduce the incidence of prostate cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer. However, these findings are not fully confirmed and some of them are not causal. Studies are underway to clarify the role of lycopene in preventing cancer and other diseases.
Lycopene has another important effect – it inhibits oxidative stress in vascular walls, which reduces the formation of atherogenic lipoproteins such as betalipoprotein peroxides. These lipoproteins negatively affect the condition of the vascular wall and can lead to the development of atherosclerosis.
We want to add that lycopene can be obtained not only from fresh tomatoes, but also from ketchup, tomato paste and various sauces that contain tomatoes. It turns out that the lycopene content of these products can be even higher than that of fresh tomatoes, because lycopene becomes more available after it is released from the cell.
This happens as a result of cell breakdown during the heat treatment of foods. In addition, lycopene is fairly stable in the external environment and is not destroyed by digestion. Thus, people can get large amounts of lycopene from ketchup, tomato paste, borscht and other foods containing tomatoes.
Why Tomatoes Are the Best Source of Lutein for Your Vision?
Lutein is a carotenoid that is a natural pigment and is yellow in color. This carotenoid is not synthesized by the human body and must be ingested with food. One of the richest sources of lutein is tomatoes. Lutein is a powerful antioxidant that protects our eyes from the harmful effects of free radicals and prevents the development of various eye diseases, including cataracts and retinal degeneration. It also helps maintain good vision and reduces the risk of age-related eye changes.
Lutein can have beneficial effects on skin health by improving skin texture and protecting against the harmful effects of UV rays. It also reduces inflammation in the body and boosts immunity. There is some evidence that lutein can have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system by lowering blood cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of heart disease.
Tomatoes can be an excellent source of lutein, especially when cooked with oil or other fats, since this carotenoid is best absorbed in the presence of fat. It is recommended that tomatoes be consumed in a variety of dishes to maximize their health benefits.
Nutritional Properties of Beta-Carotene in Tomatoes
Beta-carotene is the carotenoid that gives tomatoes their bright red color. This carotenoid is a strong antioxidant that protects the body from the harmful effects of free radicals and prevents the development of various diseases. One of the main benefits of beta-carotene is its effect on vision. When beta-carotene enters the body, it is converted to vitamin A, which is essential for eye health. Vitamin A helps keep your eyesight healthy and prevents various eye diseases from developing.
Beta-carotene can also have a positive effect on skin health by improving skin texture and protecting against the harmful effects of UV rays. It also reduces inflammation in the body and boosts immunity. Tomatoes can be a great source of beta-carotene, especially when cooked with oil or other fats, as this carotenoid is best absorbed in the presence of fat. It is recommended that tomatoes be consumed in a variety of dishes to get the maximum health benefits.
Are There Any Side Effects of Eating Tomatoes?
Many people believe that eating tomatoes can aggravate or even cause autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Bechterew’s disease, reactive arthritis, Crohn’s disease or non-specific ulcerative colitis, dermatomyositis, systemic scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus. However, there is no evidence to support this theory.
Some people may have an individual intolerance to tomatoes or products containing tomatoes. In this case, it is recommended to eliminate tomatoes and their derivatives from the diet for four weeks to see if they cause a negative reaction. If the condition does not improve, tomatoes are probably not related to the problem.
If introducing tomatoes into the diet causes the condition to worsen, we can conclude that they are not appropriate for the individual and should be avoided. It is important to remember that each person is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. Therefore, one should consult a doctor or a nutritionist to find out what foods are most suitable for a particular case.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can say that in general, tomatoes are a healthy product and for most people they do not cause any problems. Single cases of tomato intolerance can be resolved by eliminating them from the diet for a while and gradually introducing them back in. Certainly, tomatoes can be an additional resource for fighting chronic diseases and staying healthy. So if you don’t have a tomato intolerance, you can continue to include them in your diet to maximize the benefits to your health.