Including Tomatoes in Your Diet

In case you were wondering,  tomato is a technically a fruit, because it’s seed-bearing and develops from the ovary of a flowering plant. (Botanically speaking, vegetables consist of other plant parts, like roots, leaves, and stems.) But when it comes to nutrition, tomatoes —along with seedy cucumbers and zucchini—are categorized as vegetables. That’s due in part to their lower carb and sugar contents.

1. Tomatoes are good for your heart: Because of the Vitamin B and potassium in tomatoes, they are effective in reducing cholesterol levels and lowering blood pressure. Therefore, by including tomatoes in your regular balanced diet you can effectively prevent heart attacks, strokes as well as many other heart related problems that may threaten your life.

2. Guard skin health: Combination of tomato paste and olive oil protected against sun damage, and boosted the production of pro-collagen, a molecule that gives the skin its structure and keeps it firm and youthful. Scientists believe that the lycopene in tomatoes is key. It’s at its highest concentration when tomatoes have been cooked, and olive oil boosts its absorption from your digestive system into your bloodstream.

3. Protect your eyes: Tomatoes have substance called lutein and zeaxanthin that may help protect your eyes from the blue light made by digital device like smartphones and computers. They also keep your eyes from feeling tired and ease headaches from eyestrain. And some research shows they may even make you less likely to have more serious form of the leading cause of blindness in the US: age related macular degeneration.

4. Tomatoes counter the effects of cigarette smoke: Smoking leads to the excessive production of free radicals in the body, which can be very well countered with vitamin C. Which is why tomatoes can work great for smokers. Lower levels of vitamin C in this aspect can result in heart disease and cancer .Are tomatoes safe for everyone?