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Widely consumed for their juicy nature and tangy flavour, tomatoes are a common ingredient largely used in food preparations in almost every Indian household and in cuisines throughout the world. Loaded with nutrients, this superfood offers a range of health benefits apart from adding colour and taste to your food. Here are some of its top health benefits you would be surprised to know about.
1# Lowers heart disease risk: Tomatoes contain many vitamins and antioxidants that prevent cholesterol build-up, but they especially contain lycopene which has been associated with preventing the formation of oxidised LDL and their uptake by macrophages present inside the arterial wall [1]. Apart from reducing LDL levels, compounds like lycopene, beta-carotene, folic acid, potassium, falvonoids, vitamin C and vitamin E help reduce platelet aggregation and blood pressure. Read more about foods that reduce cholesterol and keep heart disease at bay.
2# Helps prevent cancer: Tomatoes have a lot of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits that makes it great for preventing cancer. A largest prospective study in male health professionals revealed that consuming 2-4 servings of tomato sauce every week resulted in 35% risk reduction of total prostate cancer and a 50% risk reduction of advanced prostate cancer [2,3].
3# Helps weight loss: Tomatoes are extremely low in calories with a 100g serving containing just 18 calories. Also, it has fibre which helps you feel fuller thus ensuring that you do not overeat.
4# Prevents constipation: Constipation is caused due to food stuck in your colon and can be an extremely unpleasant condition to deal with. Tomatoes contain a lot of water and fibre that helps clear the food stuck in your colon thus curing constipation. Read more about foods that can help cure constipation.
5# Prevents early ageing: As we age, our skin undergoes free radical damage that can lead to the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Even though this process is inevitable, tomatoes contain antioxidants that delays it.
6# Improves vision: Even though tomatoes are not as rich a source of Vitamin A as carrots, they are still a good source of the nutrient. Vitamin A helps in preventing vision disorders like age-related macular degeneration which people suffer from in old age.
All of these reasons make tomato a great food that you should definitely stock up on the next time you go to a supermarket.
Image source: Getty images
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