Nutritional Value of a Tomato, And Impressive Health Benefits of Tomato Juice!
Why Should You Have Some Freshly Juiced Tomato every day?
Tomato which is actually a fruit instead of a vegetable contains many key vitamins and minerals. They are known around the world for their versatile use in health. Freshly juiced tomato is packed with health benefits. One glass of tomato juice a day can lead you on a path to good health and disease prevention. In this article, we will explain the nutritional properties of tomato juice and the many proven health benefits of consuming it.
It contains,
Four significant carotenoids:
- Alpha-carotene.
- Beta-carotene.
- Lutein.
- And lycopene.
All of these carotenoids have individual health benefits and they offer great health advantages when they all work together. The red pigment contained in the tomatoes is Lycopene.
Lycopene in Tomatoes:
Lycopene is one of the strongest antioxidants and it is very beneficial when it comes down to neutralizing free radicals which damage the cells in the body. Lycopene is also very beneficial when it comes down to heart health, prostate health, and pancreatic health.
A study,
has shown that men, who consumed ten tomatoes per week, reduced their chances of developing prostate cancer by an overwhelming forty-five percent. Other studies indicated that people who consumed more than seven servings of raw tomatoes lowered their risk of developing stomach, rectal, or colon cancers by sixty percent.
Nutritional Composition of Tomatoes:
A cup of fresh tomatoes Juice will provide:
- Calories 18.
- Water 95 %.
- Protein 0.9 g.
- Fiber 1.2 g.
- Fat 0.2 g.
- Saturated 0.03 g.
- Carbs 3.9 g.
- Sugar 2.6 g.
- Monounsaturated 0.03 g.
- Polyunsaturated 0.08 g.
- Omega-3 0 g.
- Omega-6 0.08 g.
Drinking Freshly Juiced Tomatoes Benefits:
- Ideally, tomato juice should be freshly squeezed at home.
- Tomato juice is very low in calories and contains very little saturated fat or cholesterol.
- It is also very low in sodium and is a very rich source of vitamins C and A,
- And a good source of vitamins B6 and K, thiamin, niacin, and folate.
- It contains the minerals iron, calcium, phosphate, magnesium, copper, potassium, and manganese.
Also,
- it is a good source of fiber and most of its caloric value comes from naturally occurring sugars in the fruit.
- Consuming just one glass of tomato juice a day can help protect you against many serious disease processes, particularly cancer, and also provide you with many health-promoting benefits.
Use The Nutritional Value of Tomatoes:
It is important to use the nutritional value of a tomato. The health benefits of tomatoes are very beneficial to anyone’s health. Tomatoes are good for many reasons and give a variety of benefits to the altogether well-being of your body. Making tomatoes a part of your daily diet will improve your health and level of fitness. Make sure you don’t forget about the little, red fruit.
Choosing Healthy Tomatoes:
When choosing your tomatoes:
- Make sure you choose the ones with the most brilliant shades of red.
- The dark red colors indicate high levels of beta-carotene and lycopene.
- Although raw tomatoes are great for you, cooking them can even release more benefits.
- Cooking breaks down the cell walls in the tomato and releases more lycopene.
- The get the best effects of lycopene, eat tomatoes with healthy fatty foods like olive oil, avocados, or nuts.
- Fresh tomatoes are also rich in potassium and contain important nutrients for cell and body fluids and help control heart rate and blood pressure.
- Tomatoes are also a good source of folate, iron, calcium, manganese, and other minerals.
- The important nutritional value of tomatoes will always make them taste and be great.
When to Avoid Tomatoes:
- While discussing the health benefits of tomatoes, it is important to point out that tomatoes may be harmful to those with arthritic conditions. Tomato upsets calcium metabolism and should be avoided in cases of arthritis.
- Another instance of when tomatoes should be avoided is when the tomatoes were picked unripe and ripened after the fact.
- Tomatoes ripened off the vine may weaken the body’s kidney-adrenal function. Vine-ripened tomatoes are best.
ALSO,
- It is harmful to people with kidney stones, not because of the tomato itself but because of its seeds.
- The calcium in tomato is concentrated in its seeds and when consumed more this calcium can turn into stones in the kidney or the gallbladder.
- Consumption of too many tomatoes can lead to a vitamin overdose as tomato is very rich in vitamins like vitamin A and C.
- The seeds of tomatoes when eaten may show allergic reactions in some people. In such a case, it is better to avoid tomatoes in the diet. Lycopene can cause an allergy such as that itching.
- Tomato is highly acidic and hence consumption of too many tomatoes can lead to heartburning sensations.
Why do some people avoid eating tomatoes and other nightshade vegetables?
nightshades are a category of vegetables and fruits belonging to the Solanaceae family. What all nightshade foods have in common are alkaloids, nitrogen-containing substances that are found in the leaves, stems, and edible parts of the plants.
Here’s a list of nightshade vegetables:
- Tomatoes.
- Eggplants.
- Potatoes.
- Peppers.
Varieties of Tomatoes “Types”:
Grown for many purposes, there are around 7500 varieties worldwide. The varieties are divided into several categories, often dependent on the shape, size, and color:
I. Plum Tomatoes:
Usually oblong in shape, the plum tomato is a thicker variety of tomatoes often used in pastes or sauces.
II. Cherry Tomatoes:
The cherry tomato is a beautiful, small red tomato, commonly used in salads.
III. Campari Tomatoes:
These tomatoes are bigger than cherry tomatoes but smaller than plum tomatoes. Often found with a low acid content, this tomato is sweet and juicy.
IV. Grape Tomatoes:
These tomatoes are a variety of plum tomatoes, small and oblong in shape and size. They are often used in salads.
V. Beefsteak Tomatoes:
These larger-sized tomatoes are often used in sandwiches. They have a short shelf life, and therefore, become impractical to store.
VI. ‘Slicing’ or ‘Globe’ Tomatoes:
A common tomato used in processing and fresh eating.
I. Here’re 13 Health Benefits of Tomatoes:
Naturally-grown tomatoes contain many valuable nutrients, including lycopene, which has been linked to preventing cancer. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants are nutrients that can slow or repair the damage that can be caused when the body’s cells metabolize oxygen.
As cells take in oxygen, molecular bonds can break, causing by-products called free radicals. Free radicals immediately try to stabilize themselves by latching on to the nearest molecule. This process can damage healthy cells.
Too many free radicals – or not enough antioxidants –
can predispose the body to cancer. Antioxidants may also help maintain the body’s immune system, reducing the instances of conditions and diseases associated with a weakened immune system. Notably, the skin of the tomato also contains powerful antioxidants.
Tomatoes contain other beneficial nutrients, including beta carotene and lutein, as well as vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Tomatoes are also rich in potassium. In addition, the nutrients in tomatoes become more powerful or efficient when combined with certain other foods.
Study,
- An Ohio State University study found that consuming tomatoes with healthy fats, such as olive oil or avocado, intensifies the body’s ability to absorb antioxidants by as much as 2 to 15 times.
- A study published in Cancer Research observed more positive effects in treating prostate tumors in rats when tomatoes were combined with broccoli. No allergies or adverse effects have been definitively associated with tomatoes.
There is no debate over the intrinsic health benefits of the tomato. The tomato is treasured for its nutritional value as much as for its delicious taste.
1. Rich of Antioxidant:
- Tomatoes are a rich source of antioxidants.
- Antioxidants help to rid the body of free radicals.
- Free radicals can be thought of as rust-causing substances in the bloodstream. Free radicals,
- Cause the oxidization of tissues in the body which leads to inflammation and the
- development of serious disease processes.
- Also, antioxidants can help slow down the effects of the aging process also.
2. Cancer Prevention:
A number of studies have been conducted that indicate that the high levels of lycopene in tomatoes work to reduce your chances of developing prostate, colorectal, and stomach cancer.
Tomatoes are a rich source of the compound lycopene. Lycopene is what gives the tomato its rich red color. Scientific studies have found that lycopene is effective at preventing the onset of many cancer types. Particularly effective at preventing breast, prostate, lung, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers.
3. Immune System Booster:
Being a rich source of vitamins C and A, tomato juice can help boost the immune system. People who drink a glass of tomato juice a day report fewer incidences of colds and influenza. These vitamins help to prevent infection and inflammation from invading organisms.
4. Lowers Bad Cholesterol (LDL):
Bad cholesterol in the bloodstream attained from eating high cholesterol foods causes the build-up of fatty plaques on the walls of arteries. The heart has to work so much harder to pump blood through these arteries leading to high blood pressure.
Eventually, these fatty plaques can occlude the flow of blood through these arteries leading to heart attack and or stroke. Tomatoes contain fiber and niacin which helps to break down fatty plaque build-up in blood vessels.
5. Heart Disease Prevention:
A substance called homocysteine in the bloodstream causes damage to blood vessel walls leading to heart disease. Tomatoes contain vitamin B6 which actively breaks down homocysteine into basic molecules that are harmless to the body.
6. Macular Degeneration Prevention:
Early scientific studies are showing that tomatoes may help prevent the development of macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is becoming common in the aged population leading to blindness.
7. Prevents Constipation:
- Tomatoes are naturally high in fiber.
- The consumption of high fiber helps to prevent sluggishness of the bowel.
- Fiber also helps to flush out the digestive system of any toxins.
- Tomato juice can have a laxative effect and help prevent bloating.
- It is very healthy for the digestive system.
8. Stomach and Muscular Cramp Prevention:
Tomatoes are high in potassium and water content. So if you gulp down 1 cup of tomato juice, you’ll get about 15% of your daily value of potassium. You’ll also give your body hydration to prevent muscle cramps from starting.
When the body is low in potassium it can cause stomach and muscle cramps. Tomatoes are a rich source of potassium which helps to prevent cramps.
9. Diabetes Treatment:
Tomatoes are often recommended by physicians for diabetics to eat as they help to stabilize blood sugar levels. tomato juice is a very healthy option to choose when thirst strikes.
Tomatoes come in a variety of colors and names which will all provide you with the same nutritional content and health benefits. Juicing 3 tomatoes with other vegetables and or fruits can create interesting flavors to try. Adding a few tomatoes to your diet every day can lead you on a path to good health and the prevention of some serious diseases.
10. Good For Eye Health:
Research shows that the lycopene present in ocular tissues helps prevent light-induced damage to the retina and other areas of the eye. Tomatoes are also an excellent source of vitamin C, another vision protector.
Because tomatoes are loaded with the phytonutrients beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, they can help keep your eyes healthy and protect them from degeneration.
11. Helps in Repairing Damage Caused By Smoking:
Eating tomatoes are not the most recent fad to help you quit smoking, tomatoes can reduce the amount of damage done to your body by smoking cigarettes. Tomatoes contain coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid that work to protect the body from carcinogens that are produced from cigarette smoke.
12. Good For Your Kidneys:
Adding tomatoes without seeds to your diet has been proven in some studies to reduce the risk of kidney stones.
On the other hand, Tomatoes are high potassium fruit that may not fit the guidelines of a renal diet. They can be served raw or stewed and are often used to make sauces. Just 1 cup of tomato sauce can contain upwards of 900 mg of potassium (35). Unfortunately for those on a renal diet, tomatoes are commonly used in many dishes.
13. Increases Capacity to Burn Fat:
Carnitine is an amino acid that has the ability to increase the capacity of the body to burn fat by about 30%. Tomatoes with all stimulate the production of carnitine.
Tomatoes are also considered an appetite-suppressant “high-volume” food, which means they have high amounts of water, air, and fiber. It should be evident, but you can’t just burn fat and shed weight by simply eating this fruit alone. You will lose weight when you burn more calories than you consume.
Enjoying Tomatoes:
To receive the added benefits from combining tomatoes with other nutritionally rich food, try adding a few broccoli florets to tomato soup. Add both tomatoes and broccoli florets to a salad.
Reduce the amount of cheese on a pizza and drizzle olive oil over it for a rich flavor. Chop the avocado into your favorite salsa, or chop the tomato into your favorite guacamole. However, you enjoy the health benefits of tomatoes you will be boosting your system and sampling one of life’s culinary delights.
Summing Up:
It is important to use the nutritional value of a tomato. The health benefits of tomatoes are very beneficial to anyone’s health. Tomatoes are good for many reasons and give a variety of benefits to the altogether well-being of your body. Making tomatoes a part of your daily diet will improve your health and level of fitness. Make sure you don’t forget about the little, red fruit.
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Disclaimer: “Nothing in this article makes any claim to offer cures or treatment of any disease or illness. If you are sick please consult with your doctor.”
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