Tomatoes are a very popular food in the world; if they’re not being used for stew or soup, they’re added to salad and other foods. But the truth about this highly nutritious food is that most people only eat it, and have no idea what benefits they can get from it. There are also those who don’t eat it at all because of the same ignorance. Anyway, here are some of those benefits of eating tomatoes.
THEY BOOST THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Tomatoes possess an antioxidant called lycopene; which fights molecules called free radicals that can damage your cells and affect your immune system. Because of that, foods high in lycopene, like tomatoes, may make you less likely to have lung, stomach, or prostate cancer. Some research shows they might help prevent the disease in the pancreas, colon, throat, mouth, breast, and cervix as well.
THEY PROTECT THE HEART
Lycopene also may help lower your levels of LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, as well as your blood pressure. And that may lower your chances of heart disease. Other nutrients in tomatoes, like vitamins B and E and antioxidants called flavonoids, may boost your heart health, too.
THEY PROMOTE A HEALTHY EYESIGHT
Tomatoes have substances called lutein and zeaxanthin that may help protect your eyes from the blue light made by digital devices like smartphones and computers. They also may help keep your eyes from feeling tired and ease headaches from eyestrain. And some research shows they may even make you less likely to have a more serious form of the leading cause of blindness in the U.S age-related macular degeneration.
THEY CAN SAVE YOU FROM STROKE
Getting more tomatoes into your diet may make you less likely to have a stroke, which is when blood flow gets cut off to a part of your brain. Studies suggest that they may ease inflammation, boost your immune system, lower your cholesterol levels, and keep your blood from clotting. All those things may help prevent stroke.
THEY’RE HEALTHY FOR YOUR MOUTH
Studies have shown that lycopene may help with the gum diseases gingivitis and periodontitis in the same way it may help prevent cancer — by fighting free radicals. However, eating lots of raw tomatoes can damage the enamel on your teeth — thanks to the high amount of acid — and brushing soon afterward can make that worse. It’s a good idea to wait at least 30 minutes before you brush
THEY CAN PROTECT THE SKIN
The enormous amount of Lycopene in tomatoes makes it impossible for its skin to suffer the effects of the sun. Lycopene protects it. Eating a decent amount of tomatoes can have the same effect on your skin.
