Tomatoes are rich in Vitamin C, an antioxidant, and also provide significant amounts of Vitamin K1 (for blood clotting), Folate (B9, for cell function), and Vitamin A (from beta-carotene). They are also packed with antioxidants like lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which support heart and eye health, along with minerals like potassium.
Tomatoes are great for your heart, as their nutrients help support a healthy and efficient cardiovascular system. Thanks to their high levels of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, along with potassium, fiber, and vitamin C, tomatoes help to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Rest assured, tomatoes are generally considered safe to consume during pregnancy. However, it is important to enjoy them in moderation. Packed with folate, vitamin A, vitamin C and lycopene, they offer a range of benefits to both mothers and their unborn babies.
Ripe green tomatoes are a very good source of vitamins A, C and potassium. They also contain iron, calcium, dietary fiber, magnesium, and other minerals. Unripe (traditional red) tomatoes will not be as good a source for nutrients since they are not fully ripe.
One large, raw tomato has 431 milligrams of potassium, about as much as a medium-size banana. Ms. Panchal also noted that tomatoes have decent amounts of folate, a vitamin that helps your cells divide (especially important during pregnancy) and vitamin K, which helps with blood clotting and bone health.
However, like any other food, tomatoes also have harmful effects if not used properly. Regular and excessive consumption of tomatoes can affect your health. For example, tomatoes are one of the leading causes of migraines. In fact, when you eat too many tomatoes, you may experience symptoms of acid reflux.
1) Heirloom Tomatoes: “Heirloom tomatoes are typically the healthiest, because they're not genetically modified and tend to retain the highest level of antioxidants of all the tomato varieties,” Hunnes says.
They'll soften and mellow as they cook, but their crisper texture allows them to hold up well to slicing and frying, something that's impossible to do well with a soft red tomato – which is probably why this is one of the most popular ways to prepare them.
Not only are tomatoes packed with flavor, but they are also filled with important nutrients like fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, calcium and more! One of the most important nutrients that truly makes the tomato a superfood is lycopene.
Protein — supports growth
Protein is crucial for the growth of your unborn baby, also called a fetus. Good sources: Lean meat, poultry, seafood and eggs are great sources of protein.
Conclusions: Increasing dietary consumption of tomato-based foods may beneficially increase serum adiponectin concentrations among postmenopausal women at increased breast cancer risk, especially those who are not obese.
Tomatoes are a natural source of folic acid, also known as vitamin B11. When you hear folic acid, you probably think of pregnancy, and it's true that women who are trying to get or already are pregnant can benefit from folic acid as it helps to reduce the risk of congenital defects in the baby.
Tomatoes are higher in immune-boosting vitamin C than cucumbers. They are a good source of vitamin K, which ensures that blood can clot so wounds heal properly. The lycopene in tomatoes can help to keep the prostate gland healthy. Tomato skin contains the antioxidant naringenin, which fights inflammation.
Tomatoes contain a positive quadruple whammy of nutrients that protect eye health: lycopene, which is part of the carotenoid family, as well as the antioxidants lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene.
Raw tomatoes are low in calories and packed with potassium, fiber, and vitamin C — all of which help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Doctors often talk about “eating for the heart.” Well, a raw tomato a day is one of the simplest ways to do that without overthinking it.
Why would you peel tomatoes? The tomato skin is a different texture from the tomato flesh, and will remain so in sauces and purées—you'll get tiny chunks of skin instead of an uniformly smooth mixture. Moreover, the tomato skin is heavy in a kind of nutrient called flavonols, which impart a bitter flavor.
Cooking methods that use heat reduce some of the solanine in green tomatoes. By comparison, frying is a better way to reduce solanine than pickling so that we can eat (and love) fried green tomatoes.
Lyopene doesn't just protect cells — it also helps your heart by lowering cholesterol and regulating blood pressure. This in turn reduces the risk of heart disease. Tomatoes are also rich in potassium and folate, which help maintain fluids and promote good circulation.
Top 10 Foods for Health
Baking soda can help tomato plants by deterring some pests (like aphids), controlling powdery mildew by creating an alkaline environment, and potentially making fruit sweeter by reducing acidity, but it must be used sparingly as overuse raises soil pH, leading to nutrient issues, poor drainage, and potential sodium toxicity, so a diluted spray or light sprinkle around the base (not directly on roots) is key.
"[Tom] doesn't eat nightshades, because they're not anti-inflammatory," Campbell said. "So no tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, or eggplants."
The truth is, the tomato didn't even arrive in Italy until sometime in the sixteenth century when it was initially considered poisonous. Tomatoes are actually a New World fruit with wild ancestors still growing in Peru, Ecuador and northern Chile.
Health Risks of Tomatoes
If you have a history of acid reflux, take certain medications, or have symptoms of an allergic reaction, talk with your doctor about whether tomatoes are a safe component in your diet.