What is tomato good for?

5 Amazing Health Benefits of Tomato Sauce

Do you know what sounds nice right now? A nice hot plate of hearty pasta. Do you know what sounds even nicer? Knowing that you’re improving your health with all that delicious tomato sauce. Tomatoes are an incredible little fruit with big health benefits that your body craves. Soon, you’ll know there’s no reason to feel guilty about eating every last bite of fresh-made pasta puttanesca. In this article, we’ll discuss some fantastic health benefits of tomato sauce.

1. Improve Heart Health

Everyone’s got a ticker that they need to look after, and one of the best ways you can do that is with tomatoes. Some people take care of their hearts with lycopene supplements, but did you know that tomatoes are a rich and natural source of lycopene? Lycopene is the antioxidant that gives tomatoes their red color, and it can help reduce heart disease.

Lycopene reduces free-radical damage and “bad” cholesterol levels while promoting “good” cholesterol levels. In one ten-year study, people with diets rich in lycopene had a 17-26% lower risk of heart disease.

Another benefit of consuming lycopene is reduced risk of developing certain cancers, like lung and prostate cancer. Studies show that diets high in carotenoids (which include lycopene) result in a 32-50% lower risk of lung and prostate cancers.

2. Improve Digestive Health

Tomatoes contain a lot of water, and a whole heap of fiber, as much as 1.5 grams. Fiber is a magical carbohydrate that the body can’t fully break down, but it helps your digestive system chug along at a regular and healthy pace. If you are prone to constipation or looking for a high fiber diet to lower cholesterol and help maintain blood sugar levels, tomato sauce can help.

3. A Huge Source of Essential Vitamins

One of the most important health benefits of tomato sauce is that it’s an excellent source of vitamin C, A, and K, all of which offer incredible benefits to your body. Vitamin C helps your body reduce the risk of chronic disease, manages high blood pressure, lowers the risk of heart disease, prevents iron deficiency, boosts immunity, and helps protect memory. Vitamin A helps your immunity as well while supporting vision and skin health. And vitamin K is vital for blood clotting prevention and bone metabolism.

4. Make Your Bones Stronger

Tomatoes contain significant amounts of calcium and vitamin K. We know that vitamin K is important for bone metabolism. Still, in combination with calcium, your bones will be stronger and more resilient to damage. Even better, your bones will be more capable of healing if minor damage occurs.

5. Improve Gut Health

One of the more surprising health benefits of tomato sauce is its positive effect on your gut health. The gut and got bacteria are two things science has been keeping a close eye on lately, especially regarding how they affect your overall health.

You might have heard of probiotic foods, like yogurt or kimchi, which help increase the good bacteria in your gut. Well, science is discovering that tomatoes have probiotic properties, helping to improve our good gut bacteria. One of the more important bacteria is called L. reuteri, and it helps with your intestinal, oral, and general health. When prepared as a sauce, the positive effects of L. reuteri are enhanced. That means you can expect more work from the stuff in your gut that keeps you healthy.

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10 Science-based Health Benefits of Tomatoes

Tomato is technically considered a fruit but is generally lumped into the category of vegetables as a practice. Tomatoes form an integral part of cuisines across the globe, especially in the Mediterranean region. Daily consumption of tomatoes can provide a great boost to health, along with improving the flavor of food. You can find them in different foods like pasta, pizzas, ketchup, and various beverages. They are relatively easy to cultivate and grow very quickly, making them a great food source, which is a big reason why tomatoes are a staple food for many nations.

The health benefits of tomatoes may include eye care, good stomach health, and reduced blood pressure. They can help us manage diabetes, skin problems, and urinary tract infections. Furthermore, they may improve digestion, stimulate blood circulation, reduce cholesterol levels, improve fluid balance, protect the kidneys, detoxify the body, prevent premature aging, and reduce inflammation. They are also a rich source of vitamins and minerals and can exert a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases.

What is a Tomato?

The scientific name of tomatoes is Solanum Lycopersicum, and they are believed to be native to Mexico. However, the Spanish colonization of America and Central America caused tomato cultivation to spread. They are an annual nightshade plant and grow in clusters of small to moderately sized, round red fruits. They have soft, pinkish-red flesh and a number of seeds, as well as a slightly sweet taste. They weigh approximately 4 ounces. [1]

Nowadays, tomatoes are grown in countries all over the world and there are thousands of cultivars and varieties that can provide you with unique health benefits. Let’s explore a few of the reasons why they are such a valuable food item for human health.

Garden-fresh juicy tomatoes Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Tomatoes Nutrition Facts

Nutrition Facts
Tomatoes, red, ripe, raw, year round average

The health benefits of tomatoes can be attributed to their wealth of nutrients and vitamins. According to the USDA [3] , tomatoes contain an impressive amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K, as well as significant amounts of B-vitamin, folate, and thiamine. They can also be a good source of potassium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper. They may have a high water content, dietary fiber, and protein, as well as a number of organic compounds like lycopene that contribute to their health benefits.

Tomato Calories

The calories in tomatoes differ on the basis of their variety. A 100 g of raw green tomato has about 23 calories whereas a 100 g of orange raw tomato contains 16 calories. Many people also used canned tomato puree or juice, so the calorie count in these versions can be a bit more as there are preservatives in them. [4] [5]

Health Benefits of Tomatoes

The health benefits of tomatoes have been known since ancient times. Let’s discuss the benefits in detail.

Potential Antioxidant Agent

Tomatoes contain a large amount of lycopene, which is a carotenoid and an antioxidant that can be highly effective in scavenging free radicals. This benefit can even be obtained from heat-processed tomato products like ketchup. [6]

Tomatoes are a great addition to any recipe you make, like salads or sandwiches.

Rich Source of Vitamins and Minerals

A single tomato provides about 40 percent of the daily vitamin C requirement. Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant that can prevent free radicals from damaging the body’s systems. It may also contain vitamin A and potassium, as well as iron. Potassium can play a vital role in maintaining nerve health, and iron is essential for maintaining normal blood circulation. Vitamin K can also be abundantly found in tomatoes, which is essential for blood clotting and controlling bleeding, is also in tomatoes. [7]

May Protect the Heart

The lycopene in tomatoes can prevent serum lipid oxidation, thus exerting a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases. Regular consumption of tomatoes or tomato juice can decrease the levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, as per the British Journal of Nutrition. These lipids can be the key culprits in cardiovascular diseases and may lead to the deposition of fats in the blood vessels. [8] [9] [10]

May Improve Vision

Vitamin A, present in tomatoes, can aid in improving vision and preventing night-blindness and macular degeneration. Vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant that can be formed from an excess of beta-carotene in the body. A lot of vision problems may occur due to the negative effects of free radicals and so vitamin A, being a powerful antioxidant, can help prevent them. [11]

May Aid Digestion

Tomatoes may keep the digestive system healthy by preventing gastrointestinal issues. Furthermore, they might have a large amount of fiber, which can bulk the bowels and reduce symptoms of constipation. A healthy amount of fiber can help stimulate peristaltic motion in the smooth digestive muscles and may release gastric and digestive juices. This can regulate your bowel movements, thereby improving your overall digestive health and helping protect against health issues

May Lower Hypertension

Consuming tomatoes frequently can reduce the risk of developing hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. This can be partially due to the impressive levels of potassium found in tomatoes. Potassium is a vasodilator, meaning that it may reduce the tension in blood vessels and arteries, thereby might increase circulation and lower the stress on the heart by reducing hypertension. [12]

May Manage Diabetes

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that daily consumption of tomatoes can help reduce the oxidative stress of type-2 diabetes. Moreover, lycopene intake may increase the plasma rate of this compound. However, there are more studies required to establish an association between lycopene intake and the risk of developing diabetes. [13]

May Aid in Skin Care

Tomatoes may aid in maintaining healthy teeth, bones, hair, and skin. The topical application of tomato juice is known to cure severe sunburns. Daily consumption can protect the skin against UV-induced erythema. They rank high in the preparation of anti-aging products. Furthermore, an antiperspirant composition for the treatment of hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) containing tomato as one of the ingredients was patented by Dr. Audrey G. Kunin, certified dermatologist and Chief Creative Officer of DERMAdoctor, Inc. [14] [15]

May Prevent Gallstones

Tomato is a good source of vitamin C and may also help in providing relief from gallstones. There have been various studies to prove their efficacy against many chronic diseases. The antioxidant properties of tomatoes can also be derived from processed foods like ketchup and purees. Daily consumption of tomatoes can fulfill the requirement of vitamins and minerals and exerts an overall protective effect on the body. [16]

Word of caution: Tomatoes generally do not pose major side effects to anyone. However, there are certain proteins in tomatoes that are similar to pollen. This means that people with pollen allergies can be more prone to suffering from an allergic reaction after eating tomatoes. The symptoms may include itching, edema, or a scratchy throat. [17] [18]

Quick and Simple Tomato Recipes

This tender vegetable is a great addition to any recipe you make, more so, even salads or sandwiches. Here are some simple tomato recipes.

Are Organic Tomatoes Better?

Organic tomatoes, according to a study at the University of Barcelona, are produced in an environment that has a lower nutrient supply since nitrogen-rich chemical fertilizers are not added. This may lead to the excessive formation of antioxidants such as quercetin and kaempferol in organic tomatoes. As we know, antioxidants are good for health and can help in reducing heart diseases. [19]

On the other side, chemical-based tomato farming may involve spraying tomatoes with large quantities of pesticides and insecticides. Tomatoes are a highly sprayed crop throughout the world. Therefore, many organic food lovers believe that they are protected from chemical contamination when they eat organic ones instead. Of course, organic farming is good for the environment as well.

10 Health Benefits of Tomato Juice

Here at V8 we love tomatoes and tomato juice. Apart from being versatile and delicious, the humble tomato is a powerhouse of nutrition. So numerous are the health benefits of tomatoes that they were once commonly used for medicinal purposes to treat a great number of ailments.

We adore this little red fruit (… vegetable? Salad thing…?) so much that we simply had to write a great big list of its health benefits and share it with you. Now you too can appreciate the wonder that is the tomato.

Lycopene in Tomatoes

Gac – super-rich in lycopene but hard to come by.

The benefits of tomato juice stem from the tomato’s rich vitamin, mineral and phytonutrient content. Of these, lycopene, in particular, deserves special attention. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant and has been found to promote good general health.

Lycopene can only be found in greater quantities in a fruit called gac, which is as rare outside Asia as it is unappealing sounding. Unusually, the processing of tomatoes actually increases the concentration of bioavailable lycopene. This means that tomato juice is a far better dietary source of lycopene than fresh tomatoes.

Where is the Nutrition?

The majority of all that lovely lycopene is located in the skin of a tomato. The seeds of a tomato are home to most of the phenolics and antioxidants. These three essential elements are the reason tomatoes are shown to be beneficial to the body.

So make sure you’re getting the most out of your tomatoey goodness by using every part of the tomato.

Health benefits of drinking tomato juice

Tomato juice can provide a wide range of benefits as part of a nutritious, balanced diet. It’s good for your skin, eyes and bones, too! Healthy diets include vitamins and minerals that can be found in tomatoes.

1. They aid digestion

Daily tomato juice consumption keeps the liver healthy, which aids digestion, stimulates regular bowel movement and prevents constipation.

2. Tomato juice can lower cholesterol

The fibre found in tomato juice helps break down LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and niacin has been found to have a beneficial impact on high cholesterol levels.

3. Get protection from heart disease

Research has linked a high intake of lycopene to a 30% reduction in incidences of coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease.

4. Tomatoes can prevent blood clotting

The rich supply of phytonutrients found in tomatoes has been shown to aid in the prevention of abnormal platelet cell clumping, beneficial for those with, or at risk of, heart conditions.

5. Anti-inflammatory benefits of tomato juice

Chronic inflammation and inflammation abnormalities have been linked to a whole host of unpleasant health conditions. Research has found that a daily glass of tomato juice lowers a person’s primary marker for inflammation by nearly one third.

6. It’s good for your bones…

Vitamin K, found in rich supply in tomatoes, is of great importance in the health of your bones. The synthesis of osteocalcin, which is thought to play an important role in bone-building, is vitamin K dependent.

7. …and your skin!

Studies have shown that drinking tomato juice daily may lead to a reduction in acne and the prevention of UV skin cell damage.

8. Tomato juice detoxifies the body

Tomato juice works wonders in flushing out these harmful toxin depositions from the body. Its chlorine and sulfur content also helps the liver and kidneys perform their detoxification function better.

9. Enjoy good eye health

Because tomatoes are loaded with the phytonutrients beta carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, they can help keep your eyes healthy and protect them from degeneration.

10. Get a good workout recovery

Tomatoes provide the perfect balance of chemicals to help your body recover from strenuous exercise. Drinking tomato juice was shown to actually lead to speedier muscle recovery than drinking fizzy energy drinks.

Is tomato juice good for you?

Tomato juice provides a number of benefits that are good for you. Replacing unhealthy drinks, such as fruit punch, fizzy drinks, and other sweet drinks with tomato juice is a healthy way for you to improve your diet.

Older people, in particular, can enjoy the benefits of tomato juice. Studies show that they have limited food access and tend to eat fewer nutritious foods. Tomato juice can be a convenient and tasty way to help you meet your requirements for many nutrients.

V8 Original Vegetable Juice contains 89% tomato juice with a rich, sophisticated flavour unrivalled by plain old tomato juice.