Tomatoes

The tomato, the Italian “pomodoro,” was long regarded as an unhealthy fruit. Though it began to be used in Spain and Italy, it took a long time before it could be eaten in tomato salads, sandwiches, or sauces. In fact, until the 1930s, in our grandmothers' time, it was claimed that eating a raw tomato was lethal and that it needed to be cooked for at least three hours to rid it of its harmful properties!

Fortunately for us, tomatoes are now part of our daily diet. Biting into a juicy, freshly cut tomato, bursting with the flavors of earth and sun, is one of the greatest pleasures of summer. Tomatoes contain calcium and vitamin C, to name just two of their beneficial properties.

A study done recently found that people in Northern Italy who ate 7 or more servings of raw tomatoes per week had up to 60 less chance of developing colon, rectal, or stomach cancers compared to individuals who ate two servings or less. There are also indications that tomatoes may play a role in prevention of heart disease, high cholesterol, and fatty deposits in the arteries.

The tomato is a fruit that plays an important role in a balanced diet. Low in calories, it is a good source of vitamins, minerals, and trace minerals. Its acidic flavor stimulates digestion and assists in nutritional absorption - thanks to the pigments that give it its attractive red color and its content of vitamins C and E, provitamin A and other carotenes. Tomatoes also help maintain the body's acid-base balance and promote ongoing vitality. Lycopenes give tomatoes their red color. Lycopenes are bioflavonoids; antioxidants related to beta-carotene and are present in tomatoes.

They are also good for prevention of prostate cancer. Eating raw tomatoes every day may reduce the risk of prostate cancer and other types of cancer, including lung, stomach, pancreatic, breast, cervical, colorectal, oral and esophageal cancers. All forms of tomato (raw, in ketchup, spaghetti sauce, tomato paste, soup, and salsa) have beneficial effect. Individuals from southern Mediterranean countries, including Portugal, Italy, and Greece, have a low incidence of prostate cancer. Coincidentally, in these countries, tomato consumption is high.

 

HEALTH BENEFITS OF EATING TOMATOES

 

1. Tomatoes are good for your skin.

Tomatoes contain a high level of lycopene, which is a substance that is used in some of the more pricy facial cleansers that are available for purchase over-the-counter.

If you want to try tomatoes for skin care, you need to start with about eight to twelve tomatoes. Peel the tomatoes and then place the skin on your face with inside of the tomato touching your skin. Leave the tomatoes on your face for a minimum of ten minutes, then wash. Your face will feel clean and shiny. Some redness may occur, but should fade with time.

2. Tomatoes help prevent several types of cancer.

A number of studies have been conducted that indicate that the high levels of lycopene in tomatoes works to reduce your chances of developing prostate, colorectal and stomach cancer. Lycopene is a natural antioxidant that works effectively to slow the growth of cancerous cells. Cooked tomatoes produce even more lycopene, so go ahead and cook all the tomato dishes you want.

3. Tomatoes help maintain strong bones.

Tomatoes contain a considerable amount of calcium and Vitamin K. Both of these nutrients are essential in strengthening and performing minor repairs on the bones as well as the bone tissue.

4. Tomatoes help repair damage caused by smoking.

No, eating tomatoes is not the most recent fad to help you quit smoking. However, tomatoes can reduce the amount of damaged 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.

5. Tomatoes provide essential antioxidants.

Tomatoes contain a great deal of Vitamin A and Vitamin C. This is primarily because these vitamins and beta-carotene work as antioxidants to neutralize harmful free radicals in the blood. Free radicals in the blood stream are dangerous because it may lead to cell damage. Remember, the redder the tomato you eat is, the more beta-carotene it contains. In addition, you also want to keep in mind that cooking destroys the Vitamin C, so for these benefits, the tomatoes need to be eaten raw.

6. Tomatoes are good for your heart.

Because of the Vitamin B and potassium in tomatoes, they are effective in reducing cholesterol levels and lowering blood pressure. Therefore, by including tomatoes in your regular balanced diet you can effectively prevent heart attacks, strokes as well as many other heart related problems that may threaten your life.

7. Tomatoes are good for your hair.

The Vitamin A in tomatoes works perfectly to keep your hair shiny and strong. In addition, tomatoes also do wonders for your eyes, skin, bones and teeth.

8. Tomatoes are good for your kidneys.

Adding tomatoes without seeds to your diet has been proven in some studies to reduce the risk of kidney stones.

9. Tomatoes are good for your eyes.

The Vitamin A found in tomatoes is fantastic for improving your vision. In addition, eating tomatoes is one of the best foods to eat to prevent the development of night blindness.

10. Tomatoes are good for diabetics.

Tomatoes are packed full of the valuable mineral known as chromium. It works effectively to help diabetics keep their blood sugar levels under better control.

DISCLAIMER: These articles from Dr. Tony's desk are for educational purposes only and are not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice.

If you have any questions regarding the information presented, please contact:

Tony Morais, ND ---Hope for Health ---(309) 343-5853

 Adapted from: Alfons Balbach and Daniel S. F. Boarim

As Hortalicas na Medicina Natural, Edicoes

Vida Plena, Itaquaquecetuba, SP (Poruguse), 1993

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