Thursday 7 July 2011

Tomato Truths: Top Health Benefits of Tomatoes

 
Basic fact: tomatoes are really heart-healthy

Tomatoes help you lessen hypertension levels
In healthcare research carried out by Dr. Esther Paran, M.D. at Ben Gurion University (Beersheva, Israel), tomatoes were associated with a significant fall in blood pressure. After 2 months, continuous monitoring of daily tomato ingestion (in the form of lycopene complex, a tomato extract) highlighted a drop in both the blood pressure top number (systolic) by ten points and the bottom figure (diastolic) by four points.

Tomatoes lessen the chance of heart disease
Tomatoes are a really good resource for potassium. Diet plans rich in potassium have shown to lower hypertension and reduce the chance of heart disease. Vitamin B6 and folate, each found in tomatoes in effective amounts, are both needed by the human body to transform a potentially dangerous chemical called homocysteine into other, benign molecules. High amounts of homocysteine can harm blood vessel walls and are linked with an amplified chance of heart attack and stroke.

Tomatoes help lower cholesterol
Because a tomato has 0 grams of cholesterol, it doesn't add cholesterol into your diet. Also, a cup of newly harvested tomato delivers 9% of one's DV for fiber, that is shown to lower high cholesterol levels. Tomatoes are also an excellent source of niacin (vitamin B3), that has been utilized for many years as a safe method to decrease high cholesterol levels.

Tomatoes offer antioxidant defense against cell damage
Health professionals agree: tomatoes are a first-rate source of the antioxidant lycopene. Antioxidants traverse your body, neutralizing toxic free radicals which can otherwise damage cells together with cell membranes. Free radicals advance the progression or severity of atherosclerosis, diabetic complications, asthma, along with colon cancer. High intakes of lycopene have been shown to help in reducing the chance or severeness of all of these medical conditions.

Simple fact: tomatoes oppose cancer

Tomatoes give protection to the prostate
Research shows that ingesting tomatoes reduce the risk of a variety of cancers, and prostate cancer particularly. Appearing in study from the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, animals on an energy-restricted, tomato-based diet exhibited a 32% reduction in their risk of loss of life due to prostate cancer. Credit goes to antioxidant lycopene working together with other phytonutrient elements inside tomatoes.

Tomatoes happen to be anti-inflammatory
The overproduction of free radicals within cells increases inflammatory compounds. A majority of these compounds endorse virtually all chronic degenerative disorders, this includes atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's syndrome together with various cancers. High levels of anti-oxidants lycopene and beta-carotene in tomatoes counteract free radicals and help reduce swelling.

Basic fact: tomatoes help to keep internal systems performing effectively
Tomatoes assist to normalize blood glucose
Tomatoes are a wonderful resource for chromium, that has been shown to assist diabetic patients keep their blood sugar levels in balance.

Tomatoes strengthen bones
A serving of tomatoes give you 18% the DV for vitamin K, which promotes bone health. Vitamin K activates osteocalcin, the major non-collagen protein in bone. Osteocalcin mineralizes calcium molecules inside of the bone. In other words, vitamin K in tomatoes helps osteocalcin do its work to harden calcium making bones strong.

Tomatoes counteract acidosis
Acidosis, according to the healthcare community, is a common cause of calcium loss, fatigue, headaches, sleeplessness, muscle aches, acne, eczema, arteriosclerosis, sexual dysfunction, hormone imbalance, depression, and many degenerative conditions. Bodies are built to preserve an alkaline balance with a pH of 7.365. But food intake and lack of exercise methods mean our bodies are over-acidified. By simply including sufficient alkaline minerals in our diets - calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium - we help the body preserve its alkaline balance naturally. Tomatoes are wonderful sources of calcium, magnesium, and potassium and can help out with preventing acidosis.

Tomatoes help you greatly reduce migraines
Tomatoes are a great source of riboflavin, that has been shown to be helpful for decreasing the number of migraine attacks.

Tomatoes improve immunity
Tomatoes have been credited by health specialists with assisting to ward off flu and common colds, particularly for guys. According to the professional medical community, these types of common illnesses are widely thought to be rooted in carotenoid deficiencies, including small quantities of lycopene and beta carotene in a patient's system. Consuming tomato juices will help in creating defenses against colds and flu.

Fact: tomatoes assist you to protect the skin, bones, and also eyes

Tomatoes benefit eyesight
Vitamin An is crucial to protecting the health of the retina. Its deficiency adds to the development of night blindness. An one cup serving of delicious tomatoes provides 30% DV of vitamin A, a considerable concentration which prevents necessary shortage and stimulates eye health.

Tomatoes provide you with natural sunscreen
Researchers at the University of Dusseldorf (Germany) witnessed subjects who consumed tomato paste for a minimum of 10 weeks. Absorption of UV rays was 40% less than subjects in the control group, indicating lycopene in tomatoes works as a natural sunscreen and provides protection against UV rays.


Articles by Kelly Hutchings.