Holistic Health
Why you should eat tomatoes
They ’ re loaded with multiple health benefits , especially in combination with olive oil
Tomatoes may not be the first food that comes to mind when devising the best clean eating routine � perhaps due to their association with processed foods like pizza and ketchup � but they�re actually packed with lots of nutrients and can play an important role in a healthy diet .
One key nutrient is lycopene . It�s an antioxidant that gives tomatoes their red colour and offers protection against heart disease , the leading cause of death worldwide . A review of 2� studies found that high lycopene consumption reduced overall mortality by �� percent and cardiovascular disease by 1� percent . Another trial showed that a single dose of raw tomatoes , tomato sauce , or tomato sauce plus refined olive oil was able to reduce bad cholesterol in participants , with the last option offering the greatest benefit . Similarly , the potassium found in tomatoes can help control blood pressure , further increasing protection against heart disease .
Studies also suggest tomatoes have anti-cancer properties , especially against prostate , lung , and stomach malignancies . Lycopene and beta-carotene , another antioxidant , are believed to contribute to decreased cancer risk , according to experiments in test tubes . “ But it�s di�cult to know for sure until we have full-scale human studies ,” said registered dietitian Lara Whitson on the Cleveland Clinic�s website .
Tomatoes are also loaded with vitamins C and K , which help boost immunity and wound healing , respectively . “ While the research is mixed on whether vitamin C can actually prevent colds , we do know that this vitamin is essential to helping your immune system work well ,” said Whitson .
Scientists believe lycopene is also responsible for making the skin more resilient against sunlight and healthier overall , with one study showing that people who ate �0 grams of tomato paste with olive oil every day for 10 weeks saw a �0 percent decrease in sunburn . The two make a particularly healthy combination because olive oil facilitates the absorption of tomatoes in the body .
“ Antioxidants help prevent and undo damage to collagen in the skin . Lycopene specifically helps prevent skin discoloration , texture changes , and fine lines and wrinkles ,” dermatologist Dr Tsippora Shainhouse of
Stay Skin Safe told The Sydney Morning Herald . Despite such protective effects , experts caution that eating tomatoes and olive oil is not a substitute for sunblock , which remains essential in shielding the skin from sun damage .
Finally , tomatoes can even contribute to increased male fertility as lycopene has been associated with better sperm motility and shape in a study comparing �0 men who either took a lycopene supplement or a dummy pill .
“ This was a small study and we do need to repeat the work in bigger trials , but the results are very encouraging ,” Dr Liz Williams , a specialist in human nutrition at the �niversity of She�eld who led the research , told the BBC . “ The next step is to repeat the exercise in men with fertility problems and see if lycopene can increase sperm quality for those men and whether it helps couples conceive and avoid invasive fertility treatments .”
Tomatoes are also loaded with vitamins C and K , which help boost immunity and wound healing , respectively
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