The unexpected benefits of tomatoes for body health

If you like to eat raw or cooked tomatoes, as a pasta sauce for example, you should stick to this habit. Why? The reason is, the fruit that is often mistaken for a vegetable is believed to have many ingredients that have a positive impact on health. Curious? Here are some of the benefits of fruit that has a Latin name Solanum lycopersicum for your health.

Health benefits of tomatoes

The benefits of tomatoes as a fruit or vegetable are still a matter of confusion and the answers you get will even vary depending on who you ask them.

As reported by National Geographic, considering its existence in the tax law on the cost of imported goods, tomatoes are a type of vegetable. However, based on the way tomatoes are grown, you will likely get a different answer if you ask a botanist.

But of course this status does not affect the health benefits of tomatoes.

1. Heart health

When slicing a tomato, you will notice that the shape in the slice resembles the heart chambers. Well, it turns out that the content of tomatoes is also able to maintain heart health. Some of the ingredients in red fruit are believed to have a positive impact on heart health, including:

Lycopene. Based on a review of several studies published in Current Medicinal Chemistry, there is a positive relationship between lycopene and heart health. The characteristics of lycopene to fat are believed to be able to overcome the breakdown of fat bonds in the blood and control excessive levels of fat in the blood, which can lead to obstructed blood vessels (atherosclerosis). Several studies have also shown that lycopene has the ability to reduce levels of bad cholesterol and triglycerides in the body.

Beta carotene. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition revealed that men who consumed high beta carotene were able to reduce their chances of developing metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a disorder of the metabolic processes in your body which is characterized by high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high blood sugar levels and a large waist circumference.

Vitamin C. A study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition to 100,000 participants managed to reveal that high levels of vitamin C in blood plasma can reduce a person's chances of developing heart disease.

2. Bone health

Besides having a positive impact on heart health, lycopene is also beneficial for bone health. A study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research successfully revealed that the high levels of lycopene in this fruit can reduce a person's chance of experiencing a fracture. So it can be concluded that one of the benefits of tomatoes is that they can prevent the development of osteoporosis in a person's body.

3. Eye health

The presence of beta carotene in tomatoes, in addition to providing benefits for heart health, is also able to maintain the health of your eyes. This is because when digested, beta carotene will turn into vitamin A. Moreover, this fruit also contains vitamin A making this red fruit richer in vitamin A.

The benefits of this fruit are also supported by a study conducted by the Linus Pauling Institute which revealed that vitamin A-rich foods can increase retina productivity, especially in poor lighting and in interpreting colors and improving eye development.

4. Maintain healthy skin

A 2011 study from the UK found that a combination of tomato paste and olive oil can protect your skin from sun damage, and promote pro-collagen production. As is well known, collagen is a natural substance that provides structure to the skin and makes it firm and youthful.

5. Help overcome constipation

Eating foods that are high in water and fiber, such as tomatoes, can help moisturize and support normal bowel movements. This fruit is also often used as a laxative.

6. Good to eat during pregnancy

Adequate folate intake is very important to meet before and during pregnancy. The function of folate itself is used for the growth of baby cells and DNA in the womb.

Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate. It is available in supplements but can also be obtained naturally from the benefits of tomatoes.

7. Increase male fertility

According to a report published by the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, the content in tomatoes can affect male fertility. How did it affect?

You see, lycopene is an ingredient in a fruit called Latin Solanum lycopersicum thought to increase male fertility. Lycopene is also a carotenoid forming substance, which is an antioxidant that gives tomatoes their bright color.

The antioxidants in tomatoes can ward off free radicals that enter the body due to consumption of unhealthy foods. Slowly, if the body often eats unhealthy foods, fat and calories accumulate. Where this can reduce sperm quality.

In that study, it was found that the lycopene in this fruit can increase the number and increase the sperm count by up to 70 percent. When lycopene enters the body, the body will absorb 20-30 percent of the total lycopene that enters.

The lycopene will be spread to several parts of the body. One of the parts that get the most lycopene is the testes, where sperm is produced.

How to choose a good tomato?

You can choose fresh tomatoes with plump fruit appearance, smooth skin, and shiny colors. Look for fruit that is red, orange, or green in color.

Apart from fresh fruit, you can also buy canned tomatoes, tomato paste, sauces, or even dried ones. Note that these processed products generally contain more sodium in order to preserve the fruit itself.