Tomato is one of the fruits (yes: it is a fruit!) Essential in our kitchen. It is an ingredient that is used in a large number of recipes and that serves both for cold dishes and hot dishes. It can be taken both in solid and liquid, enjoying a tomato soup or a refreshing tomato juice.
But, in addition to being a delicious fruit, it is also a very nutritious and healthy food. It has a very varied composition that will fill our body with very interesting benefits for our health and well-being. Here we discover the properties and benefits of tomato more interesting, so that you are encouraged to include this fruit in your day to day. Write down!
Tomato properties
Tomato is a fruit that is part of the nightshade family; in fact, it is the food that gives us the most properties and health benefits, within this same family. It is a fruit that has a very rich and varied nutritional component and, precisely for that reason, it will provide us with very interesting benefits for our body.
Also, the tomato it has very few calories (approximately 18 kcal per 100 grams), therefore, it is perfect to include in your diet and enjoy a rich, satisfying and nutritious food, without your silhouette suffering. The 94% of this fruit is made up of water, so it will help you cleanse the body and reduce fluid retention, hence cellulite.
To give you an idea of all the properties of tomato, here is a list of the nutritional content per 100 grams of this fruit:
• 18 kcal
• 94 grams of water
• 3.5 grams of carbohydrates
• 1.8 grams of fiber
• 1 mg of protein
• 0.2 mg of fat
• 820 mg of carotenes
• 24 mg of vitamin C
• Includes lycopenes
All these components make the tomato a great choice when preparing our recipes. There are many benefits it brings to the body and, so that you know them in detail, we will analyze them one by one below.
Powerful natural antioxidant
One of the main benefits of tomato is that it acts as a natural antioxidant. It has three vitamin groups that are antioxidants and that will protect the body in a very powerful way. Are vitamins are A, C and E and they will help you avoid the oxidation of cells, premature aging and the aggression of free radicals.
Improve the health of your bones
The lycopene that is among the composition of the tomato is the key ingredient to make our bones stronger and healthier. Above all, this component is highly recommended for women who are in menopause, as it will help them to have a strengthened bone structure.
Beneficial for the eyes
Tomato is also a very beneficial food to improve eye health. This is because it is rich in vitamin A, an essential nutrient that helps protect eye health and improve ocular nerves.
Improves heart health
Another of the most outstanding benefits of tomato is that it is a perfect natural ingredient to achieve an improvement in the functioning of the cardiovascular system and, specifically, of the heart. The lycopene that we find in this fruit gets improve blood circulation and, therefore, it avoids cardiovascular accidents.
Ally to reduce cholesterol
This food also gives us a interesting dose of soluble fiber, a component that helps eliminate fat and cleanse the body. Remember that fiber regulates intestinal transit and, therefore, helps the body to be free of waste and toxins. People with elevated LDL can take advantage of the benefits of tomato to cleanse their body and regulate the level of cholesterol in the blood.
Helps to lose weight
As we have already mentioned, tomato is an ingredient very low in calories and very high in water, an ideal combination to help us lose weight. But if we add to this its contribution in fiber, we get a perfect ally so that we can satisfy our appetite more quickly and effectively.
Ideal for the skin
Another of the properties and benefits of tomato is that it is a perfect ingredient to improve the health of our skin and prevent premature aging, as well as the appearance of the first wrinkles. Your contribution in antioxidants and vitamin A that it contains make it an ideal food to prevent cells from oxidizing prematurely. In addition, thanks to its contribution in water, the tomato will nourish your skin internally and will make you look smoother and more cared for.