Tomato is the most used vegetable in the kitchen, used in almost every dish made. Everyone knows that tomato is very good for health and due to its delicious and juicy taste it is also used in salads. An attractive and vibrant color with a large amount of nutritional value makes it a ‘king of the kitchen’.
The presence of tomato in a dish enhances the taste and stimulates the taste buds. Along with taste, it has lots of nutritious components. It has Vitamin A, B3, C, K and is a rich source of potassium and folate. The presence of Citric acid and maleic acid imparts it citrus taste. Thus it acts as an antacid.
The tomato should be included in the daily diet in the form of soup, salad, vegetable and chutney.
Now let’s look at the amazing benefits of tomato:
1.Healthy skin
Tomato is very beneficial for your skin. It opens the pores and removes the toxins accumulated in theirs. Acting as a sunscreen it protects skin from damage caused by harsh sun rays. Lycopene found in tomato saves the skin from bad effects of ultraviolet rays. Thus alternatively keeps skin free of wrinkles and lines.
It also lightens the acne marks on face, rids you of oily skin and provides an even tone to a skin.
- For oily skin, mix besan and tomato juice in equal quantities to make a mask. Apply it on the face. Wash after 15 minutes.
- For dry skin, Mix curd and tomato juice in equal quantities. Apply it for 15 minutes then wash it off.
2. Strengthens bones
The ample amount of vitamin K and calcium present in tomato helps build bones and also keeps them rejuvenated. Lycopene helps fight against osteoporosis by protecting bone-building cells called osteoblasts. These cells are majorly responsible for accumulating bone matrix.
3. Controls diabetes
Controlling blood sugar level is a major concern for the diabetic patient. And for that one needs to check his carbohydrate intake. So, being low in carbohydrates, tomato does not have any negative impact on sugar level in the body.
Also, tomato is a rich source of chromium which balances the blood sugar level.
4. Fights cancer
According to recent researches, tomato protects from prostate cancer. The phytonutrient named alpha-tomatine found in tomato alters the metabolic activity in prostate cancer cells. It also helps fight against fully formed cancer cells.
Also, lycopene, an antioxidant present in tomato prevents any type of cancer cells to develop in any part of the body. It lowers the risk of lung cancer, prostate cancer in men and breast and cervical cancer in women.
5. Clears vision
Tomato works miracle in boosting the eye’s visionary powers. Vitamin A found in tomato prevents the eyes from cataract. Tomato also has lots of carotenoids like lycopene, alpha-carotene and lutein. These together increases the vision and prevents eyes from any damage and keeps them healthy.
Also, Vitamin C and Vitamin E are great vision enhancers and save you from catching any eye diseases later in life.
6. Checks cholesterol
The redder the tomato, the more is the lycopene content in that tomato. And lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, is major component present that does wonders in the body. The more the lycopene in the body tissues, healthier is the person.
Being an antioxidant, it helps prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Lycopene stops the accumulation of cholesterol in cells and thus reduces the weight.
7. Healthy hair
Vitamins like A, B, C and E present in tomato makes your hair shining and strong. Vitamins prevent hair loss and keep away dandruff and soothe down the itching scalp.
- Take tomato juice and apply it as a conditioner on your hair just after the shampoo. Leave it for 5 minutes. Wash with cold water.
Warning:
Along with benefits tomato is sometimes harmful too if eaten in large numbers:
- Tomato seeds are hard to digest and causes kidney stones. So remove the seeds when using it as a salad.
- Tomato if consumed in large number also causes acidity due to its citrus nature.
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