Tomato: How Nutrition Professionals Rate Its Health Benefits, Nutrition Facts, And More

Tomato image

Perspective from Leticia Soares

Postgraduate Degree in Public and Family Health/Bachelor Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics · 5 years of experience · Brazil

Benefits

• Tomato prevents prostate cancer. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a carotenoid pigment that has a powerful antioxidant action in the body, protecting cells, especially prostate cells, from damage caused by free radicals.
• Tomato can help prevent cardiovascular diseases. The vegetable is rich in antioxidants, which help maintain healthy blood vessels. Also, tomato is a source of dietary fiber, that help lower levels of LDL-cholesterol.
• Tomato boosts the immune system. Tomatoes are a source of vitamin C, which helps to strengthen the body natural defences.
• Tomato maintains healthy vision, skin and hair. The vegetable is rich in carotenoids, which are transformed into vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is a nutrient important for good vision, shiny hair and soft and well hydrated skin.

Side Effects

• Patients with chronic renal dysfunction should be cautions to consume tomatoes, since the vegetable is a source of potassium, which should be avoided for these patients. Also, tomatoes have high oxalate concentrations, oxalate in the body can react with calcium, increasing risk of kidney stones.

→ Tomato: How much should you eat? Experts weigh in.

→ Love Tomato? Get nutritional facts, tips from health experts, and more

Perspective from Christos Sittas

MSc in Nutrition and Exercise Sciences · 3 years of experience · UK

Benefits

• Tomato contains high amounts of lycopene and ?-tomatine which are two phytochemicals that may reduce inflammation, cancer risk, cardiovascular disease risk, and increase the stimulation immune cells. Tomatoes are also very high in vitamin C, a vitamin essential for immune system function and ligament health.

Side Effects

• Very high consumption of tomatoes may increase plasma lycopene concentration and cause lycopenodermia, which is a condition where skin loses its natural colour.

→ Tomato: How much should you eat? Experts weigh in.

→ Love Tomato? Get nutritional facts, tips from health experts, and more

This is for information purpose only, and should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. These are opinions from an external panel of individual doctors, and not to be considered as opinion of Microsoft. Please seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns.