Health Benefits Of Tomatoes That You Did Not Know

Tomatoes/ Tomato products are one of the healthiest foods in your kitchen as well as one of the most affordable ways to get a serving of vegetables
and stay within your budget. Eating more tomato productseveryday can protect your body against cardiovascular disease, various forms of cancer, inflammation and other conditions. Furthermore, tomato products may offer particular strength in guarding against sun damage (anti-aging), osteoporosis and prostate cancer. See more about the many health benefits of consuming more processed tomatoes below:
A Tasty Nutritional Powerhouse
Tomato products are loaded with essential vitamins, minerals and fiber while being low in fat and calories.  One cup of canned tomatoes contains 41 calories, 0 grams of fat, 2.4 grams of fiber, 2 grams of protein, 37% Daily Value (DV) vitamin C, 8% DV vitamin A, 9% DV vitamin K, 13% DV vitamin B6, 13% DV iron, 13% DV potassium, and 9% DV manganese.
Fighting Inflammation
Inflammation is defined as a localized reaction of tissue to irritation, injury or infection with symptoms including pain, swelling, redness and even the loss of movement or function. Research continues to suggest that inflammation is emerging as the root cause of many chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and even Alzheimer’s disease.  Both epidemiological studies and intervention trials support a link between the role of diet and the subsequent increase or reduction of inflammation. Recent findings indicate that consuming tomato products may protect against or reduce inflammation. The regular consumption of tomato products has long been associated with a lower risk of several types of cancer and coronary heart disease. Using a multi-center, randomized, controlled trial, researchers have recently found that consumption of processed tomatoes was associated with lower serum C reactive protein which is recognized as a biomarker of inflammation. Through positive changes in the diet and adding foods like tomato products which can reduce inflammation, you can improve your health and reduce your risk for chronic diseases.
Antioxidant Benefits of Lycopene
Tomato products are rich in carotenoids – the antioxidant group that helps protect against cancer. A great deal of media attention has been recently focused on lycopene in tomatoes. More than 80% of the lycopene in American diets comes from the consumption of tomato products making processed tomatoes the number one source of lycopene. Lycopene from tomatoes has been repeatedly studied in humans and found to be protective against a growing list of cancers. These cancers now include colorectal, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic cancers. Lycopene has been shown to also prevent heart disease. The antioxidant function of lycopene provides the ability to help protect cells and other structures in the body from oxygen damage which has been linked in human research to the protection of DNA (our genetic material) inside of white blood cells. Consuming processed tomato products enables the body to better absorb lycopene than through the consumption of fresh tomatoes.
Prostate Health
Consuming tomato products have been shown to be helpful in reducing the risk of prostate cancer due to the fact that tomatoes contain lycopene and a variety of protective phytonutrients. A 14-month study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute underscores the importance of a healthy whole diet rich in tomatoes in the prevention of prostate cancer. Additionally, a meta-analysis - the “gold standard” of medical research - of 21 studies published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention confirms that eating tomatoes, especially cooked tomatoes, provides protection against prostate cancer. When the data from all 21 studies was combined, men who ate the highest amounts of raw tomatoes were found to have an 11% reduction in risk for prostate cancer. These studies support those who advocate whole foods in the debate about whether cancer prevention is best achieved with whole foods or concentrated single compounds.
Pancreatic Health
One of the deadliest cancers, pancreatic cancer progresses so rapidly that individuals with the disease who are participating in studies often die before their interviews can be completed - so the benefits noted in the following study of a diet rich in tomatoes and tomato-based products are especially significant. In a 3-year Canadian study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, individuals with pancreatic cancer were age and gender matched with individuals free of the disease. After adjustment for age, province, body mass index, smoking, educational attainment, dietary folate and total caloric intake, the data showed men consuming the most lycopene had a 31% reduction in their risk of pancreatic cancer. Among persons who had never smoked, those whose diets were richest in beta carotene or total carotenoids reduced their risk of pancreatic cancer by 43% and 42%, respectively.