Scientists Reveal What Eating Tomatoes May Do to Your Body 🍅
Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a carotenoid responsible for their red color, along with vitamin C, potassium, folate, and other plant compounds.
May support heart health: Recent reviews of clinical studies found that tomato-derived lycopene can modestly improve some cardiovascular risk factors, particularly blood pressure.
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May help blood pressure: Research has found an association between higher tomato intake and lower blood pressure, although tomatoes shouldn’t replace prescribed treatment.
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Harvard Health
Provides antioxidant compounds: Lycopene and other tomato compounds help protect cells from oxidative damage.
May support healthy blood vessels: Studies of tomato products have found improvements in some measures of vascular function.
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PubMed
May be beneficial as part of a heart-healthy diet: Evidence favors eating tomatoes and tomato-based foods rather than relying on isolated lycopene supplements.
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PubMed
An interesting tip
Your body can absorb lycopene more efficiently from cooked tomato products, particularly when they’re eaten with some healthy fat, such as olive oil.
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PubMed
Bottom line: Tomatoes are a nutritious food that may contribute to cardiovascular health, but claims that eating tomatoes alone will “unclog arteries,” cure cancer, or prevent disease aren’t supported by sufficient evidence. 🍅
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