Health Benefits Of Tomatoes and Juice | Raw Tomatoes Unhealthy Effects

Raw Tomato May Not Healthy Vegetable

Tomato, if eaten raw, may not be so healthy, says a new research study, published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. Our digestive tract can process only a tiny amount of Lycopersium esculentum (lycopene), an antioxidant found in tomatoes. The human Gastro-intestinal tract is unable to absorb a major portion of Lycopene present in raw tomato, making only a tiny fraction available for the body to use.

On the other hand, consuming processed tomato and its products tend to make lycopene more bio available and hence is absorbed more easily. As per Nutritional biochemist Carolyn Lister, at the Plant and Food Research Centre (PFR), in addition to consuming raw tomato for its nutritive value, additional consumption of tomato sauces is essential for getting lycopene. Though the study found that almost 75% of all anti-oxidants were released on consumption of raw tomato, this comprised of only four percent of lycopene.

Anti-oxidants tend to reduce the damage caused to body cells and also work towards reversing the harm caused by various toxins. As per Lister, Tomatoes are the richest source of lycopene and other antioxidants essential for good health.

Unlike other foods, tomatoes don’t lose their nutritive value in high heat processing. Further, lycopene and beta-carotene are located in the cell wall of the skin of the tomato and hence cooking or processing them helps in fully release these healing compounds.

Tomatoes also provide up to 40% of daily value of Vitamin C, 15% of daily value of Vitamin A, 8% of daily value of potassium and 7%-10% of recommended dietary allowance of iron.

Health Benefits of Tomato

• A liberal consumption of tomatoes helps to improve skin texture and colour. This is attributed to the presence of anti-oxidants which remove dead cells and heal the damaged cells. Local application of raw tomato slice on the face for twenty minutes and a subsequent rinse off with lukewarm water is an effective solution towards handling acne.
• Tomatoes have a good blood purifying effect
• Tomatoes reduce congestion of the liver and protect the liver against cirrhosis. They are also known to be dissolve gallstones
• Nicotinic Acid in tomatoes prevents heart disorders by reducing the levels of blood cholesterol
• A glass to tomato juice, with low sodium content, is known to work positively towards enhancing male sexual potency
• Tomatoes act as natural antiseptic and protect against various infections
• Tomatoes contains Vitamin K, which is vital in controlling bleeding and prevents hemorrhages
• New research studies are indicating that tomatoes have a potential effect against the prevention of cancer. Tomato contains two powerful compounds namely ‘chlorogenic acid’ and ‘coumaric acid’, which are believed to block the effects of nitrosamines (which have strong carcinogenic properties).

Tomatoes Nutritional Value

Every 100 grams of tomato contains 1000 I.U of Vitamin A, 23 mg of Vitamin C, 11 mg of Calcium, 6 mg of Iron, 0.06 mg of Thiamine, 27 mg of Phosphorus, 360 mg of potassium, 1 gram of proteins and 20 calories.

Good quality tomatoes are well formed, plump, fully colored, firm and free from bruise marks. Tomato that is puffy or showing bruise marks should be avoided. This indicates that they are of inferior flavor and will cause extra waste during preparation due to increase water content.

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