Secret Health Benefits of Tomatoes for a Healthy Life

I have a puzzle for you. Try and guess what we’ll talk about today.

I am red and juicy and found in Salads,

You can chop me or slice, and I am often round,

I am often called a fruit but used in savoury dishes,

I add a lot of flavours and do not make anyone cry.

Tell me, then, who I am.

You are correct if you said tomato. Whatever you call it—some people consider it a fruit, others a vegetable—you can’t live without it. A world without tomatoes is without a rich and saucy pasta dish, a cool and crisp sandwich, and endless flavourful curries.

So, in reality, this humble fruity-vegetable is anything but ordinary. These bright red balls are like tiny health superheroes in your kitchen. More than just a common ingredient in kitchens, tomatoes are a nutritional powerhouse ready to be served to you.

The tomato has a captivating history and has made an enduring impression on our culinary hearts. It has various flavours, including tangy sauces, garden-fresh salads, juicy heirloom, and tiny cherry tomatoes. So, let’s begin our voyage through Tomatina’s world.

Aside from that, did you know that Spain has a festival where people play with tomatoes? You don’t.  Forget Google, watch Zindagi Milegi na Dobara!

What is a Tomato?

Tomato, or as we call it tamatar, is the edible, round or oval fruit of the tomato plant. The fact that tomatoes grow from the flowering section of the plant and include seeds makes them officially fruits, even though they are frequently utilised in cooking as vegetables. Tamatar stands out for its vibrant red colour and sweet-tart flavour as one of the world’s most well-liked fruits and vegetables.          

They can be found in various sizes, shapes, and colours, including red, yellow, orange, green, and even purple.

Different tomato variants might have multiple flavours and textures. Salads, sauces, soups, sandwiches, and a wide variety of other meals use tamatar as a versatile ingredient. You can use tamatar fresh, cooked, canned, or processed foods such as tomato paste, sauce, and ketchup.

Nutritional Profile of Tomato

If you are wondering what is so special about tomatoes, we have written an entire article. Well, if you read the table below, you will know why we say tamatar is good for health. The table will show the nutrients present in 100 grams of tamatar ^[1]:

Tomato Benefits on Health

Tomatoes are prized for their nutritional worth in addition to their culinary importance. They provide essential minerals like potassium and vitamins, including vitamins C and K.

One of the antioxidants found in tomatoes has been linked to several health advantages, including lowering the chance of developing certain chronic diseases.

Let’s look at some of its health benefits:

1. Tomatoes for Digestion

No one would have ever told you eating a tamatar can help you keep your tummy happy tummy. Yes, that’s accurate ^[2]. These amazing fruity veggies can help you fight digestive issues, including constipation.

Dietary fibre, crucial for a healthy digestive tract, is reasonably included in tamatar. Consuming this fibre will make your stool more voluminous and easier to move through the digestive system. Moreover, your problem of constipation can be avoided, and regular bowel motions can be encouraged by eating tomatoes.

Additionally, the high water content of tamatar aids in hydrating your digestive tract. Drink enough water to soften stool and avoid constipation; tomatoes can help cover your water intake.

Furthermore, amylases and lipases, two natural enzymes found in them, can help digest fats and carbs. These enzymes could make the digestive process of breaking down food more effective and keep your tummy a happy tummy.

And if you want to understand the dietary fibre in different recipes you cook with tamatar, check My Meal Plan. It is an exciting concept by Aashirvaad Atta, with Multigrain is where you can figure out its fibre ratio by adding the dish’s name. Similarly, you can also check your digestive health on the Digestive Quotient Test. A simple yet effective test that will share your digestion score of 100.

2. Tomatoes for Exercise Recovery

Keeping yourself fit and fine is a good way of protecting your body and preparing it to fight infections and viruses. But do you know your body needs vital nutrients to combat the loss from exercise?

Yes, most of us are unaware of this and don’t pay proper attention to the food to be eaten for recovery.

But don’t worry. When you have tamatar in your kitchen, you have everything covered ^[3].

Tamatars are a rich source of vitamin C and other antioxidants, such as lycopene and other phytonutrients.

After engaging in excessive activity, your body may experience oxidative stress, leading to tissue damage and inflammation.

Antioxidants aid in reducing inflammation and hastening the recovery of harmed cells and tissues to battle this oxidative stress.

Tamatar also contains vitamins and minerals, including potassium, essential for preserving electrolyte balance.

The proper functioning of muscles and the avoidance of cramps depend on adequate potassium levels. They also contain carbs, although they are not a substantial fuel source.

After vigorous activity, carbohydrates are crucial for refilling the muscles’ glycogen stores.

You can consider incorporating tamatars into a healthy meal or snack for your post-workout recovery.

Sliced tomatoes do well on sandwiches and salads, post-workout smoothies, and recovery meals, including lean protein and complex carbs.

3. Tomatoes aids in Immunity

Everybody wants to build strong immunity and not face the situation of falling sick. Is it always the case? To create a healthy and strong immunity, we all must include food items that are a rich source of Vitamin C, which tamatar is ^[4].

Tamatars are an excellent source of vitamin C, a potent antioxidant with immune-boosting properties. White blood cells, which are required for battling infections, are stimulated by vitamin C. It also helps to protect immune cells from the damage that free radicals can cause.

Similarly, tamatar contains several antioxidants, including lycopene, quercetin, and kaempferol. These chemicals help the body’s defence system against harmful free radicals by lowering oxidative stress and inflammation, which can weaken immunity.

4. Tomatoes help Improve Skin Health

Here comes the exciting segment: healthy skin. If you are getting a product readily available at home to give you smooth and shining skin, there is nothing better than it.

Vitamin C, found in abundance in tomatoes, is necessary for synthesizing collagen, a protein that helps keep the skin elastic and tight ^[5]. A sufficient collagen production rate might result in smoother and more youthful skin.

Tamatar contains lycopene, beta-carotene, and quercetin as antioxidants. These antioxidants assist the skin’s defence against free radicals, which may cause wrinkles, premature ageing, and other skin issues.  

Lycopene may also provide some protection against UV-induced solar damage. Antioxidants and vitamins in tomatoes can help fade dark spots and offer a more even skin tone, giving your complexion a brighter, more radiant appearance.

So, how do you use it besides eating? Some people use face masks or serums with tamatar as the main ingredient to benefit from the antioxidants and vitamins for their skin.

Tamatar might irritate some people’s skin; therefore, use caution when applying it to the skin. To check for any adverse reactions, perform a patch test.

Conclusion

To sum up, tomatoes are a bright source of health and vigour in addition to being a kitchen staple.

These ruby-red marvels, teeming with vitamins, antioxidants, and vital nutrients, have many advantages, from encouraging glowing skin to bolstering a robust immune system.

Tomatoes can improve your culinary creations and general well-being, whether you enjoy them in a crisp salad, as a zesty sauce, or in a deep stew.

So, let tomatoes’ rich flavour and nutritional power remind you that good health frequently starts at the centre of your plate as you embrace the world of tomatoes.

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