Tomatoes are considered to be the most widely grown and produced fruit in the world – and there’s a reason behind this. Besides its savory taste, numerous studies found that tomatoes have countless health benefits. Tomatoes contain different compounds that can positively influence a person’s health.

A study conducted by a group of Japanese researchers found that tomatoes contain an important nutrient that can reduce the risk of developing vascular disease. Their study was published in the Molecular Nutrition and Food Research journal.

Tomato against Vascular Diseases

The research team extracted a compound called 9-oxo-octadecadienoic acid from tomatoes and found that it has anti-dyslipidemic effects. They were led by Kyoto University professor Dr Terou Kawada. The study was also supported by the Research and Development Program for New Bio-Industry Initiatives of Japan. Dyslipidemia is a condition wherein a person has high amounts of cholesterol and other forms of harmful fat in the blood. Kawada said that although dyslipidemia does not result to any noticeable symptom, it can lead to the development of vascular diseases like cirrhosis and arteriosclerosis. He added that reducing lipid concentrations in the blood is important in order to reduce the risk of developing vascular diseases.

Tomato has already been found to contain different nutrients that are beneficial to a person’s health. The research team dedicated their study on the effects of 9-oxo-octadecadienoic acid in lowering lipid concentrations in the blood and in reducing the risk of developing vascular diseases. They observed that the compound significantly regulated the metabolism of hepatic lipids and the oxidation of fatty acids. Kawada said that being able to find a natural compound that helps in the prevention of chronic diseases related to obesity gives people the edge in avoiding the condition. He suggested that adding sufficient servings of tomatoes in one’s daily diet is one of the means of avoiding dyslipidemia.

Tomatoes to Lower Blood Cholesterol Levels

According to a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, eating tomatoes can reduce bad cholesterol levels in the blood while improving their resistance to oxidation; the oxidation of cholesterol results to the formation of plaques on the wall of arteries and the obstruction of normal blood flow. Researchers found that following a tomato rich diet can reduce cholesterol levels to as much as 12 percent and improve cholesterol’s ability to resist oxidation by 13 percent.

The Antioxidant Benefit of Tomatoes

Tomatoes are the richest source of lycopene in terms of supply. In the study of phytonutrients in the prevention of diseases, lycopene from tomatoes has been on the spotlight for years. Numerous studies have been dedicated to the investigation of the carotenoid compound in tomatoes as an antioxidant and as an aid in cancer prevention. Lycopene has the ability to protect cells from the damage caused by oxidative stress. Lycopene has been repeatedly tested on humans, unlike other phytochemicals that are restricted to animal studies.

Several studies have found that lycopene from tomatoes can play a significant role in preventing different cancer types including pancreatic, lung, endometrial, breast, prostate and colorectal cancers. But the health benefits of tomatoes are not limited to its lycopene content. Other nutrients in tomatoes are also being studied for more potential health benefits.

Tomatoes against Prostate Cancer

A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute cites the importance of adding more tomatoes than usual into one’s diet in preventing prostate cancer. A study conducted by a group of researchers from the Ohio State University showed that the lycopene and other phytonutrients found in tomatoes can reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. Study animals supplemented with tomato powder were found to be 26 percent less likely to die of prostate cancer compared to those who were placed on a control diet that contains no tomato at all or were limited solely to lycopene alone. The researchers suggested that eating tomatoes instead of taking lycopene supplement alone is more effective in reducing the risk of developing prostate cancer. This is due to the fact that the other phytonutrients in tomatoes also have significant influence over the reduction of prostate cancer risk and cancer survival rate.

Tomatoes to Improve Pancreatic Health

Cancer of the pancreas can progress to terminal stage in just a few months and it is considered to be one of the deadliest cancer types in existence. Studies on pancreatic cancer are often interrupted with the sudden death of the participants; the disease develops so fast that patients die even before the completion of their study interviews. Canadian researchers found through a 3-year study on pancreatic cancer patients that men who eat more tomatoes can reduce their risk of developing the disease by 31 percent and people who don’t smoke can reduce their risk by 43 percent while people who eat carotene-rich food have 42 percent lower risk.

Adding Tomatoes in Your Daily Diet

Tomato products made from organic tomatoes contain more lycopene and other phytonutrients than regular tomatoes. Organic ketchup, for example, contains three times the carotenoid compared to non-organic variants. A study conducted by the USDA Agricultural Research Service found that organic tomato ketchup contains 183 micrograms of lycopene per gram of ketchup. Non-organic variants have an average of 100 micrograms while ketchup served in fast-foods only contain 60 micrograms.

Heat-treated tomatoes contain more lycopene and phytonutrients than fresh tomatoes. So eating dishes with tomato sauce is one of the best ways to take advantage of the numerous health benefits of tomatoes. Most packed tomato juices undergo a process called ultra heating treatment to extend its shelf life. The production of ketchup also requires tomatoes to be cooked in order to achieve its thick consistency and dark color. Eating a few tablespoons of organic ketchup will make your food tastier and healthier. There are different ways of getting tomatoes in your system; you can drink it, eat it or dip on it. Tomato’s different serving varieties make it easier to get enough serving in a day.

There are various ways for you to take in tomato.  Examples of tomato products are tomato soups, tomato paste, tomato powder, organic tomato ketchup, tomato puree and tomato juice.

Sources
whfoods.com
hubpages.com
caonline.amcancersoc.org
webmd.com
eurekalert.org
niir.org