Benefits of Tomato to Health

TOMATO not only interesting because of the bright red color. However, tomatoes are also rich in antioxidants that are good for maintaining a healthy body. Therefore, do not forget to put the tomatoes into your diet list.

One of the ingredients in tomatoes is lycopene is most useful. Lycopene is one of the vital natural antioxidants. These antioxidants are part of the family of pigments called carotenoids. Carotene is a natural component of color to create fruit and vegetables. For example, beta-carotene is the orange pigment found in carrots.

Lycopene works against the formation of cancer cells and various types of complications and other health problems. Lycopene can fight free radicals that enter the body. Lycopene is not produced naturally in the body. Thus, our bodies need food from outside sources.

This antioxidant can be found in species other pink fruits, watermelon and some other foods. However, lycopene content in food is only slightly compared with the amount found in tomatoes. Thus, tomatoes are the best friend to get lycopene.

Studies have shown that tomatoes are not only effective in preventing cancer but also prevents heart disease and high cholesterol. Cancers such as prostate cancer, rectal cancer, stomach cancer, mouth, esophagus has been shown to be prevented by consuming large quantities of lycopene

The researchers include lycopene into the culture of cancer cells. Lycopene proved able to prevent the growth of cell culture, these cancer cells. This is strong evidence showing the health benefits of tomatoes.

In addition, tomatoes are also useful for:

* Eating large amounts of tomatoes can improve the texture and skin color
* Tomatoes are good for purifying the blood
* Tomato serve to protect the liver from cirrhosis and serves to destroy kidney stones
* Tomatoes are also a natural antiseptic to prevent infection, nicotine acid in tomatoes can lower cholesterol, thus can prevent heart disease
* Vitamin K is contained in tomatoes prevents bleeding.

If consumed when fresh, the tomato is very rich in vitamin C. However, better tomatoes consumed after cooking. Tomatoes contain a lot of water. At the time of cooking, this water will evaporate. That way, the concentration of lycopene in cooked tomatoes will be higher. When cooking, it helps to avoid too high temperatures because it would kill most of the vitamins contained in it.

100 grams of tomato nutrients as follows:
* Vitamin A: 1000 international units (IU)
* Vitamin B: Thiamine many milligrams 0:56
* Vitamin C: 23 milligrams
* Vitamin K: the number does not necessarily
* Calcium: 11 milligrams
* Iron: 6 mg
* Phosphorus: 27 milligrams
* Potassium: 360 milligrams
* Protein: 1 gram
* Calories: 20