[10 Fantastic Properties] of the Tomato: Did you know them?

In the following article we are going to show some of the health properties of tomatoes from your garden.

Surely you will be surprised as we are that tomatoes are useful to reduce weight, control anemia, strengthen your bones among many other benefits.

Let’s learn together the 10 properties of the tomato that have been revealed to us by the health experts at Nuevas Evas based on up-to-date scientific research.

To deepen on tomato planting:

• Tomato fertilizer.
• Tomato pruning.
• Different types of tomatoes to grow.
• Tomato pests and diseases.

1. Protect your skin

According to scientific research,tomato is rich in vitamin C, a vitaminIt has the ability to heal skin burns.

The consumption of these fruits has been related by various studies to a lower risk of skin damage due to sun exposure.

Tomatoes naturally contain lycopene, a substance that promotes skin cleansing and regeneration. Consuming a natural tomato paste for eight weeks reduces inflammation and redness. (1)

2. Lose weight

According to a study in which women includeda small tomato of 90 gr for 4 weeks before lunch, the tomato collaborates in losing weight.

In the study, a reduction of approximately one kilo of weight was observed, only with this change in diet. In turn, the percentage of fat in the body and other health parameters decreased.

The benefits of tomato on weight are due to the presence of phytochemicals such as phenolic compounds and flavonoids, they are rich in water and fiber that increase satiety and food consumption at meals. (two)

3. Strengthen your bones

The tomatoes havesignificant amounts of calcium and vitamin K,Nutrients that improve the strength and resistance of bones and repair bone tissues.

A tomato provides 18% of vitamin K, which activates osteocalcin, a protein that mineralizes bones with calcium, making them strong. These fruits are also rich in vitamin A which helps maintain healthy bones and teeth.

For example:According to scientific research, there are people with arthritis who can benefit from the consumption of tomatoes and others should avoid them due to their glycoalkaloid content that can increase pain and inflammation. (1) (3)

4. Protect your heart

According to scientific research,tomatoes are sources of potassium that lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attackthat high pressure produces.

A glass of natural tomato juice daily provides you with 534 mg of potassium and is rich in lycopene, which protects the heart by inhibiting the action of an enzyme that produces cholesterol and thus reduces its values.

The tomato is rich in vitamin B6 and folic acid that regulates a substance called homocysteine, this action of the tomato prevents damage to blood vessels and prevents heart events. (1) (4)

5. Improves fibromyalgia symptoms

According to scientific research,tomatoes are rich in vitamins such as A, C and E,important antioxidants in the diet of people with fibromyalgia to combat oxidative stress caused by poor diet.

The tomato is also rich in fiber, and other vitamins and minerals that help resolve deficiencies that occur in people with fibromyalgia and are related to pain and inflammation.

A plant-based diet includes tomatoes and other natural foods with medicinal virtues to control pain and other symptoms of fibromyalgia. (5)

6. Keeps your hair strong

According to scientific research, the tomatoIt has vitamin A, a vitamin that keeps your hair strong and shiny.

According to another scientifically based study, the lycopene present in tomato has the ability to promote hair growth.

In the study, it was compared with products used to improve hair growth and it was found that the effects of tomato are similar and without side effects. (1) (6)

7. Control anemia

In an investigation in which pregnant women participated, tomato consumption improved blood hemoglobin values, an indicator that, when reduced below 12 g/dl, indicates anemia.

One of the benefits of incorporating tomato in women during pregnancy is its vitamin C content of 40 mg in one unit and iron, which increase iron absorption.

The vitamin C in tomato helps reduce iron from ferric to ferrous in the intestine by reducing the pH, that is, increasing acidity, which favors the use of iron and prevents and treats anemia. (7)

8. Regulates the symptoms of menopause

In a study involving women during menopause,the consumption of tomato juice for eight weeks allowed to achieve important changesin the symptoms that occur during this stage of life.

A substance present in tomato, called GABA reduces the physical and psychological symptoms of menopause including hot flashes, anxiety and psychological stress.

The lycopene that is abundant in this fruit decreases osteoporosis, mental disorders and increases energy expenditure at rest. ( 8)

9. Improves sugar in diabetics

Scientific research studying tomato consumption in people with diabetes revealed thattomato regulates glucose metabolism,allowing the reduction of blood sugar.

Tomato decreases resistin, the hormone responsible for regulating glucose metabolism. When resistin is high it leads to insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance prevents insulin from being used to allow glucose to enter cells and decrease in the blood. (9)

10. Collaborates in digestion

A study has found a protein in tomatoes called defensin with antimicrobial power against Helicobacter Pylori, a bacterium that may be responsible for digestive discomfort.

Consuming tomato in this way fights bacteria, reduces inflammation and symptoms of heartburn, indigestion, burning and abdominal swelling.

In turn, other studies have shown that the tomato, due to its lycopene content, reduces the risk of gastric cancer. (1) (10) (11)

How to use the tomatoes from your garden?

According to scientific research, the skin of tomatoes contains substances called flavonols, which include quercetin and kaempferol, which have the aforementioned health benefits.

On the other hand, if instead of using the tomatoes from your garden, you select those processed and packed in cardboard containers or cans, you will receive a lower intake of antioxidants and their medicinal properties will be reduced.

In the case of the lycopene contained in the tomato, it is not lost by cooking, but on the contrary, the content is enhanced up to 4 times. Therefore, it is a good idea to vary between fresh salads and sauces to take advantage of the tomatoes.

In addition to consuming the tomatoes, you can apply them to your skin by washing them, cutting them into slices and placing them on your skin for 10 minutes. After this period wash your skin.

As a result you will get a bright and clean skin.

Bibliography:

• https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Shravan_Paswan2/publication/285176270_Tomato-A_Natural_Medicine_and_Its_Health_Benefits_INTRODUCTION_Tomatoes_are_a_member_of/links/565c42f108ae4988a7bb6751/Tomato-A-Natural-Medicine-and-Its-Health-DUCare-Member-ToINTRODUCTION-Tomatoes-are_a_member_of/links of.pdf Tomato: a natural medicine and its health benefits.
• https://recipp.ipp.pt/bitstream/10400.22/5379/4/ART_40_GRAQ_2014.pdf Consumption of tomato before meal (Lycopersicon esculentum) may have anti-obesity effects.
• https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Javad_Sharifi-Rad/publication/330664475_Beneficial_Effects_and_Potential_Risks_Of_Tomatoes_Consumption_For_Human_Health_An_Overview/links/5c9b531b92851cf0ae9a2bdb/Beneficial-Effects-and-Human-Overview-Consumption-For-Health-An_Overview. pdf Beneficial effects and potential health risks of tomato consumption: a review.
• https://www.ejinme.com/article/S0953-6205(05)00205-0/fulltext Beneficial effects of tomato.
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329451086_What_Is_Fibromyalgia_-_symptoms_causes_research_and_treatment_options What is fibromyalgia, symptoms, investigated causes and treatment options.
• https://europepmc.org/abstract/med/24397881 Effects of lycopersicon esculentum extract on hair growth and prevention of alopecia.
• https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/6122/67a3a9493d767ac274098cfab8f32ef0a305.pdf Tomato fruit extract improves hemoglobin levels in anemic pregnant women with iron supplementation.
• https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12937-015-0021-4 Tomato juice consumption increases resting energy expenditure, improves hypertriglyceridemia in middle-aged women in a single open-label study arm.
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305414508_Resistin_mediates_tomato_and_broccoli_extract_effects_on_glucose_homeostasis_in_high_fat_diet-induced_obesity_in_rats Resistin mediates the effects of tomato and cucumber extract on glucose homeostasis in obesity-inducing high-fat diet in rats.
• https://www.iris.unina.it/retrieve/handle/11588/510002/71363/riganojps.pdf A novel synthetic peptide of tomato defencins exhibits antibacterial activities against Helicobacter pylori.
• https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ijc.2910590207 Tomato and risk of digestive tract cancers.