Tomatoes first showed up in the Andean region of South America and was first cultivated in Peru during the sixteenth century. The English called the first tomatoes “love apples” because of their colour and size.
Tomatoes are officially classified as fruits and not vegetables. According to the experts, Tomatoes are soft juicy red or yellow “fruit” that is eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable. Though this is confusing but now you have the official version.
Tomatoes contain four major carutenoids: alpha carotene, beta carotene, lutein, and lycopene. All of which have individual health benefits and they offer great health advantages when they all work together. Lycopene is the red pigment contained in tomatoes and is one of the strongest antioxidants.
Lycopene is very beneficial when it comes down to heart, prostrate and pancreatic heath. A study has shown that men, who consume ten tomatoes per week, reduced their chances of developing prostrate cancer by forty-five percent. Other studies indicated people who consume more than seven servings of tomatoes lowered their risk of developing stomach, rectal or colon cancers by sixty percent. Isreali researchers have found that the lycopene is a powerful inhibitor of breast and endometrial cancer cells. The prevention of lung cancer is yet another health benefit of consuming tomatoes. Recent studies showed that tomatoes contains two important compounds, coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid which helps block out the carcinogens that are found in tobacco. When these carcinogens are blocked, our bodies are protected from second hand smoke and we are less likely to develop lung cancer.
Lastly tomatoes are very rich in potassium, something that many of us lack in our daily diets. Clearly with all these health benefit wouldn’t you rather exchange that glass of coca cola for a glass of tomatoe juice?!!!!!!!
