Undoubtedly, tomatoes are one of the fundamental ingredients in most kitchens, especially for its numerous properties and benefits.
They can be eaten in salads, boiled, alone, in sauces, etc but eating it raw gives maximum benefits. The sweet taste of tomato is very versatile in the kitchen, which is why they are already an attractive option.
However, there are many reasons why you should consume them more often. This red fruit is full of vitamin C, a lot of vitamins A, B and C, is fat-free and very low in calories. It has minerals like potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium among many others.
Its intense red color is due to its high content of lycopene, which is one of the best antioxidant substances that is a protective effect against a large number of problems in the heart.
It should be noted that tomato is a vegetable which is low in sodium, which is why it is highly recommended to people suffering from hypertension ( on this disease ).
It is also excellent to help digestion to act as it speeds up and avoids slow bowel syndrome. This is due to its high content of organic acid salts, which in particular are known as citrates and malates especially recommended in people who have kidney stones.
If you want to take advantage of all the fiber that tomatoes have, to help, as we know, to maintain a digestive system full of health, should always choose to eat the tomato without peeling, ie ingest it with everything and the skin, the which has an exquisite flavor in addition to the benefits it bestows.
Raw Tomato Health Benefits
1. Combats Constipation
The tomato is an excellent fighter of constipation, it is a vegetable with a great amount of fiber and few calories and water.
Its high fiber content and other goodness make the tomato a mild laxative, helping to regulate the intestinal function and streamline the digestive process, reducing the risk of contracting various types of gastrointestinal diseases, such as cancer in the large intestine. You may be interested in knowing home remedies for constipation. Read : 10 Hidden Causes of Constipation
2. For Healthy Heart
Due to vitamins A, E and C, which are considered to be powerful antioxidants that favor activity and strengthening of the immune system, ingesting tomatoes becomes a purifying and antioxidant agent that is preventive against heart problems.
Antioxidants can serve as a block for free radicals which modify the known bad cholesterol, thus improving circulation in the blood and helping to significantly reduce the risk of contracting a cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease.
Tomatoes are a great source of potassium, and it has been scientifically proven that diets rich in potassium can lower and control high blood pressure and therefore decrease the risk of suffering from some very common diseases.
3. Relieves Leg Cramps
Because of its high content of potassium, its intake helps the correct muscle contraction, because the tomato helps to keep the body hydrated and thus avoid the presence of cramps or various pains caused by the deficiency of this important nutrient.
4. Effective Against Diabetes
Tomatoes are a strong source of a mineral called chromium. It has been shown with scientific studies that chromium serves as an aid to patients with diabetes ( knowing about diabetes mellitus disease ), this is because it manages to keep their blood sugar levels in a controlled manner. Ingesting one cup of tomatoes provides 7.5 percent of the daily chrome recommended value.
Tomato juice also offers dramatic benefits to patients with type 2 diabetes who are at a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
5. Delays Aging
Because of its strong antioxidant contribution, the tomato is effective for different ailments and various kinds of cancers. The raw tomato helps cleanse the organs and skin to keep the body radiant and rejuvenated.
6. Bone Health
They are a good source of many vitamins, mainly vitamin K, which contributes to bone health by activating the so-called osteocalcin giving bones greater strength.
7. EyeCare
You can also get great benefits for the health of the vision, by including more foods that have red color on your plate.
Vitamin A which is one of the nutrients found in tomatoes, is essential for improved vision and also to prevent night blindness. According to recent scientific studies, tomatoes also reduce the risk of macular degeneration, which is a very serious and irreversible condition in the eyes.
8. Protects Skin
Tomato juice is recognized as a remedy and this is because its regular consumption is a guarantee of protection against erythema , which is a condition in the skin that is characterized by skin eruptions or redness and is caused by radiations of ultraviolet rays.
It has been attributed to the application of direct tomato on the skin, an astringent action and function, which is going to decrease fat and that is why it is frequently used to treat cases of acne, although in certain people can trigger allergic reactions but only if you have a very sensitive skin. You may be interested in knowing tips to take care of your skin.
9. Diuretic Properties
Due to its high level of potassium and very low sodium, tomatoes are considered a diuretic food. It removes toxins from the body and also used for face cleansing. It is considered very useful for use in people suffering from different conditions such as fluid retention, hyperuricemia, hypertension, and gout.
The best way to consume It
It is advisable that it is preferably consumed in raw so that in this way it will continue to conserve all its properties, a delicious way is in salads.
If you are going to consume cooked, it is better to roast because this way you do not destroy as many nutrients as when exposed too long to the heat.
The indicated portion for these benefits to be effective, is to ingest 1 large tomato per day or two medium tomatoes.
When using it to prepare some soup or a puree, it is important to try not to strain it, because if you strain it would be removing the fiber in which most of its goodness is found.
