10 Top Tomato Benefits, Side Effects & Nutrition Facts

At home, not a day goes by without using tomato in our cooking and I am sure it is the same in almost all the homes, it has become such an essential part of our diet. Tomatoes has amazing health benefits and uses when had as a juice or applied as a face pack. The botanical name of tomato is Solanum Lycopersicum and it belongs to the Solanaceae family. It first originated in Central and South America and then later spread all over the world.

Bioactive Compounds in Tomato:

Tomatoes are rich in carotenoids (lycopene, lutein, Beta carotene), vitamins (vitamin E, vitamin C and folates) and phenoilc compounds (flavonoids, phenolic acids and tannins).

Tomato Common Names:

Tomato is called Tamatar in Hindi, Thakkali in Tamil and Malayalam, Goore Hannu in Kannada, Tomato in Telugu, Tamoto in Marathi and Tameta in Gujarati.

Tomato Benefits & Medicinal Uses:

1. Full Of Antioxidants:

Tomatoes are full of antioxidants and consuming foods high in antioxidants will help improve immunity and prevent premature ageing of the skin greatly.

2. Tomato Benefits For Heart Health:

Antioxidant rich vitamin C and vitamin E in tomato has a protective effect and prevents cardio vascular diseases. It also reduces cholesterol levels (helps reduce LDL cholesterol) and you can read the study that supports this claim here.

3. Tomato For Cancer Prevention:

Lycopene present in tomato effectively prevents cancer in the prostate, breast, lung, oral and pancreas. Flavonoids present in tomato prevents gastric cancer.

4. Tomato For Eye Health:

Beta carotene present in tomatoes helps protect the eyes. It greatly helps prevent age related macular degeneration of the eyes. To improve eye health, try drinking a cup of tomato juice everyday.

5. Tomato Benefits For Skin:

Both external application and internal consumption of tomato helps with skin health. Since it is rich in antioxidants and has anti inflammatory properties, topical application of tomato juice is very soothing and greatly helps sunburned skin. It is also a mild astringent and helps close open pores and treats acne too. I have given the different ways to use tomato for skin care below.

6. Tomato Benfits For Hair:

Tomato is rich in vitamin C and foods high in vitamin C greatly helps with iron absorption and thus greatly prevents hair fall caused due to anemia. Hair loss due to iron deficiency is very very common in India.

7. For Reducing Inflammation:

Tomato has good anti inflammatory properties and both internal consumption and external application helps in reducing the inflammation.

8. Tomato Benefits For Diabetic Patients:

Tomato is good for preventing diabetes too. Vitamin E present in tomato helps reduce the risk of getting type 2 diabetes. I would suggest consuming whole tomatoes instead of tomato juice to have stable blood sugar levels.

9. Tomato Reduces Oxidative Stress:

Tomato has an amazing ability to prevent oxidative stress as it is rich in antioxidants and it greatly prevents the formation of free radicals in the body.

10. Reduces High Blood Pressure:

Tomato is rich in potassium which is a natural vasodilator that is an ingredient that helps with reducing the tension in the blood vessels thereby naturally reducing blood pressure. When buying tomatoes, try to buy organic tomatoes that are ripe but firm. Store tomatoes in a cool place and try to use it within a week…

Tomato Nutrition:

100 grams of tomatoes contains around 18 calories, .2 gram of fat, 237 mg of potassium, .9 grams of protein and 3.9 grams of carbohydrate, 11 mg of magnesium, 0.114 mg of manganese and 24 mg of phosphorus. It is very rich in vitamin C and vitamin A and it also contains vitamins like B, vitamin E and vitamin K.

Tomato Side Effects:

Both raw and cooked tomato generally agrees with everyone. If you are suffering from irritable bowel syndrome or ulcer, try to use the less sour tomato variety (we call the less sour variety, apple thakkali in Tamil) and don’t consume lot of tomatoes at once like tomato juice. Tomato juice when applied on the skin brightens skin without any skin irritation but if you feel it irritates your skin, avoid use.

6 Top Ways To Use Tomato At Home For Skin, Hair & Health:

1. Tomato Sunburn Cream:

tomato for sunburn

Mix 2 tsp of Aloe Vera gel, a pinch of turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp of tomato juice and 1 vitamin e capsule together and apply on the affected area, treats sunburn really really well.

2. Tomato Face Serum For Lightening Scars:

Mix 2 tbsp tomato juice with 1 tbsp rose water and few drops of vegetable glycerin and store it in the fridge. To use, apply this serum all over the face and neck and wash it off the next day. This serum lightens dark spots and scars really well.

3. Tomato Toner:

tomato face toner

Take tomato juice, apple cider vinegar and water in equal quantities in a spray bottle. To use, after using the scrub take little bit of the toner in a cotton pad and wipe your face and neck with it.

4. Tomato Face Scrub:

tomato face scrub

For the scrub take 2 tsp of rice flour in a bowl, add in 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder. Finally add in enough tomato juice to form a paste and use it as a scrub.

5. Tomato Face Pack For Acne:

tomato face pack

Take sandalwood powder in a bowl, add in 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder to it. Add in tomato juice to form a paste and use it as a face pack.

6. Tomato Juice:

tomato for hair
Take a cup of ripe organic tomatoes, add in honey, a very tiny pinch of salt and blend together till smooth and strain. Your antioxidant rich tomato juice is ready.

tomato medicinal uses

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