Tomato benefits and side effects

Tomatoes are loaded with many, many health benefits. In fact, they are incredibly versatile and can be prepared in a seemingly endless number of dishes, as well as being great to eat alone. Keep reading to find out why you need to stop neglecting tomatoes as a part of your regular balanced diet.

Health Benefits from Eating Tomatoes

1. Tomatoes are good for your skin.

Tomatoes contain a high level of lycopene, which is a substance that is used in some of the more pricy facial cleansers that are available for purchase over-the-counter.
If you want to try tomatoes for skin care, you need to start with about eight to twelve tomatoes. Peel the tomatoes and then place the skin on your face with inside of the tomato touching your skin.
Leave the tomatoes on your face for a minimum of ten minutes, then wash. Your face will feel clean and shiny. Some redness may occur, but should fade with time.

2. Tomatoes help prevent several types of cancer.

A number of studies have been conducted that indicate that the high levels of lycopene in tomatoes works to reduce your chances of developing prostate, colorectal and stomach cancer.
Lycopene is a natural antioxidant that works effectively to slow the growth of cancerous cells. Cooked tomatoes produce even more lycopene, so go ahead and cook up a batch of your mom’s famous tomato soup.

3. Tomatoes help maintain strong bones.

Tomatoes contain a considerable amount of calcium and Vitamin K. Both of these nutrients are essential in strengthening and performing minor repairs on the bones as well as the bone tissue.

4. Tomatoes help repair damage caused by smoking.

No, eating tomatoes is not the most recent fad to help you quit smoking. However, tomatoes can reduce the amount of damaged done to your body by smoking cigarettes.
Tomatoes contain coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid that work to protect the body from carcinogens that are produced from cigarette smoke.

5. Tomatoes provide essential antioxidants.

Tomatoes contain a great deal of Vitamin A and Vitamin C. This is primarily because these vitamins and beta-carotene work as antioxidants to neutralize harmful free radicals in the blood.
Free radicals in the blood stream are dangerous because it may lead to cell damage. Remember, the redder the tomato you eat is, the more beta-carotene it contains. In addition, you also want to keep in mind that cooking destroys the Vitamin C, so for these benefits, the tomatoes need to be eaten raw.

6. Tomatoes are good for your heart.

Because of the Vitamin B and potassium in tomatoes, they are effective in reducing cholesterol levels and lowering blood pressure. Therefore, by including tomatoes in your regular balanced diet you can effectively prevent heart attacks, strokes as well as many other heart related problems that may threaten your life.

7. Tomatoes are good for your hair.

The Vitamin A in tomatoes works perfectly to keep your hair shiny and strong. In addition, it also does wonders for your eyes, skin, bones and teeth.

8. Tomatoes are good for your kidneys.

Adding tomatoes without seeds to your diet has been proven in some studies to reduce the risk of kidney stones.

9. Tomatoes are good for your eyes.

The Vitamin A found in tomatoes is fantastic for improving your vision. In addition, eating tomatoes is one of the best foods to eat to prevent the development of night blindness.

Tomatoes are packed full of the valuable mineral known as chromium. It works effectively to help diabetics keep their blood sugar levels under better control.

Side Effects Of Tomatoes:

The innocent looking tomato can lead to some serious and some not so serious side effects. Here are the top 10 side effects of tomatoes that you may experience:

1. Imbalanced Immunity:

The major element found in fresh raw tomato is the carotenoid pigment ‘lycopene’. It is a chemical compound that is supposed to keep cancer at bay. But excessive intake of this phytochemical can interfere with the regular activities of our immune system and slow it down. As a result, our body loses its ability to protect itself from several common microbial (bacterial, fungal and viral) diseases. At the same time it also becomes incapable of repairing the existing physical damages.

2. Gastrointestinal Issues:

The tomato is full of acids. So, the excessive consumption of tomato triggers various gastrointestinal disorders. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), commonly known as ‘acid reflux’, is a common intestinal disorder. This disease raises the digestive acid level in our stomach, which starts seeping out. Gradually, the acids reach the wall of our esophagus and cause a burning sensation in it. The acids from tomatoes can make this condition worse and can even give you heartburn. So, if you have already been diagnosed with GERD or other such digestive issues, limit your intake of tomatoes immediately.

3. Irritable Bowel Disorder:

The lycopene content of tomato can result in some serious intestinal problems, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). It is characterized by acute pain and extreme discomfort in abdomen along with changed bowel habits. Apart from these, you can also experience some other minor to moderate intestinal issues like abdominal gas, indigestion, bloating, etc., if you consume as much as 30 mg of lycopene a day. It may even give rise to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.

4. Kidney Stones:

Tomatoes, especially the seeds of the vegetable, are rich in calcium and oxalate compounds. If you are already suffering from minor kidney problems, it will be really tough for your body to digest these elements. In such a case, consuming large amounts of tomato will be harmful for you as the calcium and oxalates will accumulate in your kidneys and form small to large stones.

5. Worsened Diverticulitis:

Diverticulitis is a medical condition in which the inner surface layer of the large intestine protrudes through the external muscular layer and these ‘diverticula’ or small pouches get inflamed due to infections. According to scientists, tomato seeds, being small, can get stuck in these out-pouchings and aggravate the condition.

6. Deteriorated Prostate Cancer:

Studies have shown that the lycopene present in the seeds of the vegetable can cause abnormalities in the male prostate gland. Affecting the reproductive system, this abnormality causes severe pain, erectile dysfunction, difficulty in urination, etc. It may sometimes lead to prostate cancer.

7. Vitamin Overdose:

Tomato is a vitamin-rich vegetable. Consuming a medium-sized tomato provides 1,025 IU of Vitamin A and 17 mg of Vitamin C, which are half and one-tenth of our daily requirements, respectively.Side effects of eating too many tomatoes in a day can lead to vitamin overdose in our body. It may eventually lead to problems like headache, nausea, kidney pain, etc.

8. Nutrient Deficiency:

While getting lots of vitamins from tomatoes, you may end up depriving yourself of many other essential nutrients. It damages our your body as you become unable to carry out your vital physical activities efficiently.

9. Allergic Reactions:

Excessive lycopene can give us allergic reactions too. Some of the symptoms of lycopene allergy include itching, rashes, hives, chest constriction, swollen lips, burning sensation in eyes, and so on.

10. Change In Skin Color:

Prolonged and consistent consumption of tomato can alter your skin color. It might take on a slight orange tint!

I am sure that no amounts of side effects will keep you away from your favorite tomato! But, try to keep these side effects in mind and limit your tomato consumption!