Eating healthy ( tomatoes)

Tomatoes are technically a fruit because they fit the botanical definition of one: they are the fleshy parts of a plant that surround its seeds. However, for nutritional and culinary purposes, tomatoes are considered a vegetable due to their taste, use in meals, and nutrient content (USDA, 2019).

Tomato Nutrition Facts

For ripe, red tomatoes, 100 grams have the following, according to the USDA:

Calories: 18 calories

Fat: <1 gram

Cholesterol: 0 milligrams

Sodium: 5 milligrams

Carbohydrates:3.89 grams

Fiber: 1.20 grams

Protein: <1 gram

Tomatoes are low in calories and provide important nutrients like vitamin C and potassium. They're also rich in antioxidants—one called lycopene, responsible for tomatoes' characteristic color, is linked to several benefits, such as a reduced risk of heart disease and certain cancers.

Benefits

Research shows that tomatoes in many forms—fresh, cooked and as juice—help protect against chronic diseases and support a physically active lifestyle.

May help protect brain health

In America, 10% of adults aged 65 years or older have Alzheimer's disease (AD) (Alzheimer's Association, 2022). The disease—which affects memory, thinking, and behavior—is a form of dementia that has no cure and that gets worse over time (Alzheimer's Association, 2022).

While more research on the connection between tomatoes and AD is needed, studies have suggested that the antioxidants in tomatoes, such as lycopene, may protect against neurodegenerative diseases like AD. One study showed that, over four years, there was a slower decline in cognitive function among participants aged 70 years or older who had a high lycopene intake (Collins, 2022).

More research on humans, specifically on adults aged 60 to 65, is needed to better understand the true connection between the potential protective benefits of tomatoes and AD and other neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease (Collins, 2022).

May help combat metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and other serious health problems. It involves having three or more of the following conditions: (NIH, 2022)

A large waistline

High blood pressure

High blood sugar

High triglycerides or blood fats

Low "good" HDL cholesterol

About one in three US adults has metabolic syndrome (NIH, 2022). Researchers say that lycopene status—meaning the amount of lycopene in the blood—or lycopene consumption may be associated with favorable changes to the components of metabolic syndrome (Senus, 2019). And tomatoes are a major contributor of lycopene (Khan, 2021).

For one small study, 15 participants drank tomato juice once a day four times per week for two months with no specified amount. Despite the lack of a standardized portion of the juice, the group experienced significant decreases in "bad" LDL cholesterol, increases in "good" HDL cholesterol, and improvements in fasting insulin levels (Tsitsimpikou, 2014).

Helps protect heart health

A tomato-rich diet has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death for adults in the US (Collins, 2022) (CDC, 2022). One review of 25 previously published studies reported that a high intake of lycopene—as well as high blood levels of the antioxidant—reduced the risk of heart disease by 14% (Collins, 2022).

Another study of healthy people looked at the effect of a single dose of raw tomatoes, tomato sauce, or tomato sauce plus olive oil on measurements related to heart disease risk. All three doses reduced blood cholesterol and triglycerides—a type of fat in your blood—and raised HDL cholesterol and anti-inflammatory levels. The tomato sauce plus olive oil had the maximum effect, likely because the olive oil boosted the absorption of lycopene (Collins, 2022).

May help prevent constipation

Inadequate fluid and fiber can trigger constipation (NIH, 2013). Tomatoes provide both nutrients, with one whole tomato containing over four ounces of fluid and one and a half grams of fiber (USDA, 2020).

The water content and dietary fibers found in tomatoes are known to support hydration and healthy bowel movements. Tomatoes are an important source of both soluble and insoluble dietary fibers (Ali, 2021). Soluble fiber retains water to create a gel-like texture during digestion while insoluble fiber adds bulk to stool. Both of these changes form waste that is easier to pass (MedlinePlus, 2020). Specifically, the cellulose, hemicelluloses, and pectins fibers in tomatoes are resistant to digestion in the large intestine and help form healthy stool (Ali, 2021).

May help prevent type 2 diabetes

Among US adults, 14.7% have type 2 diabetes and 38% have prediabetes, when blood sugar levels are too high but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes (CDC, 2022). Some research shows that the antioxidant properties of lycopene contribute to the prevention of type 2 diabetes. This is due to its ability to protect cells from damage, reduce inflammation, and boost the body's defense mechanisms (Leh, 2022). Tomatoes' fiber can also help protect against diabetes (Ali, 2021).

May reduce cancer risk

Lycopene and beta-carotene, two antioxidants found in tomatoes, have been shown to possess anticancer properties. They do this in part by protecting against the kind of DNA damage in cells that can lead to the development of cancer and by causing cancer cells to die off (Collins, 2022).

Several studies have found that men with higher intakes of tomatoes—particularly cooked tomatoes—have a lower risk of prostate cancer (Rowles, 2018). And, as a whole, eating non-starchy vegetables like tomatoes has been linked to a lower risk of estrogen receptor–negative breast tumors as well as cancer of the colon, rectum, lung, stomach, and upper aerodigestive tract (like the mouth, throat, and nasal sinuses) (Rock, 2020) (National Library of Medicine, 2018).

May support exercise recovery

Exercise can damage proteins in the body, and research shows that the antioxidants in tomatoes may help offset the effects. One study in athletes found that taking 3.5 ounces of tomato juice for two months post-exercise improved the athletes' recovery. In another study, 15 healthy non-athletes exercised for 20 minutes on a bicycle after drinking 5 ounces of tomato juice for five weeks, followed by five weeks without tomato juice, and another five weeks with the juice. Blood samples showed that when the tomato juice was consumed, there were significantly lower blood markers associated with exercise-triggered damage (Collins, 2022).

May aid immune function

The vitamin C and beta-carotene in tomato juice may help support the immune system (Collins, 2022). One study found that tomato juice significantly increased levels of immune cells, including a type called natural killer cells known to fend off viruses (Collins, 2022) (National Cancer Institute, 2022).

May support male fertility

One study looked at the effects of a daily 190 grams (almost 7 ounces) of tomato juice vs an antioxidant capsule or a placebo among male infertility patients for 12 weeks. Compared to the control (placebo) group, the tomato juice significantly increased blood lycopene levels in the men and the movement of sperm, an indicator of fertility. The antioxidant capsule, however, showed no significant improvements (Yamamoto, 2017).

Nutrition

One whole tomato provides the following: (USDA, 2020)

Calories: 22.5

Carbohydrates: 4.86g

Fat: 0.25g

Protein: 1.1g

Vitamin C: 17.1mg, 19% of the daily value

Potassium: 296mg, 6% of the daily value

Vitamin K: 9.88mcg, 8% of the daily value

Folate: 18.8mcg, 4.7% of the daily value

The vitamin C in tomatoes acts as an antioxidant and is important for skin, bones, and connective tissue. It also promotes healing and helps the body absorb iron (MedlinePlus, 2021).

Potassium is a mineral needed to build proteins in the body, including muscle; break down and use carbohydrates; and regulate heart rhyme and pH balance (MedlinePlus, 2020).

Vitamin K is required for blood to clot and also helps maintain strong bones in older adults (MedlinePlus, 2021).

Folate helps produce DNA, the building block of the human body. It also helps form red blood cells to prevent anemia and works with vitamins B12 and C to help the body break down, use, and create new proteins and tissues (MedlinePlus, 2021).

Consuming tomatoes in other forms, like juice, sauce, or paste changes the nutrition facts compared to whole, fresh tomatoes. Check nutrition labels to assess calories and nutrient levels. And read ingredient lists to identify potential additives, like sodium or sugar.

Risks

As with any fresh produce, raw tomatoes can have germs like Listeria or Salmonella, resulting in foodborne illness. This is a greater concern for those who: are pregnant, over the age of 65, under the age of five, or have health problems or take medications that lower the body's ability to fight germs and sickness. This includes those living with diabetes, liver or kidney disease, HIV, or cancer. To reduce risk, you can cook your produce or, if you are using raw tomato, wash it (CDC, 2022).

In addition, tomatoes may worsen existing conditions like gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) or migraine (ASGE, 2014) (Gazerani, 2020). Talk with your healthcare provider to determine if you need to steer clear of tomatoes for any reason.