Indispensable in almost all meals, tomatoes are a rich fruit not only in terms of flavor but also in terms of potential health benefits. However, tomatoes are not for everyone, as they are one of the types of foods most associated with food allergies.
It may cause some unpleasant digestive symptoms in some people, but it is also considered a “fruit” and an antioxidant-rich food that is packed with many vitamins and other essential nutrients.
1. Protects the skin
Tomatoes are full of carotenoids, a specific type of antioxidant that protects your skin from sun damage, says nutritionist Elena Parafants.
2. Mood improvement
Tomatoes not only enhance the flavor of your meal, but they may also improve your mood in the long run.
A 2013 study published in The Journal of Affective Disorders found that participants who ate tomatoes two to six times a week were 46% less likely to report mild or severe symptoms of depression compared to those who ate tomatoes less than once a week.
3. Helps absorb nutrients
Tomatoes are one of the foods that actually help your body absorb other nutrients better, according to Blanca Garcia, nutritionist at Health Canal.
Specifically, tomatoes may help you absorb iron, a mineral that plays a key role in making hemoglobin and myoglobin, proteins that help transport oxygen to muscles and organs throughout the body.
4. Contribute to the speed of wound healing
A 2016 study of hospital patients and published in the International Journal of Surgery found that when subjects took 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C supplements, they experienced faster and better healing of “wide and complex” wounds.