Whether you like the juicy, small and green ones or the big, plump red ones, both variants of tomatoes will still give you a host of health benefits. This is our fourth installment in our Good-Food-for-the-Heart series where we are featuring foods which are good for the heart.
Unlike what I initially thought, tomatoes are considered as fruits instead of veggies. This nutritionally-loaded food can provide you with benefits whether you consume it cooked and processed, or fresh. Heat-processed tomatoes produce lycopene, which is one of the top key players in the fight against certain cancers. Lycopene is an excellent source of antioxidants and helps prevent the pre-existence of cancer cells in the human body.
Fresh tomatoes, on the other hand, provide you with vitamins A, B, C and K, as well as potassium, folate and thiamin. Its health benefits to the heart include the reduction of cholesterol level due to its high dietary fiber content. Also, it helps maintain a healthy level of blood sugar.
You can even up the ante of these amazing health benefits by cooking fresh, bright red tomatoes with olive oil in your pasta sauce. The olive oil will allow your body to absorb lycopene better.
Pasta, anyone?