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Tomato:One of the most basic vegetables (originally a fruit) in Indian cuisine is a powerhouse of nutrients - Vitamin K1, B9, C, potassium, antioxidants - lycopene, beta-carotene, naringenin & chlorogenic acid.
Thread discussing the potential role of tomato in health promotion.
Thread discussing the potential role of tomato in health promotion.
1. Nutritive value: 95% water & 5% carbs & fibre. A 100 g small raw tomato contains 1.5 g of insoluble fibres, great for our gut health.
2. Potassium: Associated with a lower risk of stroke & cardiovascular diseases. A meta-analysis of 11 studies involving ~247k subjects reported higher dietary potassium intake is associated with lower rates of stroke & other heart ailments. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21371638/
3. Vitamin K1 or Phylloquinone: Important for blood coagulation and bone health. Several studies have demonstrated that low dietary vitamin K intake is associated with low bone mineral density or increased fractures. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15018483/
4. Vitamin B9 or Folate: Crucial for normal cell function and growth. Particularly imp. in pregnancy. A review of 8 RCTs indicated a 2% increase in birth weight in every 2-fold increase of folate intake.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22992251/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22992251/
5. Lycopene: A nonprovitamin A that's responsible for red to pink color in tomato, pink grapefruit & other foods. The health benefits of lycopene are uncountable. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3850026/
6. Beta carotene: An antioxidant that often gives foods a yellow or orange hue, beta carotene is converted into vitamin A in your body.
7. Naringenin: Found in tomato skin, a type of flavonoid that has been shown to decrease inflammation and protect against various diseases in mice. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24710903/
8. Chlorogenic acid: Also found in green coffee beans, this is a powerful antioxidant compound that may lower blood pressure in people with elevated levels. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16820341/
It's important to enhance our nutrition knowledge every day. This knowledge will help us understand why we should eat any food. It's not the taste that should only matter.
