Tomatoes are famous for their rich content of lycopene, a strong antioxidant. But unlike most fruits and vegetables, a tomatoes nutritional content increases if it cooked, processed, or dried as opposed to freshly picked. This makes tomatoes an easy superfood to incorporate into your lifestyle. Including lycopene, here are some other reasons why tomatoes should be added to your daily intake:
- Lycopene – This is the compound that gives tomatoes (and other fruits and veggies) their bright red and orange color. The high content in tomatoes is the greatest source for prevention against macular degeneration and many cancers. Cooking and processing helps to release lycopene that is otherwise stored in the cell walls of tomatoes.
- Vitamin C and B – Vitamin C helps to keep up a healthy immune system while vitamin B helps speed up your metabolism. Both can be found in abundance in all types of tomatoes.
- Polyphenols – Rich in beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and other polyphenols, tomatoes have a great antioxidant profile.
There’s no need to sweat about new ways to incorporate fresh tomatoes into your diet for the health benefits. Putting ketchup on a sandwich, eating a slice of pizza, or munching on some chili will give you more nutrients from tomatoes than you would find in fresh.