If you are a fan of a grilled tomato sandwich, you’ve probably wondered what the nutritional content of 2 slices of tomato is. One slice of tomato contains only a few calories, 0.6 grams of carbohydrates, and zero grams of fat. One slice of tomato is also packed with protein and fiber and has just over three calorific servings. So, what’s so good about tomato slices?
Tomatoes are loaded with antioxidants, and these compounds may help prevent heart disease, cancer, and skin damage. Some people are allergic to cherry tomatoes, so eating them is still a good idea. The disease-fighting properties of tomatoes are well known, and you can’t go wrong with them. Here are some other great reasons to include tomatoes in your daily diet. Read on to discover the nutritional value of these tasty, versatile fruits!
Nutrition Facts
One study suggests that tomatoes may reduce excessive clumping of platelets, which may lead to blood vessel blockages and unwanted clotting. Among 26 fruits and vegetables tested in the study, tomatoes had the greatest effect on platelet clumping. While the research is still ongoing, these tomatoes are great sources of vitamins and minerals.
A Rich Source of Vitamins & Minerals
In particular, tomatoes contain high amounts of vitamin C and several beneficial forms of vitamin A. Tomatoes are an excellent food choice for their high potassium and vitamin C content. Tomatoes include lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene in addition to the vitamin A they provide; all considered good forms of the vitamin.
Two slices of tomato provide about 16 calories and seventy-eight percent of your daily recommended Vitamin C and fiber allowance fiber. A fresh tomato just under 1 gram in size contains just under 1 gram of protein.
Contain Potassium
Tomatoes have a high potassium content, and one medium tomato has nearly 300 milligrams of the mineral. In comparison, 534 milligrams of potassium are in one cup of tomato juice, whereas 454 mg is in half a cup of tomato sauce. Potassium has a role in maintaining healthy nerve and muscle function in addition to a healthy heart.
Contain Phytonutrient & Antioxidants
Tomatoes also contain a variety of phytonutrients and antioxidants. The vitamins in tomatoes neutralize free radicals, which damage cell membranes and disrupt body functions. Tomatoes are also high in carotenoids (beta and lycopene), which contain phytonutrients, and cooking a tomato increases its absorption rate of lycopene.
Tomato-a Low Glycemic Index Food
There are 3.5 grams of carbohydrates in a tomato that weighs 91 grams. Among the carbs, the naturally occurring sugars account for 2.4 grams, while fiber contributes 1.1 grams to the total. Tomatoes have a low glycemic index, making them an ideal food choice.
Health Benefits of Tomatoes
1. Helps Maintain a Healthy Heart
Tomatoes include lycopene, an antioxidant that, combined with other antioxidant vitamins (such as vitamins A, E, and C), can provide cumulative benefits for the heart’s health. Several studies point to a connection between the lycopene found in tomatoes, a lower level of oxidized LDL, and a reduction in arterial plaque. Tomatoes also include the mineral potassium, widely recognized for lowering blood pressure.
2. Beneficial to the Eyes
Tomatoes are a fantastic resource for vitamin A, particularly lutein and zeaxanthin, two specific forms of this vitamin. Both of these forms of vitamin A are stored in the retina, where they guard against macular degeneration associated with ageing. When tomatoes are consumed as part of meals that also contain some fat (like in a salad with olive oil, for example), the body can absorb the fat-soluble vitamins, which are essential for maintaining healthy eyesight.
3. Protects Against the Harmful Effects of the Sun
Tomatoes include phytonutrients that can help protect the body from the sun’s harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. Tomatoes, on their own, are not adequate to prevent skin cancer; however, incorporating tomatoes into your diet regularly may help your body become more resistant to the damaging effects of certain kinds of UV rays.
4. Possible Protection Against Diabetes
Tomatoes have been shown to have an antihyperglycemic impact in mice. However, this association does not hold for humans. Despite this, those who have diabetes can still benefit from eating tomatoes. Eating tomatoes has been demonstrated to lower the amount of oxidative stress brought on by diabetes. Inflammation, increased atherosclerosis, and tissue damage is all major manifestations of the condition, and the treatment reduces these.
5. Allergies
Tomatoes can trigger oral allergies in people who are already susceptible to seasonal allergies to grass pollen. 9 Symptoms may include swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat, itching in the mouth, ears, or throat, or itching in the ears. If you think you could be allergic to tomatoes, you should discuss this with your primary care physician.
6. Strong Bones
There is some evidence that lycopene can improve bone health and aid in the prevention of osteoporosis. Participants in a study with higher amounts of lycopene in their blood were shown to have a lower risk of experiencing hip or nonvertebral fracture, according to the study’s findings published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. In addition, a study published in Osteoporosis International discovered that postmenopausal women who increased the amount of lycopene in their meals over four months noticed a reduction in the amount of bone resorption that their bodies underwent.
Are Tomatoes Allowed on the Keto Diet?
On a ketogenic diet, you should steer clear of most fruits because of the high amount of carbohydrates they contain. However, as long as you don’t over your allotment of carbohydrates for the day, you’re good to go with a few bites here and there of low-carb fruits.
Even though they are more properly classified as fruits, Tomatoes are permitted on the ketogenic diet. According to the data provided by the United States Department of Agriculture, a serving size of a half cup of regular tomatoes has four grams of carbohydrates and two grams of sugar (USDA). The counts, however, shift slightly depending on the variety of tomato you select.
A serving of half a cup of grape tomatoes has three grams of carbohydrates, while the same amount of cherry tomatoes has six grams of carbohydrates and four grams of sugar. Even so, incorporating this into your overall carb count shouldn’t be too much of a problem for you.
Why Eating too Many Tomatoes Bad for your Health?
Tomato is an excellent source of the alkaloid known as solanine. Because tomatoes are loaded with an alkaloid called solanine, eating excessive amounts can cause swelling and soreness in the joints, according to a study conducted repeatedly. The solanine is to blame for the accumulation of calcium in the tissues, leading to inflammation as a secondary effect.
Can Tomatoes Help Lose Weight?
Tomatoes have soluble and insoluble fiber. Tomatoes’ soluble fiber makes you feel full longer, reduces your appetite, and feeds intestinal microorganisms. Tomatoes’ insoluble fiber helps control weight and prevents constipation. Low-GI foods aid weight loss by preventing blood sugar spikes. Tomatoes have a GI of 38, which is low compared to low GI foods (55 or less).
Tomatoes’ antioxidants may aid weight loss. Antioxidants mend damaged cells and boost the immune system. Tomatoes include vitamins A and C and have no cholesterol. Low-carb tomatoes aid weight loss. 7 g of sugar and carbohydrates are in one large tomato. Eat one or two tomatoes daily to lose weight. Tomato juice speeds up fat breakdown by triggering fatty acid oxidation genes. They include fat-burning amino acids and boost the body’s fat-burning amino acid production.
Yes, tomatoes do aid with weight loss. Along with regular exercise, including them in your daily diet might produce remarkable improvements.
Should you Eat Cucumber & Tomato Together?
Dietitians and nutritionists believe that combining the consumption of these two fruits may not be the healthiest thing for a person’s body. The digestion processes for both of these components couldn’t be more dissimilar. Because of this, your body may produce acid after consuming them, which can cause bloating and discomfort.
In addition, the fruit behaves in a way that is harmful to the body and should be avoided. Tomatoes contain more vitamin C than an orange, but cucumbers have qualities that prevent your body from properly absorbing it. Tomatoes have more vitamin C than an orange.
Because of this, it is strongly recommended that tomato and cucumber never be consumed together in any capacity.
Which is Healthier, Cooked Tomatoes or Raw Tomatoes?
Lycopene is a plant component that gives tomatoes their vibrant red color. Tomatoes are an excellent source of lycopene, which may be abundant in these fruits and vegetables. In addition, lycopene is an exceptional antioxidant that has shown promise in thwarting cancer development. In line with earlier research findings, the vitamin C content of cooked, roasted, and canned tomatoes was 10, 15, and 29 percent lower, respectively, than that of raw, uncooked tomatoes. However, the study’s results showed that cooking tomatoes caused a rise in the valuable trans-lycopene content of the tomatoes by 54, 171, and 164 percent, respectively.
Conclusion
Two slices of tomato provide about 16 calories and seventy-eight percent of your daily recommended Vitamin C and fiber allowance. Tomatoes are high in potassium and lycopene, an antioxidant that can benefit the heart’s health when combined with other antioxidant vitamins (such as vitamins A, E, and C). Both forms of vitamin A are stored in the retina, where they guard against macular degeneration associated with aging.
Tomatoes also contain phytonutrients that can help protect the body from the sun’s harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. Tomatoes are an excellent source of the alkaloid known as solanine. Eating too many tomatoes can cause swelling and soreness in the joints. Eat one or two tomatoes daily to lose weight. Low-carb tomatoes aid weight loss by preventing blood sugar spikes.
