Consumption of tomatoes and tomato-based products has been linked to improved skin health and a lower risk of heart disease and cancer (Karppi, Laukkanen, Mäkikallio, 2012). Heart disease – including heart attacks and strokes – is the most common cause of death in the world.
A study in middle-aged men linked low blood levels of lycopene and beta-carotene to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. Growing evidence from clinical trials suggests that supplementing with lycopene-containing foods may help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol.
In addition, clinical studies demonstrate the benefits of eating tomatoes to fight inflammation and reduce oxidative stress markers. Tomatoes may even have a protective effect on the inner layer of blood vessels, which may reduce the risk of blood clotting.
Cancer is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that spread beyond their normal limits, often invading other parts of the body. Observational studies have found that consumption of tomatoes – and their products – is associated with reduced incidences of prostate cancer in men, as well as lung and stomach cancer (Natl Cancer Inst. 1999).
A study in women shows that high concentrations of carotenoids – found in high amounts in tomatoes – may act as a protective shield against breast cancer (Sato, Helzlsouer, Alberg. 2002). But the benefits of tomatoes are not limited there, as it is believed that eating tomatoes and their products can be extremely beneficial for skin health.
In particular, tomato-based foods are extremely rich in lycopene and other plant compounds that can protect the skin from sunburn-induced lesions. According to one study, people who consumed 40 grams of tomato paste – providing 16 mg of lycopene – with olive oil every day for 10 weeks had 40% less sunburn (Stahl, Heinrich, 2001).
