Tomatoes Help Save Your Life

Tomatoes help slash the risk of developing a host of killer diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis and heart trouble, according to scientists.
The fruit is the biggest source of the powerful antioxidant lycopene, the chemical responsible for its colour, according to a review of research.
Unlike nutrients in most fruits and vegetables, lycopene has even greater potency after cooking. Tomatoes also contain other protective mechanisms which help prevent blood clots and inflammation.
Studies have linked tomatoes to a lower risk of prostate and skin cancers and a reduction in the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, ultraviolet light-induced skin damage and even cognitive dysfunction.
Researchers Dr Britt Burton- Freeman and Dr Kristin Reimers, of the National Center for Food Safety & Technology at the Illinois Institute of Technology and ConAgra Foods, Inc, reviewed the research in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.
They wrote: “Tomatoes are the most important non-starchy vegetable in the diet. Research underscores the relationship between tomatoes and reduced risk of cancer, heart disease, and other conditions. The evidence also suggests consumption of tomatoes should be recommended because of the nutritional benefits and because it may be a simple and effective strategy for increasing overall vegetable intake.”
Previous studies showed that tomatoes can help protect smokers against the lung disease emphysema. And they can assist weight loss as they make people feel full while low in calories but rich in vitamins C and E.