Add Tomatoes for a Healthy Diet

TomatoesTomatoes are one of those wonderfully universal foods that can be used in just about any dish that you can think of from tastey omelets to spaghetti dinners.  They can be served raw or cooked.; hot or cold. Not only are they versatile and delicious but adding tomatoes to your diet can be a smart move for better health with benefits ranging from lower cholesterol to better eye sight.

Some of the Health Benefits of Tomatoes:

• Tomatoes are rich in antioxidants which help fight free radicals in your body. This is important because free radicals can damage cells and lead to cancer in various forms. However, eating a diet rich in antioxidants helps to prevent and protect you from this damage.
• You can help to cleanse your body of harmful toxins by eating more tomatoes.
• A diet rich in tomatoes can help to protect your heart and prevent heart disease.
• Tomatoes and other lycopene rich foods can help to lower your cholesterol adding to the heart smart benefits of tomatoes.
• Promote better colon health by eating more tomatoes.
• Boost your immune system by getting over 50% of your daily dose of Vitamin C with just 1 cup of tomatoes.
• Tomatoes are high in Vitamin A which is great for your eyes.
• Eating tomatoes helps to promote healthy skin and protect against the damage caused by UV rays.
• In addition to healthy skin, eating tomatoes on a regular basis can help you to have strong and healthy teeth and hair as well.
• Fight the signs of aging with this anti-oxidant rich food.
• A healthy diet full of tomatoes can help you to prevent and minimize the formation of gall stones.
• Regularly consuming tomatoes is also a great way to protect yourself against bladder cancer and urinary tract infections.

So, what makes tomatoes so good for you? To begin with, tomatoes are a natural source of several important vitamins and nutrients including Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and potassium. In addition to all of the vitamins and essential nutrients found in tomatoes, they are a great source of fiber to. Tomatoes are also an important source of lycopene, the carotene pigment that gives tomatoes their bright red color, is one of the many healthy ingredients found in tomatoes and is one of the key nutrients found to lower cholesterol levels.

It is also important to note that you will get the most benefits out of tomatoes when you are choosing organically grown tomatoes free of harsh chemicals and pesticides, or better yet, grow them yourself in a handy hanging basket wherever you live for a great addition to any meal right at your finger tips.

Because there are so many ways to easily incorporate tomatoes in your regular diet, it can be easy to transform your diet into a healthy tomato rich meal plan. Here area couple of quick ideas of eating tomatoes on a daily basis:

• Add to omelets, scrambled eggs, or breakfast burritos
• Snack on low sodium salsa and tortilla chips for a healthy alternative to fat filled junk food.
• Toss in pasta salads.
• Add tomatoes to skillet meals or casseroles.
• Add extra slices to sandwiches, burgers, and pizza.