The tomato is a plant in the nightshade family, as are its cousin’s tobacco, chilli peppers, potato, and eggplants.

There are countless health benefits that come from eating tomatoes. Tomatoes are full of compounds that have been proven to help prevent cancer, heart disease cataracts and many others health problems.

Let’s start with the essentials; tomatoes contain hefty amounts of vitamin C, providing 40 percent of the daily value. They also contain 15 percent DV of vitamin A, 8 percent DV of potassium, and 7 percent of the recommended dietary allowance of iron for women and 10 percent for men.

The red pigment enclosed in tomatoes is called lycopene. This compound appears to act as an antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals that can damage cells in the body. Only in recent times, studies have shown that lycopene may have twice the punch of another well-known antioxidant beta-carotene.

Studies conducted by many researchers have exposed that men who consumed 10 servings of tomatoes a week,  can cut the risk of developing prostate cancer by a formidable 45 percent. However, its benefits are not limited to the prostate. It has also shown by consuming large servings during the week of tomatoes lower the risk of developing rectal colon or stomach cancers by 60 percent.  Also many kinds of

studies have also shown that the lycopene in tomatoes can also help older people stay active longer. Not only that, it has also been said from some newer research, that by consuming tomatoes, it may drastically help reduce the risk of Lung Cancer. So why would you not eat them at every meal!!!

Now, when choosing your tomatoes, be sure to pick the tomato with the most radiant shades of red. These indicate the highest amounts of beta-carotene and lycopene. Though raw tomatoes are great for you, cooking them releases even more of the benefits. Lycopene is located in the cell wall of the tomato, so by cooking in a bit of oil, this healing compound is more fully released. In addition cooking the tomato in olive oil allows your body to absorb the lycopene better. So don’t worry about the availability of fresh tomatoes. Tomatoes don’t lose any of their nutritional value in the high heat processing; making canned tomatoes and tomato sauce are both just as viable and beneficial as fresh tomatoes. So remember to eat tomatoes at every meal!