Health benefits of eating tomatoes emerge
The researchers found that tomatoes are the biggest source of dietary lycopene; a powerful antioxidant that, unlike nutrients in most fresh fruits and vegetables, has even greater bioavailability after cooking and processing. Tomatoes also contain other protective mechanisms, such as antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory functions. Research has additionally found a relationship between eating tomatoes and a lower risk of certain cancers as well as other conditions, including cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, ultraviolet light–induced skin damage, and cognitive dysfunction.
Tomatoes are unusual in that some of their key health benefits can actually increase with cooking and processing. This applies to one of the most important antioxidants in tomatoes, lycopene, which becomes easier for us to absorb when tomatoes are cooked.
