Are Tomatoes Good for You?
Whether red, orange, or yellow, these delicious veggies deliver disease-fighting phytochemicals
Biting into a ripe, juicy tomato is one of the true treats of summer. It’s also one of the best things you can do for your body. The rich red color comes from lycopene, a powerful antioxidant plentiful in just a few foods. Plus, a large tomato offers decent amounts of vitamin C and potassium, which lowers blood pressure, as well as ferulic acid, an antioxidant. Tomatoes also have flavonoids, plant chemicals that curb inflammation and cell damage and help increase blood flow. Even the seeds have health benefits, containing fiber and compounds called saponins, which are anti-inflammatory.
Locally grown tomatoes may be your best bet for health and taste. “In an attempt to create firm, round, pest-resistant fruit, big agriculture accidentally bred out the flavor gene,” says Amanda Bontempo, RD, an oncology dietitian at NYU Langone Health. Plus, grocery store varieties are generally picked early so that they’re not overripe by the time they reach the store. “Sun-ripened tomatoes typically have more flavor and more lycopene,” says Alisa Scherban, RD, a dietitian with Yale Health in New Haven, Conn.
The Benefits of Lycopene
Like all antioxidants, lycopene squelches free radicals, which play a role in cancer, heart disease, and other diseases associated with aging, Bontempo says. A 2020 study published in the journal Cancer Causes & Control found that men who ate tomatoes almost every day had a 28 percent lower risk of prostate cancer than men who didn’t. Lycopene may also protect the skin from the sun damage that can cause skin cancer, and some research suggests that it helps women maintain bone mass as they age.
Inflammation Risk?
People with arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis, often think they should avoid tomatoes and other nightshade vegetables (eggplant, potatoes, and peppers, for example) because they can cause inflammation that leads to joint pain. The notion may stem from the fact that this plant family contains a compound called solanine, which in large amounts can be toxic. But the amount found in nightshade vegetables is extremely low. There’s no research that shows that nightshades cause inflammation. In fact, it’s just the opposite. “The phytochemicals in tomatoes have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect,” Bontempo says.
Just Picked! Tasty Dishes to Try.
You can’t go wrong by including in-season tomatoes in a salad or serving slices with fresh mozzarella. But there are many more nutritious ways to take advantage of summer’s bounty.
Whip up gazpacho. Chop tomatoes, cucumbers, garlic, and cilantro, and pulse in a food processor, then combine with olive oil and a splash of vinegar before chilling.
Try ratatouille. Drizzle olive oil over chunks of tomatoes and other veggies (zucchini, summer squash, eggplant, onions, etc.), add herbs, then roast.
Combine with seasonal fruit. Tomatoes go well with watermelon and peaches. For a fresh twist, add watermelon (which is another rich source of lycopene) to gazpacho, Bontempo says. Or add it to salads that contain tomatoes. You can also try tomato-peach panzanella: Slice tomatoes and peaches into bite-sized pieces and place them in a large bowl. Sprinkle on a little salt to help extract the juices. Cube part of a stale whole-wheat baguette (if you only have a fresh loaf, toast it before cubing) and add to the bowl. Toss with a dressing of your choice and, if you like, bite-sized pieces of fresh mozzarella.
Toss with some white beans. Bontempo uses gigante beans and seasons with olive oil and chopped thyme. “I also love tomatoes roasted in olive oil with sage and garlic,” she says. “I never met a tomato that I didn’t like.”
Editor’s Note: A version of this article originally appeared in the September 2020 issue of Consumer Reports On Health.
