A Tomato A Day...

Eating a tomato a day may keep the doctor away. As a veritable nutritional powerhouse, a medium sized tomato makes a ‘just’ addition to your daily dietary regimen. A brief look at its nutritional profile bears testimony to its multiple health benefits.

One serving (148g) of a premier red, ripe, and raw tomato contains but 7mg of sodium, 4g of sugar, 0g of fat (saturated and unsaturated), and 0g cholesterol. It will suffice to say that this simple fruit (botanically speaking, the tomato is a fruit, not a vegetable) is definitely a ‘heart-friendly’ food. At 27 calories, only 2g of which come from fat, the tomato is a choice food product to combat obesity.

An excellent source of vitamins and minerals, the average serving provides 25 percent of your daily requirements of vitamin A, and 31 percent of vitamin C, a key component in iron absorption. It is also a good source of vitamins E and K, both beneficial to the skin and immune system, as well as the B-vitamin complex (thiamin, niacin, B-6, and folate). It's equally a rich source of minerals such as magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, copper, iron, and potassium – another ‘heart-healthy’ nutrient. Finally, with 2g of dietary fiber per serving, tomatoes are an obvious choice for a healthy digestive system.

Now for the real whopper! One simple specimen of the garden-variety tomato is loaded with lycopene, a substance scientifically proven combatant to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and aging - not to mention a host of other ailments such as osteoporosis, fatigue, headaches, and insomnia. Just ‘Google’ the term ‘tomato health benefits’ and you’ll be assaulted by the evidence available of its health benefits.

Don’t forget to take your daily vitamin pill – a tomato.