Whether you consider the tomato a fruit or vegetable, the fact remains that it is a great addition to any meal.

With an extensive list of essential vitamins and minerals contained in them, tomatoes are loaded with many health benefits. Some key nutrients found in tomatoes include lycopene, calcium, potassium, and vitamins A, B, C & K. Tomatoes are also a good source of dietary fiber and contain about four percent carbohydrates.

Available in about 3,000 species that are ready to eat and easy to cook in multiple ways, this superfood adds flavor and great advantages to any meal. Let’s look at a few.

1. Your Skin Looks Greater: Your skin needs collagen for strength and elasticity, and also for replacing damaged cells. Biotin and Vitamin C in tomatoes enhance the production of various proteins, including collagen. Tomatoes also have lycopene, which protects the skin against damage from the sun.

2. Your Hair Gets Healthier: Taking tomato juice regularly will make your hair better by improving its texture and appearance. Its rich composition of iron and Vitamins A and K strengthens and revitalizes the hair, maintains its color, and adds shine.

3. Your Weight Stays Controlled: Low in fats and with zero cholesterol, tomatoes are ideal for weight control plans. Tomatoes can be eaten raw or added to other meals, and the stomach fills up faster with fewer calories because of the water and fiber in them.

4. Your Bones Become Stronger: Tomatoes contain calcium and Vitamin K that strengthen and repair the bones, as well as magnesium which works with a hormone called calcitonin to help the bones absorb calcium and potassium, thus preventing calcium loss over time.

5. Your Eyes See Better: Tomatoes are a rich source of Vitamins A & C, lycopene, lutein, and beta-carotene. These are powerful antioxidants that protect the eyes against light damage, cataracts, night blindness, and age-related macular degeneration.

6. You Sleep Better: Some studies show that increased levels of lycopene and Vitamin C in tomatoes promote better sleep. That means a salad with tomatoes or even tomato juice or soup may be just what you need if you haven’t been sleeping properly.

7. Your Heart Works Better: Tomatoes have Vitamin B and potassium which help to flush sodium from the blood, reduce cholesterol, and lower blood pressure. Also, properties like lycopene and Vitamins A & C work together to reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease.

8. Your Glucose Levels Are Optimized: Elevated blood sugar levels affect vital organs like the brain and kidneys. Tomatoes contain little carbohydrates and will help lower glucose levels in the blood. This also helps to prevent diabetes.

9. Reduces Risk of Cancer: Cooked tomatoes produce a high amount of lycopene, an antioxidant that slows the growth of cancerous cells. More lycopene works to reduce the risk of lung, colon, prostate, and stomach cancer.

10. You Strengthen Your Immune System: Tomatoes help to boost the body’s immunity levels. The vitamins and antioxidants work to reduce stress and increase energy levels. Eating more tomatoes will help prevent or manage various ailments like gallstones, urinary tract infections, anemia, Alzheimer’s disease, etc. For more health tips, watch Healthy Living on Healing Streams TV. Find past episodes in the ‘video on demand’ section – www.healingstreams.tv.