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7 Surprising Health Benefits of Raw Tomatoes, Impact on fertility & Pregnanacy

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Today we shall look at the health benefits of raw tomatoes on fertility. Fresh tomatoes are no doubt nutrient-packed vegetables that we consume almost every day. It could be eaten fresh raw, or used in preparing a nutritious vegetable meal, and also in popular local food like rice, beans, and several others.

Sometimes the manner, season, and frequency of our intake of certain foods may be detrimental to our health notwithstanding their numerous benefits. We shall also consider the impact of raw tomatoes on fertility.

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Journal of Food Science and Technology in a study to analyze the activities of bioactivities of phytochemicals present in tomatoes reveals the nutritional information.[1]

Nutritional value of raw tomatoes

  • Water
  • Energy
  • Protein
  • Vitamins
  • Minerals
  • Lipid (fat)
  • Ash
  • Carbohydrate
  • Dietary fiber
  • Sugars (Glucose —dextrose, Fructose )
  • Flavonoids

Vitamins & Minerals in Raw Tomatoes

  • Calcium
  • Iron
  • Magnesium
  • Phosphorus
  • Potassium
  • Sodium
  • Zinc
  • Copper
  • Manganese
  • Selenium
  • Fluoride
  • Ascorbic acid
  • Thiamin
  • Riboflavin
  • Niacin
  • Pantothenic acid
  • Vitamin B-6
  • Folate
  • Choline
  • Vitamin A
  • Carotenoids (lycopene, phytoene, and β-carotene)
  • Polyphenols (flavonoids, flavanones, and flavones)
  • Lutein + zeaxanthin
  • Tocopherol (Alpha-tocopherol —Vitamin E)
  • Vitamin K (phylloquinone)

Lipids in raw Tomatoes

  • Saturated Fatty acids
  • Monounsaturated Fatty acids
  • Polyunsaturated Fatty acids
  • Phytosterols

Proteins in raw tomatoes

  • Tryptophan
  • Threonine
  • Isoleucine
  • Leucine
  • Lysine
  • Methionine
  • Cystine
  • Phenylalanine
  • Tyrosine
  • Valine
  • Arginine
  • Histidine
  • Alanine
  • Aspartic acid
  • Glutamic acid
  • Glycine
  • Proline
  • Serine

Flavonoids in raw tomatoes

  • Naringenin
  • Kaempferol
  • Myricetin
  • Quercetin

Health Benefits of Raw Tomatoes

  • Help To Repair Damaged Body Cells
Tomatoes are enriched with several vitamins and minerals like ascorbic acid and a-
tocopherol that helps to protect the body cells against ROS —(Reactive Oxygen Species) which provokes oxidative stress that causes cancer, and also contributes to premature aging.
  • It Helps To Lower The Growth Of Cancerous cell
Study reveals that Reactive Oxygen Species are the chief causes of cancer due to their ability to stimulate oxidative stress which
harms vital cellular biomolecules like proteins, lipids, and nucleic acid.
Research reveals that Lycopene found in tomatoes may contribute to countering the effect of ROS.
  • Help Boost Immune System
As mentioned above tomatoes are found to have vitamins and minerals like vitamin C —Ascorbic acid, and Carotenoids — (lycopene, phytoene, and β-carotene) that help to strengthen the body’s defense against diseases and other foreign bodies that may pose a threat to the human body.
  • Promote Healthy Heart
Study reveals that lycopene a carotenoid found in tomatoes fights certain heart diseases. According to Research, polyphenols help regulate blood pressure and ensure proper circulation. Polyphenols can also help lower chronic inflammation which is a risk factor for heart disease.
  • Promote General Wellbeing
Vitamin A, Fiber, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Selenium, Fluoride, and several others are found in tomatoes and are helpful to the body in so many ways.
Tomatoes also contain important phytochemicals that are antioxidants and have anti-proliferative, anti-carcinogenic, anti-tumorigenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, and anti-atherogenic properties which not only fight off foreign bodies, repair damaged body cells, lower the risk of cancer but also ensure general wellbeing. The benefits & side effects of Tomatoes on fertility are detailed below.

Benefits of raw Tomatoes on fertility

  • Boost Male Sexual Performance
Arginine a very potent energy booster is present in tomatoes, according to research, it promotes a strong erection and a steady heartbeat, good for energy-consuming activities like athletes because of its ability to enhance proper blood circulation, reduce blood pressure, and help in relieving chest pain.
  • Boost Sperm Quality
Methionine an amino acid found in tomatoes not only helps in absorbing vital minerals such as zinc and selenium that boost sperm quality, but it also helps in removing toxic substances that could damage sperm cells, promote digestion, prevent the accumulation of fat in the artery which could hinder blood flow.[2]
Zinc and Selenium are important antioxidants that help boost sperm production in quantity and quality(count, motility & morphology)

Side effects of raw tomatoes on pregnancy

  • May Increase The Risk Of Bleeding During Delivery
Despite its potential ability to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, lycopene found in tomatoes also reduces the rate of blood clotting and this can be dangerous during delivery and surgery, hence tomatoes should be reduced at least during the third trimester of pregnancy.
It can also increase the chances of premature delivery and also lower a baby’s birth weight.
  • Polyphenols & flavonoids In Tomatoes Are Harmful To Fetus
According to a study by the Fetal Cardiology Unit, Institute of Cardiology, Porto Alegre, Brazil, there are indications that polyphenols have harmful effects on the fetus despite their cardioprotective effects.
Although in small concentrations, tomatoes have phytochemicals such as polyphenols, and flavonoids which are both helpful to the body.
A study suggests that the intake of polyphenols may increase the risk of miscarriage. Flavonoid-rich foods which tomatoes are among may also increase fetal ductal constriction, especially during the third trimester of pregnancy, and this may increase the risk of low birth weight [3].
Bottom line:
The health benefits of raw tomatoes, It is packed with several vitamins and minerals that aid in repairing damaged body cells and delay the onset of aging. Additionally, tomatoes contain significant phytochemicals that have anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and anti-carcinogenic activities. Because it promotes normal blood circulation, the amino acid arginine, which is present in fresh tomatoes, improves sexual function as well as other energy-intensive activities like sports, while methionine an amino acid in raw tomatoes aids in the absorption of important elements that improve the quality of sperm, such as zinc and selenium.

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