What are the Health Benefits of Eating Grape Tomatoes?
Grape tomatoes are small with an oval shape like grapes and a taste somewhat sweeter than regular tomatoes. Grape tomatoes can be a more convenient snack than other types of vegetables, as they are portable due to their small size. Because they are low in calories, grape tomatoes also make an appropriate snack choice if you're dieting.
The Nutritional Facts for Three Ounces of Grape Tomatoes
Calories, Carbs, Protein and Fat
Including five or six grape tomatoes, or about 3 ounces, in your lunchtime salad adds a minimal 20 calories. Most of the calories in your diet should come from carbs, since they are the main energy source for your body. Your diet should consist of 45 to 65 percent carbohydrates, says the Mayo Clinic website. If you typically consume around 1,800 calories per day, you need 202 to 293 grams of carbohydrates daily. A 3-ounce portion of grape tomatoes contains nearly 5 grams of carbs, which provide 4 calories per gram. This amounts to roughly 20 calories from carbohydrates.
Fiber
Grape tomatoes are full of beneficial fiber. You need fiber in your diet so that your intestines can push out waste. This process allows you to have bowel movements and keeps you regular. Women need between 22 to 28 grams of fiber each day, but men need as much as 28 to 34 grams. Snacking on a 3-ounce serving of grape tomatoes packs about 1 gram of fiber into your diet.
Vitamin C
Grape tomatoes are chock-full of vitamin C. This water-soluble vitamin is not stored in your body, so it is imperative to get it in your daily diet. Vitamin C aids in wound healing, forms protein required for skin cell formation and keeps your immune system healthy. As an added bonus, vitamin C helps rid your body of damaging free radicals that destroy healthy cells. Women must get 75 milligrams of daily vitamin C and men need 90 milligrams. Enjoying a 3-ounce side of grape tomatoes provides about 6 milligrams of the vitamin.
Lycopene
Red and orange fruits and vegetables, such as grape tomatoes, are rich sources of a vitamin-A compound called lycopene, a powerful phytochemical that has antioxidant properties. In 2005, researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago published a lycopene study in the "Biochimica et Biophysica Acta" journal. Research participants were all diagnosed with prostate adenocarcinoma, a type of prostate cancer. For three weeks prior to surgery, participants consumed pasta with tomato sauce as a way to add lycopene to their diet. In this short time frame, researchers observed that oxidative stress and DNA damage to prostate tissues diminished significantly.
Adding grape tomatoes to your meals promotes antioxidant activity in your body from lycopene. This can reduce damage to cells and tissues and possibly lower your risk of developing prostate cancer.
Health Benefits of Grape Tomatoes
· Grape tomatoes are not only popular for their sweetness, but also for their quality to improve the skin texture and tone. These fruits provide a great deal of help in slowing down aging signs.
· Regular consumption of grape tomatoes help in treating and preventing liver diseases and conditions such as gallstones.
· Tomatoes do the work of natural blood purifiers. And since they possess natural antiseptic qualities, they also help in protecting the body against infections.
· They help in preventing and treating anemia.
· Grape tomatoes are a rich source of antioxidants thus, helpful in preventing certain types of cancers.
· The fruits are also known to improve colon's health, prevent prostate problems, and when combined with broccoli, help in fighting cancer cells.
· People who include grape tomatoes, and other types of tomatoes in their diet show low incidences of heart diseases, high cholesterol levels in the body, and improved pancreatic health, and low blood-clotting tendencies.
· Grape tomato juice helps in treating inflammation, strengthening bones, reduce stress, and aid to the treatment of diabetes and migraines.
Before I conclude, I would wish to specify the fact that all these benefits are not only provided by grape tomatoes, but all kinds of tomatoes. So whether you include eating a cherry, grape or a regular tomato in your diet, you are helping your health improve either way.
Sources:
livestrong.com
healthyeating.sfgate.com
buzzle.com
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