Widely appreciated for their bright taste and vibrant color, tomatoes offer numerous health benefits. These juicy fruits (botanically speaking) are full of essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A and C, potassium and folate, according to data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
But the nutrient tomatoes are best known for is lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that gives the fruit its bright red color and helps your body eliminate free radicals, compounds that contribute to disease and aging. Research found that lycopene has anti-cancer properties and that a diet rich in lycopene can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a study. study published in Nutrition Frontiers in August 2022.
While tomatoes are often eaten raw in salads or sliced in sandwiches, cooking them was shown to increase the amount of lycopene available to your body – not to mention that cooking deepens the natural flavor of a tomato. Sauce isn’t your only option for cooked tomatoes, either: this grilled tomato appetizer is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
