We know that tomatoes are excellent for your health. Rich in antioxidants, they protect our cardiovascular system by fighting (among other things) against bad cholesterol, they reduce our risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and they could even help prevent certain cancers – including lung, esophagus , pancreas and stomach. And on the slimming side, they are rich in fiber and contain very few calories: ideal for taking care of your figure (and your health) in summer!
Yes, but here it is: varieties of tomatoes, there are several hundred. If we are familiar with the most classic ones (beef heart, cherry tomato, vine tomato, etc.), others (such as green zebra, Andean horned or pineapple tomato) are much more original and it is often difficult to make a choice on the shelves of the supermarket!
To help us find our way around, researchers from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (in Mexico) evaluated the levels of antioxidants contained in several varieties of tomatoes: in particular, they measured the concentration of carotenoids, polyphenols and tocopherols. Their work has been published in the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science.
The color of the tomato, an important information
Verdict? Red tomatoes (such as beefsteak tomato, Andean horned tomato, vine tomato or even Marmande tomato) are richer than others in lycopene and beta-carotene.
Lycopene is an antioxidant from the carotenoid family that helps protect the skin against aging, helps prevent coronary heart disease and may also prevent prostate cancer. Beta-carotene (which turns into vitamin A in the body) plays an important role in vision, in the proper functioning of the immune system and in bone growth.
Yellow tomatoes (such as pineapple tomato, Lemon Boy tomato, Roma…), for their part, are more concentrated in tocopherols (natural vitamin E, which protects the immune system and could prevent certain degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease) and polyphenols (especially flavonoids, effective in preventing hypertension and certain cardiovascular diseases). Good to know !
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