Tomatoes are one of many fruits considered an appetite-suppressant “high-volume” food, which means they have high amounts of water, air and fiber.
Tomatoes are the richest source of lycopene, a potent antioxidant. Numerous empirical investigations have demonstrated that lycopene possesses biologic activity that can are anti-cancer, -osteoporotic and -atherogenic, respectively, and may possess metabolic disease ameliorative potential.
Tomato products improve antioxidant defenses and reduce the risk of inflammatory diseases, at least partly, due to the presence of lycopene.
Lycopene, as an anti-inflammatory agent, prevents the production of inflammatory cytokines. Obesity is a chronic inflammatory condition in which the increased level of body fat leads to an increase in circulating inflammatory mediators.
Indeed, tomato fruit consumption has been associated with a reduced risk of inflammatory processes, cancer, and chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCD) including cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity.
Tomato fruit and health benefits
