7 Important Nutrients in Tomatoes ...

You probably think of bananas or potatoes when it comes to potassium, but the truth is that it’s one of the nutrients in tomatoes that makes them such a great choice. Potassium is vitally important for regulating your blood pressure and skimping on it can lead to heartbeat irregularities and even a heart attack. Load up on tomatoes and you can help meet your daily intake recommendations of potassium.

Calcium is a nutrient you need to support strong and healthy bones and teeth. While tomatoes certainly won’t meet all of your calcium requirements, they can certainly help. Combine tomatoes with sliced mozzarella, basil leaves and a splash of balsamic to get even more calcium while eating something tasty.

When it comes to immunity, vitamin C is an important nutrient. It helps protect you from illnesses and diseases from the common cold to more serious health issues. At the same time, vitamin C is an antioxidant so it also helps fight free radical damage that can lead to a range of health problems, including heart disease and cancer. If that’s not great news, I don’t know what is!

Speaking of antioxidants, vitamin A is another one. Getting enough of this nutrient helps protect you from a myriad of health issues that I’m sure you’d rather avoid. Vitamin A is also great for the health of your gums and teeth so it pays to add tomatoes to your meal plan. Experiment with them in the kitchen to find the recipes you love best.

You need vitamin K because it plays a role in blood clotting. A deficiency could mean a major problem. However, vitamin K is also important for healthy bones. The bottom line is that you should never skimp on this vital nutrient. Even though it doesn’t get much attention, that doesn’t mean it isn’t good for you. Tomatoes are the perfect way to add vitamin K to your meal plan.

Folate is one of the B vitamins and tomatoes are a great way to contribute to your daily intake recommendations. Women should pay special attention to their folate intake because it’s important for preventing certain birth defects even before you know you are pregnant. You can’t get all your folate from tomatoes, but they help.

Fiber is a nutrient that your body needs for several functions. First, it helps control your cholesterol levels, which can help reduce your risk of heart disease. Fiber is also important for regulating digestion and bowel function. Finally, fiber can help control your appetite so adding tomatoes to a low-calorie diet can help you control your weight.

Did you realize tomatoes were so healthy? I always love finding out that something that tastes really good is so great for my health. What’s your favorite way to eat tomatoes?