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Review
. 2022 Feb 4;11(2):239.
doi: 10.3390/biology11020239.

Tomatoes: An Extensive Review of the Associated Health Impacts of Tomatoes and Factors That Can Affect Their Cultivation

Edward J Collins  1   2 , Cressida Bowyer  2 , Audrey Tsouza  1 , Mridula Chopra  1
Affiliations
Review

Tomatoes: An Extensive Review of the Associated Health Impacts of Tomatoes and Factors That Can Affect Their Cultivation

Edward J Collins et al. Biology (Basel). .

Abstract

This review outlines the health benefits associated with the regular consumption of tomatoes and tomato products. The first section provides a detailed account of the horticultural techniques that can impact the quality of the fruit and its nutritional properties, including water availability, light intensity, temperature, and growing media. The next section provides information on the components of tomato that are likely to contribute to its health effects. The review then details some of the health benefits associated with tomato consumption, including anticancer properties, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and skin health. This review also discusses the impact tomatoes can have on the gut microbiome and associated health benefits, including reducing the risk of inflammatory bowel diseases. Other health benefits of eating tomatoes are also discussed in relation to effects on diabetes, the immune response, exercise recovery, and fertility. Finally, this review also addresses the negative effects that can occur as a result of overconsumption of tomato products and lycopene supplements.

Keywords: cardiovascular; diabetes; exercise; fertility; horticulture; lycopene; microbiome; neurodegenerative; skin health; tomato; vitamin C.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Infographic representing the nutrients obtained from an average round tomato and how these relate to the daily recommended intakes [68,69].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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