Tomatoes eaten raw might not be so healthy, says a new study, because our digestive tract can only process a tiny amount of lycopene, an antioxidant found abundantly in tomatoes.
Antioxidants are dietary substances found in beta carotene, vitamins C and E and selenium. They prevent damage to the cells in our body or reverse damage after it has been done.
The study found that although around 75 per cent of the total antioxidants were released, this included only four per cent of the lycopene found in the raw tomato.
"Tomatoes are the richest source of lycopene in the human diet, as well as containing other antioxidants essential for health," said nutritional bio chemist Carolyn Lister of Plant and Food Research (PFR).
"However, the human digestive tract is not able to release the majority of lycopene from raw tomatoes, so only a small amount would be made available for the body to use."
"Processing tomatoes has been shown to make lycopene more bio available, so as well as eating raw tomatoes for their nutritional value, we should eat tomato sauces to get the goodness of the lycopene," said Lister.
Antioxidants are dietary substances found in beta carotene, vitamins C and E and selenium. They prevent damage to the cells in our body or reverse damage after it has been done.
The study found that although around 75 per cent of the total antioxidants were released, this included only four per cent of the lycopene found in the raw tomato.
"Tomatoes are the richest source of lycopene in the human diet, as well as containing other antioxidants essential for health," said nutritional bio chemist Carolyn Lister of Plant and Food Research (PFR).
"However, the human digestive tract is not able to release the majority of lycopene from raw tomatoes, so only a small amount would be made available for the body to use."
"Processing tomatoes has been shown to make lycopene more bio available, so as well as eating raw tomatoes for their nutritional value, we should eat tomato sauces to get the goodness of the lycopene," said Lister.
I had to ask because lately I have noticed clearly that many chunks of tomato that I have eaten remain pretty much intact in my stools. Maybe it isn't me, but the tomatoes. I eat some raw every day.
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