Cherry Tomatoes – sources, health benefits, nutrients, uses and constituents at NaturalPedia.com

08/09/2017 / By Jhoanna Robinson

Cherry tomatoes, which have the scientific name of Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme, are tomatoes that are small in size. Their size ranges from that of a dime to that of a half-dollar. They have different shapes and colors, which include red, yellow, black, orange, pink, and white.

Cherry tomatoes, which are related to the Hami melon or the Korean persimmon, contain four types of carotenoids: alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, and lycopene.

List of known nutrients

Alpha-Carotene
Beta-Carotene
Bioflavonoid
Carbohydrates
Choline
Copper
Dietary Fiber
Iron
Lutein
Lycopene
Phosphorus
Potassium
Protein
Vitamin A
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Vitamin B9 (Folate)
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
Vitamin C
Vitamin K

Medicinal uses for cherry tomatoes

The vitamin A in cherry tomatoes aids in white blood cell production and provides for the proper operation of your heart, kidneys, and lungs. It also maintains healthy eyesight, thanks to its beta-carotene content. A cup of cherry tomatoes provides 63 micrograms of the 700 mcg recommended daily intake (RDI) for women of the vitamin and 900 mcg of the RDI for men, or 15 percent of the RDI for both sexes. According to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, a deficiency in vitamin A in old age could result to incurring macular degeneration.

An adult who hasn’t reached the age of 50 yet needs around 1.3 milligrams (mg) of vitamin B6 every day; after you reach past the age of 50, you should be obtaining around 1.5 to 1.7 mg of the vitamin. A cup of cherry tomatoes can give you 0.11 mg of vitamin B6, which helps synthesize protein and aids in mental function.

Cherry tomatoes provide for bone health. They are said to stave off the risks of incurring osteoporosis later in life. They are also said to prevent skin damage caused by the harmful rays of the sun, and to protect the brain from disorders, according to an article that was published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine in 2010.

Cherry tomatoes give around four grams (g) of carbohydrates per serving. Carbohydrates help provide you with the energy that you need to perform rigorous activities during the day. According to the Institute of Medicine, you should ingest around 130 g of carbohydrates each day – more if you’re an athlete or an expectant mother.

Cherry tomatoes aid in weight loss. Due to their dietary fiber and water content, cherry tomatoes can leave you feeling full, so you won’t feel the need to eat big portions for your next meal. They are also a good food fare for diabetics as they can help lower blood cholesterol levels due to their potassium content.

Cherry tomatoes have anti-inflammation properties. Their high bioflavonoid content aids in treating soreness of the joints such as arthritis.

Body systems supported by cherry tomatoes

Cherry tomatoes are good for the cardiovascular system. An article that was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in 2000 showed that lycopene can decrease your chances of incurring heart ailments. Lycopene can also help fight against certain cancers. Other nutrients in cherry tomatoes that help stave off the onset of cardiovascular diseases are choline, fiber, potassium, and vitamin C.

Cherry tomatoes are good for the immune system. A cup of cherry tomatoes can give you 10 percent of vitamin C each day. Iron is also something that cherry tomatoes can give – at around two percent of the RDI each day.

Cherry tomatoes are good for the male reproductive system. The lycopene in cherry tomatoes can provide for the proper functioning of the prostate. As a matter of fact, in a research study that was published in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta in May 2005, study participants who ate tomato products for three weeks had the malignant prostate cells in their bodies eliminated.

Cherry tomatoes are also good for the female reproductive system. Eating cherry tomatoes can help increase the milk of lactating mothers.