Tomatoes are good for weight loss
Tomato is good for weight loss, as it’s a low-calorie, filling food, due to its high fiber and water content. Also, tomato burns belly fat as it’s high in carotenoids and vitamin C.
Calories
Above all, tomatoes are great in a hypocaloric diet for weight loss, as they have only a few calories. They have only 18 calories per 100g. A medium tomato has 11 calories!
Hydration
Furthermore, tomatoes support weight loss because they hydrate the body. They’re about 95% water. We have to stay well-hydrated to burn belly fat. Water plays a key role in fat metabolism.[1]
We have to drink at least 64 oz of water per day. If you don’t like drinking water, you could at least consume foods high in water, like cucumber, watermelon, and many more fruits and vegetables! In fact, fruits and vegetables high in water hydrate the body better than tap water because they also contain electrolytes. Moreover, fruits and vegetables contain high-quality, purified water!
Fiber
In addition, tomato is good for weight loss because it’s a good source of fiber. Foods high in fiber, water, and protein promote satiety. You could eat tomato with a protein-rich food, such as cottage cheese, as a healthy snack between meals to lose weight.
Actually, high fiber intakes have been linked to a low risk of obesity! Foods high in fiber are beans, fruits, vegetables, whole grain bread, rice, popcorn, nuts, and seeds.[2]
Sugar
Moreover, tomato helps burn belly fat because it’s pretty low in sugars. Tomato has a very low glycemic index of 23. Hence, it helps control postprandial glucose responses. Even people with diabetes and people on keto can regularly consume tomatoes.[3]
On the contrary, diets with foods with a high glycemic index have been linked to increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.[4]
Protein
Furthermore, tomato is beneficial for weight loss because it contains some protein:
- raw tomato has 0.9 grams of protein per 100g
- tomato paste has 4.3 grams of protein per 100g
- sun-dried tomatoes have 14 grams of protein per 100g
Eating foods high in protein is good for losing belly fat and maintaining a healthy body weight. Protein has by far the greatest thermic effect. The body burns 30% of calories of protein during digestion! On the contrary, only 10% of calories of carbs and 0-3% of fat are burned during digestion of food.
Moreover, foods high in fiber, protein, and water are the most filling. Hence, beans are great for weight loss, as they’re high in protein, fiber, and water!
Vitamin C
Additionally, tomato is a good source of vitamin C. Raw tomato has 14 mg of vitamin C per 100g, or 15% of the Daily Value. Vitamin C has been linked to a decreased risk of obesity, due to its antioxidant properties. It’s involved in the metabolism of fat.[5]
Carotenoids in tomato burn belly fat
Above all, tomato is particularly rich in carotenoids, such as lycopene, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin.
Carotenoids have potent antioxidant properties and help fight oxidative stress, which is a common cause of obesity. Furthermore, high amounts of carotenoids in the blood have been linked to a lower Body Mass Index (BMI).[6]
| Raw tomato | Sun-dried tomato | |
| beta-carotene (mcg) | 449 | 524 |
| lycopene (mcg) | 2,573 | 45,902 |
| lutein & zeaxanthin (mcg) | 123 | 1,419 |
Most noteworthy, tomato is the best dietary source of lycopene. According to a 2019 study, published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, lycopene seems to improve insulin resistance. Also, lycopene has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity properties. Most noteworthy, lycopene seems to block lipogenesis. Hence, it helps burn belly fat.[7]
What’s the best time to eat tomato for weight loss?
The best time of the day to eat tomato for weight loss is before a high-calorie meal. Tomato can help you consume fewer total calories in a day. For instance, you can have a salad with 2 whole tomatoes before the main meal of the day. But, you shouldn’t add any fattening dressing, like vegetable oil. Tomato salad should be low in calories in order to help you lose weight!
