Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Did you know that eating tomatoes or tomato products a few times a week can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease? Let me tell you how.

The tomato has an arsenal of heart nutrients. It contains vitamins C and E, fiber and potassium, as well as lycopene, an antioxidant that gives the tomato its red color. Together these nutrients work together to protect the heart by fighting off oxidation and inflammation which can damage the heart.

Tomatoes protect against oxidation stress in people with high levels of lycopene in their bloodstream, which gives them a lower rate of cardiovascular disease. This may be due to antioxidant nutrients that fight the effects of oxidation.

Tomatoes can also improve your cholesterol. Tomatoes increase “good” HDL cholesterol levels and reduces “bad” LDL cholesterol levels. Sometimes we add olive oil to our tomato salad, and with the lycopene in the tomatoes, it can improve cholesterol levels further.

Tomatoes are also healthy for our blood pressure. They help keep our blood pressure under control, which reduces the risk of heart disease. Tomatoes are rich in potassium, which counters the effect of sodium to help keep our blood pressure levels in healthy range; therefore, tomatoes help keep our levels in normal range.

Cynthia Clifton is the general nutrition agent for the St. John the Baptist Parish extension office of the LSU Ag Center. She can be reached at cclifton@agcenter.lsu.edu.