Can tomatoes boost your metabolism?

QuantumBadger Updated: 2025-07-18

Tomatoes are a great food option for weight loss because they are high in protein and fibre and low in calories. They are also brimming with potent antioxidants that support blood sugar regulation, like lycopene, vitamin C, potassium, and chromium.
Tomatoes are a good source of folic acid, which supports bone health, and vitamin A, which can reduce gallstone formation. Additionally, they have potassium, which lessens gastric acidity.

Lycopene

Tomatoes, along with a variety of other red- or pink-hued fruits and vegetables like watermelon, tomato paste, pink grapefruit, blood oranges, papaya, and red guava, are rich in lycopene, a red carotenoid pigment that is a potent antioxidant. Lycopene increases metabolism by decreasing cholesterol synthesis, inhibiting lipoprotein oxidation, lowering the absorption of cholesterol, and increasing its efflux from cells. It also helps to maintain prostate health and guards against sunburn caused by UV rays.
* Consuming tomato products enhanced the subjects' resting energy expenditure, or their ability to burn calories while at rest, according to a study done on middle-aged women.
Cooking tomatoes, like boiling or steaming, breaks down the fruit's cellular membranes, which raises the fruit's lycopene concentration dramatically. Researchers roasted raw tomatoes for two, fifteen, and thirty minutes in a study that was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. At each interval, they measured the amounts of vitamin C and lycopene in the tomatoes. They discovered that eating the thermally processed tomatoes had the same benefits as supplementing with lycopene.

Vitamin C

Tomatoes include vitamin C, which aids in the battle against oxidative stress, a major contributor to many diseases. Additionally, it has been shown to lessen constipation and encourage regular bowel movements. Additionally, it helps collagen in bones develop. Because vitamin C keeps cholesterol levels within normal ranges, it may help lower the risk of heart disease.
Polyphenols, or antioxidants, help shield your body from free radical damage and are abundant in tomatoes. Additionally, polyphenols have been linked to a lower risk of cancer and diabetes. Organic tomatoes have higher quantities of these phytochemicals because they ripen naturally, as opposed to tomatoes that are chemically pushed to ripen more quickly.
By preventing cancer cells from adhering to other cells, the lycopene found in tomatoes can stop them from growing. It has also been demonstrated to improve white blood cell function. Consuming more lycopene can be achieved by cooking with tomato paste and sauces. They also work well as a topping for sandwiches, breakfast burritos, and salads.

Potassium

Potassium, which is abundant in tomatoes, is essential for maintaining the body's electrolyte and water balance together with salt, chloride, and calcium. In addition, it is crucial for the control of blood pressure, nerve impulses, and muscular contraction.
You can get adequate amounts of this nutrient by making soups and stews with tomatoes as the base. Additionally, tomatoes can be enjoyed on salads with hummus, olive tapenade, and vinaigrette dressing, as a side dish, or tucked into avocado toast. Try slicing them and putting them in pasta and chilli or on sandwiches.
A low-potassium diet may raise your blood pressure, which raises the risk of heart disease and stroke. Furthermore, an excessively rapid or irregular heartbeat might be brought on by low potassium levels. Potassium is a nutrient that speeds up metabolism and improves energy by assisting the body in using iron more efficiently. It works in tandem with magnesium to support muscle contraction, regulation, and growth. Additionally, it can lessen asthma symptoms and inflammation.

Chromium

An important vitamin that aids in controlling insulin and blood sugar levels is chromium. It also aids in decreasing fat storage and promoting muscle building. A wide range of foods, such as meats, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, contain it. According to certain studies, chromium supplementation may benefit type 2 diabetics with their glucose management. Still, more investigation is required.
English muffins, which provide 3.6 mcg of chromium in a standard-sized serving, are among the whole wheat products that are a wonderful source of this mineral. Other foods high in chromium include gammon and shellfish, such as mussels. Additionally high in vitamin C, which improves the body's absorption of chromium, are these fish recipes.
61 mcg of chromium, along with vitamins and minerals like iron, magnesium, and vitamin C, are included in one cup of cooked maize. Additionally, sweet potatoes are a great dietary source of chromium. Along with vitamin A, potassium, manganese, fibre, and other nutrients, a medium meal has 36 micrograms of this mineral.