10 Serious Side Effects Of Tomatoes
The Indian kitchen is incomplete without tomatoes! No wonder a rise in the price of tomatoes sends us into a tizzy! An integral part of the Indian cuisine, tomatoes offer color, flavor, and a number of health benefits! Whether you consume it raw or cooked form, you will always get lots of vitamins, minerals, dietary fibers and antioxidants from it. But there are some potential pitfalls too! Yes, tomatoes can lead to some side effects!
10 Side Effects Of Tomatoes:
The innocent looking tomato can lead to some serious and some not so serious side effects. Here are the top 10 side effects of tomatoes that you may experience:
1. Imbalanced Immunity
The major element found in fresh raw tomato is the carotenoid pigment ‘lycopene’. It is a chemical compound that is supposed to keep cancer at bay. But excessive intake of this phytochemical can interfere with the regular activities of our immune system and slow it down. As a result, our body loses its ability to protect itself from several common microbial (bacterial, fungal and viral) diseases. At the same time it also becomes incapable of repairing the existing physical damages.
2. Gastrointestinal Issues:
The tomato is full of acids. So, the excessive consumption of tomato triggers various gastrointestinal disorders. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), commonly known as ‘acid reflux’, is a common intestinal disorder. This disease raises the digestive acid level in our stomach, which starts seeping out. Gradually, the acids reach the wall of our esophagus and cause a burning sensation in it. The acids from tomatoes can make this condition worse and can even give you heartburn. So, if you have already been diagnosed with GERD or other such digestive issues, limit your intake of tomatoes immediately.
3. Irritable Bowel Disorder:
The lycopene content of tomato can result in some serious intestinal problems, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). It is characterized by acute pain and extreme discomfort in abdomen along with changed bowel habits. Apart from these, you can also experience some other minor to moderate intestinal issues like abdominal gas, indigestion, bloating, etc., if you consume as much as 30 mg of lycopene a day. It may even give rise to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.
4. Kidney Stones:
Tomatoes, especially the seeds of the vegetable, are rich in calcium and oxalate compounds. If you are already suffering from minor kidney problems, it will be really tough for your body to digest these elements. In such a case, consuming large amounts of tomato will be harmful for you as the calcium and oxalates will accumulate in your kidneys and form small to large stones.
5. Worsened Diverticulitis:
Diverticulitis is a medical condition in which the inner surface layer of the large intestine protrudes through the external muscular layer and these ‘diverticula’ or small pouches get inflamed due to infections. According to scientists, tomato seeds, being small, can get stuck in these out-pouchings and aggravate the condition.
6. Deteriorated Prostate Cancer:
Studies have shown that the lycopene present in the seeds of the vegetable can cause abnormalities in the male prostate gland. Affecting the reproductive system, this abnormality causes severe pain, erectile dysfunction, difficulty in urination, etc. It may sometimes lead to prostate cancer.
7. Vitamin Overdose:
Tomato is a vitamin-rich vegetable. Consuming a medium-sized tomato provides 1,025 IU of Vitamin A and 17 mg of Vitamin C, which are half and one-tenth of our daily requirements, respectively.Side effects of eating too many tomatoes in a day can lead to vitamin overdose in our body. It may eventually lead to problems like headache, nausea, kidney pain, etc.
8. Nutrient Deficiency:
While getting lots of vitamins from tomatoes, you may end up depriving yourself of many other essential nutrients. It damages our your body as you become unable to carry out your vital physical activities efficiently.
9. Allergic Reactions:
Excessive lycopene can give us allergic reactions too. Some of the symptoms of lycopene allergy include itching, rashes, hives, chest constriction, swollen lips, burning sensation in eyes, and so on.
10. Change In Skin Color:
Prolonged and consistent consumption of tomato can alter your skin color. It might take on a slight orange tint!
I am sure that no amounts of side effects will keep you away from your favorite tomato! But, try to keep these side effects in mind and limit your tomato consumption!
Courtesy : stylecraze
