- ingredients of tomatoes
- Basics of the study
- execution and Results
- Conclusion
Tomatoes are not only tastefully and versatile, but can also have a positive effect on our health. A recent study shows what impact tomatoes on the intestinal flora have.
Ingredients of tomatoes and a study on their effects
tomatoes are among the so-called fruit vegetables. Tomatoes have long been used as medicinal plants. For example, by the Spanish doctor Alfaro, who used them, among other things, to cleanse the body and relieve headaches, swelling and burns. Later, the red fruit vegetable was also used in the kitchen popularity across Europe. The taste is sweet and sour at the same time and is often used in numerous dishes. 2020 were in Germany according to the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food around 27.2 kg of tomatoes per capita consumed.
Incorporating tomatoes into your diet on a regular basis can do some health benefits have for you The food has few calories, but contains many Vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. After a short time, the consumption of tomatoes is even said to increase the diversity of intestinal microbes and the concentration of a “good” type of bacteria.
The latter was found in a recent study by researchers at the Pennsylvania State University and the Ohio State University found out. The researchers turned their interest to the effects of tomatoes on the gut microbiome. The study was published in the journal “Microbiology Spectrum“.
implementation and research results
The study was carried out on 20 piglets. The reason for this was that the animals model human metabolism well. For a period of two weeks one group received a diet enriched with freeze-dried tomato powder, while the other received normal diet. Both groups had intakes of sugar, fiber, protein, fats and calories identical.
At three different points in time, once at the beginning of the study, once at mid-term and once at the end fecal samples taken. Using these, the researchers were able to examine the changes in the microbacterial properties in the intestine. Experts worked on sequencing the existing microbial DNA. In a Ohio State News press release the study author postulated that been examined for the first time how eating tomatoes can affect the microbiome.
In summary, the researchers were able to two major changes determined. On the one hand, the diversity of microbial species in the gut. Second, one could cheaper profile of the bacterial species Phyla Bacteroidota (formerly Bacteroidetes) compared to Bacillota. According to the researchers, this observation can be associated with a positive effect on health. This includes, for example, a reduced risk of developing obesity and the emergence of various diseasesincluding cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer.
Conclusion
In the course of their study, the researchers were able to find out that the consumption of tomatoes not only has positive effects on the intestinal flora, but also Other advantages can entail for health. It is therefore worthwhile to integrate fruit vegetables into your diet from time to time.
However, according to study author Jessica Cooperstone, it still exists some ambiguities regarding the effects of tomato consumption on the microbiome. For full understanding it is necessary that follow-up studies in humans be performed. This is the only way to create specific nutritional recommendations that lead to a long-term improvement can lead to human health.