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When was the last time you ate tomatoes? Probably not long, as it is a major ingredient in stews, pizza, and all sorts of sauce. But how much do you really know of this amazing fruit? This fruit, which was once thought to be poisonous, packs a lot of health benefits. Tomatoes are a source of the most powerful anti-oxidant – Lycopene. Lycopene is responsible for the red color of tomatoes, and it contains amazing properties which prevents prostate, breast and stomach cancer, protects the skin against UV rays, and helps reduce bad cholesterol. Cooked and processed tomatoes contain more of Lycopene than raw tomatoes. Here are some important health benefits of tomatoes; Reduces the risk of heart diseases: niacin, folate and Vitamin B6 are nutrients that have been associated with reduction of heart disease , and tomatoes contain these nutrients. According to studies, people who ate more servings of tomatoes were found to have lower risks of cardiovascular disease than people who did not. Prevents DNA damage: Vitamin A and Vitamin C are important anti-oxidants, that prevents DNA damage . This means age related diseases such as atherosclerosis and diabetes can be prevented with more intake of tomatoes. Skin benefits: Lycopene, the anti-oxidant, not only acts as a sunscreen to protect against UV rays, it also acts as an anti-aging product. TNF-alpha, a cytokine involved in the regulation of immune cells, causes inflammation, and tomatoes helps reduce high level of TNF-alpha. You can attack specific skin problems using homemade treatments Acne: take a ripe tomato, cut in half and apply on affected area. Leave for about 15 minutes, then rinse with cool water. The acidity of tomatoes helps in clearing up acne, and tomatoes are also rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C And Vitamin K. Big pores: the problem with big pores is that it gives easy access to dirt. You can shrink big pores by adding a few drops of lime juice to a tablespoon of tomato juice. Then, use a cotton wool to apply the mixture on your face, leave for 15 minutes, then wash off with cool water. If you didn’t know, now you do.