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 several side effects! 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.