Do you know if the tomato is not just fresh fruit to eat? Tomato is one fruit that has many benefits, one of which is to cut their cholesterol levels. According to research reports published journal maturity, food from the tomatoes are cooked like pasta turned out to have almost the same efficacy as cholesterol-lowering drug chemistry.

According to the researchers, with only consume two ounces or about 60 grams of tomato paste or one-eighth of tomato juice every day is enough for the patient to receive such benefits. The secret lies in lycopene compound that gives red light at the ripe tomatoes. This powerful antioxidant important to health in reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Researchers emphasize, tomatoes are cooked is the best source. It has been proven in research in which the body can absorb more lycopene from cooked tomatoes than in ripe tomatoes yet. The effect is that cooked tomatoes can be equated with small doses of statins that are used to treat patients with cholesterol or high blood pressure. This condition can be a factor of cardiovascular disease.

One of the study’s authors, Dr Karin Ried, of the University of Adelaide, said the tomato has a particularly high level of lycopene. He added, half a liter of tomato juice or 50 grams of tomato paste every day to provide protection against heart disease. But if you just eat a tomato a day will not be enough.

“It can be equated with the effect of low doses of commonly prescribed treatment but without side effects, such as muscle pain and weakness and nerve damage,” he added. Lycopene can also be found in watermelon, guava, papaya, pink grapefruit, apricot and rosehip, but in lower concentrations. Therefore, tomato can be used as one of alternative foods to reduce levels of cholesterol in the body.