More news on the potential of tomatoes to help dieters cut calories, which we have already covered in previous blogs. Now scientists from the University of Reading have produced research confirming their new status as a superfood for slimmers.
The researchers gave 17 women of normal weight a variety of sandwiches, either filled with cream cheese or name with bread enriched with carrot or tomato. The women were then asked to record how full they felt afterwards.
They discovered that the tomato bread was the most filling, though they had expected the carrot bread to have the best results, as it contained additional fibre. The team admitted that it was a small study but believe the results were ‘statistically significant’. They did not feel able to say why the tomato was more filling.
However previous studies have shown that tomatoes are filling because they contain lycopene. This is the chemical that makes tomatoes red and is thought to be linked to the low rates of heart disease, dementia and diabetes amongst those who follow a Mediterranean diet.
Tomatoes contain compounds which make people feel more satisfied and therefore reduce the urge to snack.
The team are planning to do further research into the compounds contained by the fruit which alter appetite levels, including the hormone ghrelin, a lower level of which makes people feel fuller.