Whether you call it a fruit or a vegetable, there's no argument that tomatoes are tasty and packed with nutrition. Along with adding a huge taste-lift to any salad, burger or meal, tomatoes and tomato products have been known to make people healthier and help fight heart disease and various cancers.

Here are three great reasons to eat more tomatoes:

1. Tomatoes are heart smart
People who consume more tomatoes 
or tomato-based products, such 
as tomato sauce, have lower cholesterol and triglyceride 
levels. Controlling these levels 
is one good way to reduce heart disease risk.

2. Tomatoes are rich in cancer-fighting antioxidants
Whether they're heirloom, cluster or field 
varieties, tomatoes contain potent antioxidants such as lycopene and vitamin C. Regularly consuming tomatoes and tomato products reduces your risk of developing certain types of cancer.

3. They are great raw or cooked
You may enjoy sliced tomatoes 
on sandwiches or grape tomatoes in salads, but make sure to cook some too. Tomatoes that are combined with heat and oil provide the greatest amount of disease-busting lycopene, so a robust tomato sauce prepared 
with olive oil is a healthful option.

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This story was originally titled "Why We Love Tomatoes" in the August 2012 issue. Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue!

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