Dr Cai Fengbo managed to lose 11 kilograms in a month, simply by incorporating tomatoes into his daily meals!
How did he do it?
Dr Cai, an obstetrician and gynecologist in Taiwan, shares his story here.
Surprised to find his waistline growing, Dr Cai was determined to lose weight. He turned to tomatoes since they are low in calories and can easily fill one up. Whenever he felt hungry, he would:
1. Slice a tomato
2. Microwave it for two minutes
3. Consume it with warm water
Two medium-sized tomatoes were usually enough to whet his hunger.
If you find Dr Cai’s diet plan too monotonous, don’t worry. There are more enjoyable ways to follow a tomato diet plan that are still effective.
How Does the Tomato Diet Work for Weight Loss?
Weight loss potential of tomatoes
● Low in calories. 100 grams of tomatoes contains only 18 calories
● Almost free of fat and low in sugar content
● High in fibre, so they keep one feeling full for a longer period of time.
● High in lycopene. Lycopene is one of the most potent natural substances in the body. It boosts the body’s metabolism, slows down aging, and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and prostate cancer
● Eating tomatoes can also increase the body’s adiponectin levels and reverse obesity and insulin resistance
Moreover, tomatoes are a flavour bomb of sweet and sour tangs, and are a great replacement for unhealthy snacks.
Scientific Proof that Tomatoes Help with Weight loss
A research team from Taiwan published a study in the journal Nutrition in 2015, where they gave 25 women 280ml of tomato juice daily for two months while maintaining their normal diet and exercise schedule.
After two months, the participants were found to have reduced waist circumference, serum cholesterol, and inflammatory adipokine levels.
5 Tomato Diet Tips
1. Eat two raw tomatoes a day for weight loss.
Eat no more than two large tomatoes a day, preferably deep red tomatoes.
Nutritionist Chen Xiaowei says that the redder the tomato, the higher the lycopene content and nutritional value.
2. Add tomatoes to your dinner meal.
Add tomatoes to your dinner meal, such as by making tomato scrambled eggs.
Eating tomatoes at night can promote the secretion of growth hormone, boosting the body’s metabolism and burning fat.
Chen also pointed out that stir-frying tomatoes is a great way to eat them since it makes lycopene easier for the body to absorb.
3. Drink tomato juice.
As seen in the above mentioned Taiwanese study, drinking freshly squeezed tomato juice can lead to weight loss.
As such, tomato juice is a viable alternative to tomato dishes and raw tomatoes.
However, compared to whole tomatoes, tomato juice is lacking in fibre, so it is still better to eat whole tomatoes.
4. Keep to a regular diet and exercise schedule.
Go to bed early and get up early, since adequate sleep is very important for weight loss.
Eat three meals a day and exercise regularly.
5. Drink plenty of water.
Dr Cai says that fat is the first thing to be metabolised when the body is losing weight. When fat is metabolised, it is converted by the body into ketones, which can cause muscle and joint pains. It is best to drink plenty of water to promote the metabolism of fat.
It should be noted that in Traditional Chinese Medicine, tomatoes are considered cold in nature. As such, one should avoid eating them in large quantities to prevent physical discomforts like diarrhea. For those with cold constitutions, it is best to eat cooked tomatoes.
For patients with chronic diseases, one should seek a doctor’s advice before adopting the Tomato Diet Plan to lose weight.
Conclusion
The Tomato Diet Plan works and can be enjoyable too. There are plenty of ways to incorporate tomatoes into your diet, such as by eating raw tomatoes, cooking tomato dishes, or drinking tomato juice. While on this diet, remember to sleep and exercise regularly and drink lots of water, so as to speed up the body’s metabolism and promote weight loss.
