Tomatoes contain beta carotene (provitamin A), precursor of vitamin A, which gets converted to vitamin A in the body when consumed with healthy fats such as avocado, said registered dietitian Garima Goyal

With plant-based diets gaining traction, it is not a surprise to see many flavourful combinations of vegetables that make for a flavoursome spread. Pairing specific foods together, in a concept known as food synergy, helps you maximise their nutritional and health benefits. The fact of the matter is that many nutrients compete for the same receptors in the gastrointestinal tract for absorption. That is why, when combined, they are absorbed better. “Combining the right foods together can increase the body’s ability to absorb fibre, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Not that having them on their own doesn’t have any benefits, but you can get a lot more benefits by taking them together,” said registered dietitian Garima Goyal.

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What more? These are not just healthy but are seasonal and most times loved for their distinct taste that changes the whole “healthy is boring” game. One such is the go-to combination of tomato and avocado. Have you ever wondered why?

When we came across a post suggesting that the monosaturated fat in avocado makes the cancer-fighting lycopene in tomatoes four times more powerful, we decided to delve more.

Here’s what we found.

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Tomato fruit has various health benefits and therapeutic roles such as hypotensive effect, cancer prevention, hypocholesterolemic effect etc. owing to a potent antioxidant in it, namely lycopene. “Also tomatoes contain beta carotene (provitamin A), the precursor of vitamin A, which gets converted to vitamin A in the body when consumed with healthy fats such as avocado. Provitamin A is fat-soluble and thus needs healthy fats to be well absorbed in the body,” Goyal mentioned.

You may have other sources of healthy fats, but avocado has health benefits of its own. “Loaded with healthy fats, fibre, and antioxidants, this fruit has advantages of its own. Studies have found that people who ate salsa with avocado absorbed four times the amount of lycopene than when they ate salsa by itself,” said Goyal.

Thinking of combining them in a recipe? According to Goyal, you can have guacamole, sandwich/wrap with avocado and tomato, salad with tomatoes, avocado, and beans, avocado as a topping on pizza or on tacos.

Source: indianexpress.com