Tomatoes May Fight Hunger

Amanda Younger

France (AOL Health) -- November 5th -- The secret to a trimmer physique may lie in a simple sandwich topping. A study from France's Reading University showed that chowing down on tomatoes can help to decrease appetite and, ultimately, suppress snack cravings.

Researchers studied a group of women between the ages of 18 and 35. They asked the women to munch on cream cheese sandwiches made with either white bread or bread that had been enriched with carrots or tomatoes to find which of the breads would be most filling. Researchers believed that the group would feel fullest after eating sandwiches made with carrot bread -- because of the high fiber content in carrots -- but were surprised to find that the tomato group was the most satisfied.

"They were given the sandwiches in a random order and we recorded how full they said they were," researcher Julie Lovegrove, M.D., told The Daily Mail. "It was a small study, and we can't yet say what the crucial tomato ingredient is, but the results were statistically significant."

Dr. Lovegrove and other researchers aren't exactly sure what makes tomatoes filling so follow-up studies are being planned.

Lycopene, which is what gives tomatoes their red color, could be one explanation. From fending off cancer to combating male infertility and improving eye health, this antioxidant has proven to be a wonder ingredient for boosting overall health.

The health benefits of this fleshy fruit are so widely known that it has led to the creation of the tomato pill. Chock full of lycopene, the exact health benefits of this supplement are not yet known, but the pill is credited with preventing heart disease and stroke. Lycopene has been attributed with fighting against "bad" cholesterol, which can clog arteries and cause a heart attack. And now, tomatoes may also be an effective weapon for dieters.