Health questions: is tomato soup good for you?

Think of what goes into a good tomato soup – lashings of the red vegetable, of course, as well as aromatics such as onion and garlic

Consider the tomato’s properties too – it is high in lycopene, linked to a lowering of LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol, and beta-carotene, a source of vitamin A

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Tomatoes are high in lycopene and beta carotene, both of which have strong health properties, as well as potassium. Cooking them into a soup breaks down their cell walls, making it easier for the body to absorb their nutrients. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 9:45am, 29 Nov 2023Updated: 9:55am, 30 Nov 2023

Is tomato soup good for you? It certainly can be.

With the tomato abundant in vitamins and antioxidants, it’s safe to say that the bulk of what goes into this soup recipe is beneficial for your health.

So what are the health benefits of tomato soup? Let’s boil this down together.

Cooking tomatoes into a nourishing soup might just give you that extra boost of lycopene and vitamin A you’re looking for.

The red pigments, vitamins and potassium in fresh tomatoes make them a healthy addition to your diet, and cooking them helps release their goodness. Photo: Shutterstock

Regular consumption of lycopene – the main carotenoid, or pigment, responsible for tomatoes’ vibrant red colour – has been linked to a lowering of LDL cholesterol (also known as “bad” cholesterol) levels in the body, a recognised risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. That’s according to a 2011 review published in the international health journal Maturitas.

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Health questions: is tomato soup good for you?

Think of what goes into a good tomato soup – lashings of the red vegetable, of course, as well as aromatics such as onion and garlic Consider the tomato’s properties too – it is high in lycopene, linked to a lowering of LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol, and beta-carotene, a source of vitamin A

Think of what goes into a good tomato soup – lashings of the red vegetable, of course, as well as aromatics such as onion and garlic

Consider the tomato’s properties too – it is high in lycopene, linked to a lowering of LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol, and beta-carotene, a source of vitamin A