Image by The MKJ Photography
Low in calories
A serving of five cherry tomatoes contains 20 calories, the majority of which comes from carbohydrates -- 80 percent. Twenty percent of the calories in a serving comes from protein, and none comes from fat as cherry tomatoes do not have any fat. While a serving of cherry tomatoes is a low-calorie snack, between-meal snacks should contain 100 to 200 calories, according to The Diet Channel. To bring a serving of these tomatoes into the ideal range, consider adding a small portion of tuna or an ounce of cheese.
Carbohydrates and Protein
Cherry tomatoes provide 4 g of carbohydrates per serving. The carbohydrates in cherry tomatoes help meet your energy needs. The Institute of Medicine suggests consuming 130 g of carbs each day. If you are an athlete or pregnant, you may need more; check with your physician to figure out the best level of carbohydrate intake. You should also consume 46 to 56 g of protein daily, although, again, this amount may vary based on lifestyle. A serving of cherry tomatoes contains less than 1 g of protein, so add protein-rich foods to your diet to meet your dietary goals.
Vitamins and Minerals
Snacking on cherry tomatoes or including them in a recipe helps you get the vitamin A you need each day. A serving of these tomatoes provides you with 15 percent of the daily recommended intake of this vitamin. Because of the vitamin A content in cherry tomatoes, they make a good choice to maintain eye health and boost your immune system. Another vitamin in cherry tomatoes, vitamin C, also impacts your immune system -- you'll get 10 percent of the amount you need each day per serving. Five cherry tomatoes also contain a small amount of iron: 2 percent of the recommended daily intake. Benefits Eating cherry tomatoes may offer particular benefits for men. Lycopene, a compound found in tomatoes, can impact prostate health. Research published in the May 2005 medical journal "Biochimica et Biophysica Acta" indicates that study participants who consumed tomato products for a period of three weeks showed an increase in cell death in malignant prostate cells. Researchers theorize that phytochemicals in tomatoes promote prostate health.
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