The secret may lie in lycopene, the chemical that makes tomatoes red

* Tomatoes are lipophilic, which means their nutritional value is increased by being cooked in some fat.
Cooked tomatoes may be more beneficial to your health than raw tomatoes.
* Tomatoes are rich in vitamins (A, C Calcium) and fiber.
* Tomatoes are rich the antioxidant Lycopene.
Tomatoes also contain vitamin C and carotenoids, beta carotene being one of the most familiar, which are antioxidants. These offer protection from free radicals that cause premature aging, cancer, heart disease, and cataracts.
Loaded with antioxidants and high in potassium, tomatoes are one of the healthiest "vegetables" around.

Processed tomatoes (e.g. canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, ketchup) contain even more lycopene because cooking breaks down cell walls, releasing and concentrating carotenoids. Eating tomatoes with a small amount of fat enables lycopene to be better absorbed. Please check out where we get our tomato sauce.