Salsa ‘is a great source of antioxidants’

Those wondering what to eat to lose weight should give a homemade tomato salsa a try, a nutritionist has claimed.

Joan Salge Blake, an associate clinical professor of nutrition at Boston University, told Fitness Magazine that this low-calorie food is good for overall health.

“It’s jam-packed with antioxidants, including lycopene, which may reduce the risk of some cancers, and beta-carotene, which may help fight heart disease,” she said.

The magazine advised adding some chopped avocado to salsa as this healthy source of fat helps beta-carotene and lycopene to be absorbed by the body more easily.

Salsa can also be added to Low Sodium V8 to gain extra fibre.

It is the tomatoes in this food that are a great source of beta carotene – an antioxidant and the precursor to vitamin A.

Tomatoes also count towards the NHS-recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

The NHS advises parents to make their own pasta sauces using fresh or tinned tomatoes as these are usually popular with kids and also give them a health boost.

Do tomatoes feature in your weight loss diet?