5 Possible Side Effects of Eating Too Many Tomatoes

Tomatoes are nutritious and versatile ⁠— you can find them in recipes for many things, like salads, pizza and soup.

And no shocker here: Raw tomatoes are not bad for you. In fact, all forms of tomatoes are generally safe to eat, according to a June 2019 review in ‌Nutrition‌. (Yep, that includes green tomatoes.)

It's also hard to eat ‌too‌ ‌many‌ tomatoes, but if you do, it might lead to gastrointestinal, kidney, urinary and other side effects. Learn more about those effects here.

Tomatoes are associated with an increased risk of heartburn and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), per Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Anyone can experience acid reflux after eating acidic foods like tomatoes, including folks without any pre-existing health conditions.

Tomatoes, specifically, have high amounts of malic acid and citric acid, which can worsen GERD, per Pace Hospitals.

"While there could be many underlying reasons why a person is experiencing heartburn and acid reflux, acidic foods are well-known to be a common trigger for people who are prone to heartburn and GERD," says registered dietitian Jenna Volpe, RDN, LD.

Eating too many tomatoes can also trigger other gastrointestinal issues, like stomachaches, gas, bloating and diarrhea in certain people.

"Tomatoes contain ascorbic acid and other acidic compounds, which, in excess, can erode the lining of the stomach," Volpe explains. "This may lead to an acute onset stomachache or mild gastritis in someone with a sensitive stomach."

Like other nightshade plants, tomatoes contain toxic glycoalkaloids. Green tomatoes are particularly known for containing glycoalkaloid compounds like solanine, a-tomatine and dehydrotomatin. Unfortunately, glycoalkaloids can cause gastrointestinal tract issues and pain when eaten in large amounts, per a 2016 report in the ‌Encyclopedia of Food and Health‌.

Tomatoes are rich in carotenoids like lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. In fact, one cup of cherry tomatoes has about 3,830 micrograms of lycopene, per the USDA. Lycopene, among other carotenoids, can promote eye health, decrease cancer risk and improve heart health, per the Cleveland Clinic.

Lycopene can also have some unwanted effects when eaten in large amounts.

When eaten in excess, lycopene can build up in your bloodstream. This can eventually cause a skin discoloration condition called lycopenodermia, causing your skin to turn orange. Although you may not like the way this skin condition looks, it is reversible and relatively harmless.

There is no recommended daily amount (RDA) or unsafe upper limit of lycopene, but excess intake can result in GI pain and skin color changes, per a 2020 report in the book ‌Preparation of Phytopharmaceuticals for the Management of Disorders.‌

Tomatoes have the potential to irritate the bladder, according to the Cleveland Clinic. This includes symptoms like strong urges to pee, frequent trips to the bathroom and pain in the lower abdomen.

With age, bladder control (aka incontinence) can become a problem. Tomato-based foods (among other diuretic foods) are also known to worsen bladder problems, according to the National Institute on Aging.

If you're susceptible to headaches and migraines, tomatoes may worsen your symptoms. Certain foods can trigger headaches for some people, and tomatoes are on the list, according to Tufts University.

Some experts recommend people with migraines avoid eating tomatoes, according to February 2012 research in the ‌Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research‌, although there doesn't seem to be more recent research on tomatoes and migraines specifically.

To figure out if tomatoes are triggering your headaches or migraines, try tracking your food intake. Food-related headaches usually arrive within 12 to 24 hours after eating specific foods, according to the American Migraine Foundation.

Having a serving of tomatoes likely won't cause side effects, but eating too many tomatoes or having a sensitivity to them can increase the likelihood.

The best remedy after eating too many tomatoes depends on your symptoms. If you have acid reflux, Volpe recommends drinking bone broth. You can also take an antacid like Tums ($4.99, Amazon).

If you have GI issues, try natural remedies for an upset stomach like drinking ginger or licorice root tea, sniffing some peppermint or doing some gentle yoga to help with digestion.

Otherwise, the best thing to do is to hold off on eating any more tomatoes until your symptoms go away, and to be mindful of how many tomatoes you eat at once in the future.

And if you notice symptoms every time you eat tomatoes, consider making an appointment with an allergist for testing.

If eating tomatoes gives you any adverse side effects, there are other fruits and vegetables high in nutrients (including lycopene) that can offer the same health benefits, and the same refreshing, tasty crunch. These include the following, per a November 2021 review in ‌Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity‌:

• Pink guavas
• Apricots
• Watermelon
• Pink grapefruit
• Figs
• Papaya
• Red bell pepper

Tomatoes are safe to eat, according to the June 2019 review in ‌Nutrition‌.

In fact, there are many health benefits of tomatoes, as they're full of vitamins and minerals. They can make for a nutritious addition to most meals and meal plans.

Still, there may be groups of people who would benefit from reducing their tomato intake, including:

• People with GERD
• People with kidney disease (because tomatoes are high in potassium, per the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)\
• People who experience frequent migraines

And of course, if you know you have a tomato allergy or intolerance, you should avoid eating them.

If you're concerned that tomatoes may worsen your health condition, speak with your doctor or dietitian. Otherwise, tomatoes are a perfectly nutritious fruit to enjoy.

Tomatoes can be a part of a balanced, healthy diet for people with diabetes. They are considered a non-starchy vegetable that is low in sugar — about 3 grams in a one-cup serving of cherry tomatoes, per the University of Rochester.

Tomatoes are also low on the glycemic index at 23, which is a scale that people with diabetes can use to determine how a food will affect their blood sugar, according to the University of Sydney's GI Search.

Tomatoes are naturally high in potassium, which has been shown to help decrease blood pressure, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This means tomatoes can be a healthy addition to your diet for regulating blood pressure.

Yes. Acidic foods like tomatoes do not have a negative effect on breastmilk, according to a March 2017 study in the ‌Korean Journal of Pediatrics‌.

It's ‌lycopene‌ (found in tomatoes) that breastfeeding people should watch out for. According to the National Poison Control Center, people who breastfeed can eat foods that contain lycopene, but they should not take supplements with lycopene.