Tomatoes are a very important part of soups, salads, curries, and other dishes. While tomatoes seem like very healthy, you should consume them in moderation as eating too many of them can actually cause some serious side effects. Packed with acid, tomatoes can cause heartburn, especially if you are already suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Certain complications may also arise in people who have food intolerance to tomatoes. Eating canned tomatoes may lead to several complications as well, considering they are very high in sodium.

Side Effects of Eating Too Many Tomatoes

1. Acid Reflux

Due to its high acid content, excessive consumption of tomatoes can make symptoms of acid reflux or GERD worse. It refers to a problem in which stomach acids move up the esophagus and create a burning feeling. Your symptoms may become worse if you include too many high-acid foods in your diet, such as tomatoes. Talk to your doctor if you experience heartburn more than 2 times a day for several weeks.

2. Food Intolerance

Some people may have food intolerance to tomatoes. Those people may be able to handle tomatoes in small quantities, but find it hard to digest them when eating in excess as this can cause stomach pain and gas. Moreover, people who have chili pepper, potato, or pepper intolerance are more likely to have tomato intolerance as well.

3. Too Much Sodium

Canned tomatoes contain a high amount of sodium. A cup of canned tomatoes provides you with 564 mg of sodium, and if you eat too many of it, you are likely to develop serious complications such as osteoporosis or cardiovascular problems over time. Your risk increases when you also have other prepared food products in your diet. You should consume less than 2,300 mg of sodium a day, and less than 1,500 mg in case you are over 50, are African-American, or have a history of cardiovascular disease.

4. Lycopenodermia

You develop this problem when you consume too many red foods. Some of the most commonly eaten red foods include tomatoes, beets, chili beans, and some other fruits. Excessive consumption of these foods may lead to a reddish discoloration of your skin. You are at an increased risk of developing this problem if you drink large amounts of concentrated tomato juice.

5. Other Side Effects

• Weakened Immune System: Tomatoes contain a large amount of lycopene that can have a direct impact on your body's immune system. It weakens your immune system and makes it difficult for you to fight fungal and bacterial diseases.
• Urinary Problems: You may experience urinary problems after eating too many tomatoes mainly because of the presence of lycopene. By affecting your prostate gland, lycopene can cause problems such as painful urination, difficulty in passing urine, and even cancer in rare cases.
• Darkened Complexion: Having too many tomatoes in your diet is a surefire way of changing your complexion. You may notice your complexion becoming darker if you consume tomatoes in large quantities.
• Kidney Problems: Excessive consumption of tomatoes can affect your kidneys as well. Oxalate and calcium in the seeds of tomatoes are hard to be expelled from the body, so these substances will accumulate in your kidney. Therefore, you are at an increased risk of developing kidney stones if you consume excessive amount of tomatoes. 
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome: An increase in the levels of lycopene in your body can cause digestive problems as well. You may develop a condition called irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) that causes serious abdominal pain and discomfort.
• Infected Skin: Over-consumption of tomatoes may also increase your chances of developing skin infections. You may develop rashes, dermatitis, eczema, skin irritation and blisters.
• Body Aches: Pain in the bones, muscles and head may be caused by excessive consumption of tomatoes. Over-consumption can also trigger migraine attacks.
• Respiratory Problems: You can develop respiratory problems because tomatoes can cause food allergy that affects your respiratory tract in a negative way. This causes excessive sneezing and other problems.

Other Healthy Foods That Are Dangerous If You Eat Too Much

Eating too many tomatoes can be bad for your health, and over-consumption of other healthy foods can also have negative effects on your health. Here are some examples.

1. Canned Tuna

Many people opt for canned tuna because it is easy to prepare and is a low-calorie food choice. However, eating too much of canned tuna can cause health complications because it contains mercury. Mercury can push your mercury levels up, which in turn may lead to impaired hearing, vision problems, muscle weakness, and lack of coordination. Do not consume more than 3-5 cans of tuna per week.

2. Soy

Soy is healthy in that it helps control blood pressure and cholesterol levels, but eating too much of it can cause problems mainly because it inhibits iron absorption and may even cause iron-deficiency anemia. You may also develop problems like endometrial hyperplasia because soy contains isoflavones. Just be sure to have no more than two servings of soy a day.

3. Spinach

While spinach is a great source of fiber, protein, and a variety of minerals, it should be consumed in moderation because it is a rich source of oxalate. Having too much oxalate in your diet increases your risk of developing kidney stones. 

4. Brazil Nuts

Now you know that eating too many tomatoes is never a good idea, and the condition is the same with Brazil nuts. Packed with fiber, protein, selenium, and essential fatty acids, Brazil nuts are certainly healthy. Just avoid noshing on these nuts too often because it can increase levels of selenium in the body. Too much of selenium can be toxic and cause problems such as brittle nails, hair loss, neurological abnormalities, and dermatitis.

5. Lean Animal Protein

Chicken breasts and other low-fat meats are a great source of protein, but you should avoid having too many of these in your diet, because too much of animal proteins can trigger production of the hormone IGF-1 which increases your risk of cancer. You will be better off getting the majority of your protein from different plants, such as nuts, beans, whole grains, and seeds.