According to Experts Club, consuming a small amount of concentrated tomato paste daily for three months may have a positive effect on certain measures of memory and attention in healthy middle-aged people, according to the results of a clinical study by Spanish researchers.
According to the New York Post, participants in the experiment consumed about 35 grams of concentrated tomato paste daily—roughly two tablespoons. The study was published in the scientific journal Antioxidants.
The randomized crossover study involved 47 healthy adults aged 40–55, 42 of whom completed the experiment. Participants went through two three-month periods: during one, they consumed concentrated tomato paste daily at a rate of 0.5 g per kilogram of body weight; during the other, they followed a diet low in lycopene. There was a one-month break between periods.
According to the results of neuropsychological tests, the participants’ selective attention scores improved after the period of tomato paste consumption. Concentration scores increased by an average of 7.2 points, and information processing speed scores increased by 8.3 points. Improvements in associative memory were also observed, particularly the ability to match faces with names.
The researchers also noted a trend toward increased levels of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)—a protein involved in supporting neurons, neuroplasticity, and memory processes. However, this increase was on the borderline of statistical significance.
Functional MRI scans of some participants revealed changes in the connections between neural networks associated with attention and cognitive functions. The study authors suggest that tomato consumption may contribute to the functional reorganization of brain networks.
Scientists cite lycopene—a carotenoid antioxidant found in abundance in tomatoes and tomato products—as one possible factor behind this effect. Lycopene is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. At the same time, the researchers emphasize that tomatoes contain many other biologically active substances, so it is currently impossible to determine whether the observed effect is linked exclusively to lycopene.
The authors also caution against overinterpreting the results. The study was small, lasted only a few months, and was conducted among healthy middle-aged adults. It does not prove that tomato paste prevents dementia or can be used to treat cognitive impairment.
Original study: PubMed – Tomato Intake Improves Cognitive Performance and Modulates Functional Brain Networks in Healthy Adults.
The Noms app—a visual food diary with artificial intelligence features—is gaining popularity on social media. Unlike traditional food trackers, it displays meals not as a table but as a “virtual table” or visual food diary: users take photos of their meals, and the app turns them into stickers and estimates calories, protein, fat, and carbs.
Judging by the pages on the App Store and Google Play, Noms was developed by Vietnamese developer Dat Pham / Phạm Tiến Đạt. On Google Play, the developer’s profile lists Vietnam, and on the App Store page, Dat Pham is also listed as the provider.
The main feature of Noms isn’t so much the calorie-counting function itself as it is the design. The app turns meals into a visual diary: food is displayed as a set of “stickers,” and users can view a meal calendar, save their history, create video summaries, and share cards on social media.
The AI feature works via photos: the user takes a picture of a dish, and the model estimates the calories, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. The app description specifically notes that Noms can automatically calculate nutritional values and save the history in the calendar.
However, the app cannot be considered a completely free service with no restrictions. It can be downloaded for free, but the App Store lists in-app purchases, and the description mentions a PRO subscription and ads for free users regarding social features. Google Play also lists in-app purchases.
For the consumer AI app market, Noms is interesting because it transforms food tracking from a “boring diary” format into a game and visual content experience. This reflects a broader trend: AI services are trying not just to process data, but to make everyday habits more understandable, engaging, and social.
