Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Tomato Juice Benefits

Hailed as the biggest contributor to prevention against cancer, there are many other tomato juice benefits as well. Today we take a look at some of the many tomato juice benefits...


There have been many studies over the years professing tomato juice benefits, and attributing the cure and prevention of diseases like cancer and diabetes to this fruit. Tomatoes are consumed raw, in salad, while homemade tomato soup is also quite popular. The tomato is cultivated all over the globe and is available in red, green and yellow shades. The red tomato is the most popular variant and is used in almost all soup recipes and salads. Tomatoes are available year round but they taste the best between July through September. They are sweet but are also complemented with a slight bitter taste. Tomatoes are tender, fleshy and very versatile, having applications in many recipes. There have been many studies on this popular fruit, and all have come up with different tomato juice benefits.


Tomato Juice Nutrition


Before we take a look at the benefits, let's take a look at the calories in tomato and the tomato juice nutrition chart.


Nutrients


Quantity


Calories


26.8


Protein


1.3gm


Vitamin A


1241 IU


Vitamin C


18.9mg


Carbohydrates


5.8gm


Calcium


14.9mg


Tomato Juice Benefits


Tomatoes are low in sodium and saturated fat, and there are almost no side effects of tomato. Doctors even recommend a glass of tomato juice everyday for it's anti-oxidation qualities. Tomatoes are good when consumed raw or when cooked, as cooking tempers the bitter taste and brings out the sweet taste of the tomato. Tomato juice boosts sugar formation and gives instant energy when consumed. Tomatoes also help our bodies to wash away toxins and have many curative qualities. The tomato juice benefits for skin are also well known, applying tomato juice on skin helps in giving a good complexion and also works against acne.


Diabetes


As seen in the above chart, tomatoes are low in carbohydrates and are good for diabetic patients. They control the percentage of sugar in the urine of diabetic patients and are also good for people on a diet looking for weight loss.


Heart


Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, which is a strong anti-oxidant. Consumption of tomatoes also reduces LDL oxidation. Lycopene is more powerful than beta-carotene in protecting blood lymphocytes, and hence useful in reducing high blood pressure. Tomatoes also dissolve animal fats in food like eggs, cheese, pork, and beef, the major cause of artery clogging. All this contributes in reducing the risks of coronary heart diseases.


Nutrition


Tomato juice is high in potassium, which is an integral mineral in human nutrition. Low potassium level in our nutrition leads to weakness and the tomato is the ideal natural supplier of potassium.


Immunity


The high level of Vitamin C in tomato helps bolster our immune system. Tomato juice helps fight infections and viruses, which is why doctors ask people to drink tomato juice during flu like symptoms.


Eyesight


The presence of Vitamin A helps nourish the blood vessels and improves eyesight. Flavonoids in tomato are also good for the eyes. Chinese medicine also recommends the use of tomato peels as masks for the eyes.


Cancer


Lycopenes and bioflavonoids in tomatoes are more beneficial than beta carotene, which is known to prevent cancer. Researchers have introduced lycopene in cancer cell cultures and this has prevented the growth of these cultures. Fresh tomato juice benefits extend to prevent cervical, rectal and cancer of the stomach.


You can also mix other juices like carrot with tomato to reap additional benefits. Carrot and tomato juice benefits extend to great vision as carrots are a rich source of Vitamin A. Tomato juice substitutes are also used in a variety of tomato recipes but do not have the same nutritional effect. There are some cosmetic tomato juice benefits also, as it is applied for skin burns and for skin exfoliation.

No comments:

Post a Comment