Here at V8 we love tomatoes and tomato juice. Apart from being versatile and delicious, the humble tomato is a powerhouse of nutrition. So numerous are the health benefits of tomatoes that they were once commonly used for medicinal purposes to treat a great number of ailments.
We adore this little red fruit (… vegetable? Salad thing…?) so much that we simply had to write a great big list of its health benefits and share it with you. Now you too can appreciate the wonder that is the tomato.
Lycopene in Tomatoes
Gac – super-rich in lycopene but hard to come by.
The benefits of tomato juice stem from the tomato’s rich vitamin, mineral and phytonutrient content. Of these, lycopene, in particular, deserves special attention.
Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant. It has been found to promote good general health. It has also been linked to the prevention of a range of diseases, including cancer.
Lycopene can only be found in greater quantities in a fruit called gac, which is as rare outside Asia as it is unappealing sounding. Unusually, the processing of tomatoes actually increases the concentration of bioavailable lycopene (by up to four times). This means that tomato juice is a far better dietary source of lycopene than fresh tomatoes.
Where is the Nutrition?
The majority of all that lovely lycopene is located in the skin of a tomato. The seeds of a tomato are home to most of the phenolics and antioxidants. These three essential elements are the reason tomatoes are shown to be beneficial to the body.
So make sure you’re getting the most out of your tomatoey goodness by using every part of the tomato.
Health benefits of drinking tomato juice
Tomato juice can provide a wide range of benefits as part of a nutritious, balanced diet. Health benefits include lower cholesterol, protection from strokes and heart disease and more. It’s good for your skin, eyes and bones, too! Healthy diets include vitamins and minerals that can be found in tomatoes.
1. Tomatoes support cancer prevention
Lycopene and other carotenoids in tomato juice have been found to lower the risk of a range of different cancers, including lung cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer. Studies have shown that men consuming high amounts of lycopene have a 30% reduction in their risk of pancreatic cancer.
2. They aid digestion
Daily tomato juice consumption keeps the liver healthy, which aids digestion, stimulates regular bowel movement and prevents constipation.
3. Tomato juice can lower cholesterol
The fibre found in tomato juice helps break down LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and niacin has been found to have a beneficial impact on high cholesterol levels.
4. Get protection from heart disease
Research has linked a high intake of lycopene to a 30% reduction in incidences of coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease.
5. Tomatoes can prevent blood clotting
The rich supply of phytonutrients found in tomatoes has been shown to aid in the prevention of abnormal platelet cell clumping, beneficial for those with, or at risk of, heart conditions.
6. Anti-inflammatory benefits of tomato juice
Chronic inflammation and inflammation abnormalities have been linked to a whole host of unpleasant health conditions. Research has found that a daily glass of tomato juice lowers a person’s primary marker for inflammation by nearly one third.
7. It’s good for your bones…
Vitamin K, found in rich supply in tomatoes, is of great importance in the health of your bones. The synthesis of osteocalcin, which is thought to play an important role in bone-building, is vitamin K dependent.
8. …and your skin!
Studies have shown that drinking tomato juice daily may lead to a reduction in acne and the prevention of UV skin cell damage.
9. Tomato juice detoxifies the body
Tomato juice works wonders in flushing out these harmful toxin depositions from the body. Its chlorine and sulfur content also helps the liver and kidneys perform their detoxification function better.
10. Enjoy good eye health
Because tomatoes are loaded with the phytonutrients beta carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, they can help keep your eyes healthy and protect them from degeneration.
11. Lycopene in tomato juice can prevent strokes
Recent research has found that diets rich in tomatoes can help prevent stroke, again thanks to lycopene.
12. Get a good workout recovery
Tomatoes provide the perfect balance of chemicals to help your body recover from strenuous exercise. Drinking tomato juice was shown to actually lead to speedier muscle recovery than drinking fizzy energy drinks.
Is tomato juice good for you?
Tomato juice provides a number of benefits that are good for you. Replacing unhealthy drinks, such as fruit punch, fizzy drinks, and other sweet drinks with tomato juice is a healthy way for you to improve your diet.
Older people, in particular, can enjoy the benefits of tomato juice. Studies show that they have limited food access and tend to eat fewer nutritious foods. Tomato juice can be a convenient and tasty way to help you meet your requirements for many nutrients.
V8 Original Vegetable Juice contains 89% tomato juice with a rich, sophisticated flavour unrivalled by plain old tomato juice.
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