Tomato Juice Benefits

There have been many studies over the years professing the benefits of tomato juice, 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 various benefits.

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

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 its 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 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.

You can also mix other juices like carrot with tomato to reap additional benefits. Tomato juice substitutes are also used in a variety of tomato recipes but do not have the same nutritional effect.