Tomato juice: benefits and harms

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

The most popular vegetable juice is tomato juice. It is prepared from juicy and ripe tomatoes, so it is almost as useful as fresh tomatoes. This colorful drink is rich in nutrients, low in calories and low in fat. Often it is consumed in the form of a drink, and is also an ingredient for the preparation of soups, sauces, various alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails (for example, Bloody Mary, Michelada). In this article, we will analyze the benefits and harms of tomato juice.

Composition

This product has a beneficial effect on human he alth due to the components included in its composition, such as:

• Vitamins: A, E, PP, C, group of vitamins B.
• Micronutrients: iron, calcium, chlorine, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus.
• Nutrients: proteins, fats, carbohydrates.

Calories

Tomato juice is a fairly low-calorie product, which allows you to use it in the fight against extra pounds. The calorie content of the drink varies between 17-23 kcal per 100 grams. Industrial juice may havehigher calorie content by adding garlic powder and various spices.

Benefits of tomato juice

Fruit and vegetable juices contain a different set of vitamins and minerals, which affects their effect on the body. What is the benefit of tomato juice?

Due to the antioxidant lycopene, which gives the fruit its red color, drinking the drink can help reduce the risk of stroke, atherosclerosis, diabetes, prostate cancer, and diseases of the digestive system. Tomato juice contains even more lycopene than a fresh tomato, as this antioxidant is released by the heat that occurs during cooking.

A lycopene-rich drink will benefit skin he alth and may also protect against sunburn.

Vitamins found in tomato juice act as antioxidants that neutralize free radicals to stop oxidative stress. Free radicals cause damage and destruction of cells, which contributes to the development of diseases. Minerals play an important role in the proper functioning of the body.

If you have a sleep disorder, a glass of tomato juice will help you sleep better. During periods of increased nervous tension or stress, it will help to relax, as it promotes the production of serotonin.

This is a great product for people who are struggling with weight due to its low calorie content. It can be drunk not only as part of a diet, but also as a supplement.to your standard diet.

Tomato juice will benefit during pregnancy. The drink contains citric, malic and oxalic acids, which help the expectant mother to normalize metabolism. The juice is good for such a delicate problem as constipation, which often occurs during pregnancy, and helps prevent blood clots in the lower extremities.

Only freshly squeezed juice without additives brings maximum benefit. It is ideal for satisfying hunger between main meals, as well as during fasting days.

Harm of tomato juice

Even the most he althy drink can be harmful to people suffering from certain diseases or consuming the product in increased quantities. While tomato juice has many he alth benefits, it also comes with a number of disadvantages.

• The sodium in its composition helps the functioning of the nervous system and regulates blood pressure, but its excessive use can easily cause he alth problems ranging from high blood pressure to heart disease. Therefore, you need to carefully read what is written on the label, and choose a product with a reduced sodium content.
• The high potassium present in tomatoes can lead to irregular heartbeats and other cardiovascular problems, as well as decreased muscle control.
• Excessive consumption of tomato juice can thicken the blood and lead to blood clots. Withcaution should be used with increased acidity of gastric juice, stomach ulcers, urolithiasis.
• Diabetics should not abuse this product due to its high glucose content.
• According to the American Cancer Society, consumption of more than 30 mg of lycopene per day can cause nausea, diarrhea, indigestion and bloating.
• When breastfeeding, tomato juice should be drunk with caution. Tomatoes, like all brightly colored vegetables and fruits, can cause skin rashes in babies. As the intestinal microflora develops, these manifestations will disappear. Children can introduce tomato juice into the diet from the age of three.
• An allergic reaction to tomatoes is rare, but it can occur in people who are allergic to pollen.

When drinking tomato juice, like any other products, you need to know the measure, then it will only benefit the body.

Selection rules

There is not always time and opportunity to go to the market for seasonal juicy tomatoes and make your own juice. In this case, can I drink store-bought tomato juice?

The answer is yes. If you prefer industrial juice, then you need to choose the right one.

Avoid packages with the word "freshly squeezed" because the juice can only be considered as such during the first 2 hours after pressing. The juice that is on the shelves of stores is not already freshly squeezed.is.

100% tomato juice comes in two varieties: straight pressed (produced directly at harvest time) and reconstituted (obtained from tomato paste). In the process of production of direct-pressed juices, the least number of industrial processes are involved, which allows preserving beneficial properties in the final product. Often such juices are presented in glass containers and are more expensive than reconstituted ones. However, as a result of independent studies, it was found that there is no significant difference between these types of drinks.

Another question is how long the product was stored before purchase. The date of manufacture of direct-pressed juice often coincides with the time of harvest. The reconstituted drink can be produced all year round.

Juice made from fresh tomatoes has a thick consistency, opaque, bright red color. A quality drink in its composition should not contain dyes and preservatives.

Freshly made is much he althier than canned, so it's best to make your own tomato juice.

Storage rules

Homemade juice should be consumed immediately as its beneficial properties are lost over time.

Packed tomato juice has an average shelf life of 12 months and can be stored up to 4 days when opened.

Usage rules

Here are some simple tips to help you get away from the tomato drink onlyfavor.

• The best time to consume is before meals. Tomato juice will prepare the digestive system for eating. Once in the stomach, it activates the production of gastric juice.
• Can I have tomato juice while expecting a baby? The answer is positive. Half a glass of juice in the morning on an empty stomach will help get rid of nausea, which is important for pregnant women suffering from toxicosis.
• The acids contained in tomato juice do not combine well with starchy (potatoes, bread, pasta) and high-protein (cottage cheese, eggs and meat) products. When taken together, they can form compounds that are deposited as stones in the urinary system.
• The most suitable foods to consume with tomato juice are cheese, nuts, other vegetable juices and herbs.
• S alt should not be added to the drink, it destroys vitamins and minerals.
• A spoonful of vegetable oil added to a glass of juice will help vitamins absorb better.

Interesting facts

• Tomato juice is very popular with airplane passengers. This is because very loud noise, such as the roar of aircraft engines, changes our sense of taste, dulling the sweet flavors and enhancing the signature taste of tomatoes.
• Tomato juice, like some other drinks (like Coca-Cola), can be used to clean old coins, copper, brass.

Conclusions

Tomato juice is a he althy low-caloriea drink that can help enrich the diet with the necessary vitamins and minerals, in the prevention of diseases of the stomach and intestines, as well as cardiovascular diseases. The most useful is freshly squeezed juice, prepared by yourself.