Tomatoes are considered nutritious and filling food, and dietitians recommend consuming fresh tomato juice. According to an article published on Boldsky, experts advise drinking about 240 ml or one cup of tomato juice daily to reap its benefits. Nutritionists recommend consuming fresh tomato juice or ensuring the sodium content in preserved products, as high sodium can negatively affect health.
According to a scientific study, tomato juice contains many bioactive compounds such as GABA, a natural amino acid serving as a neurotransmitter for the brain, lycopene, a natural pigment that gives tomatoes their red color, and the steroid glycoside spirosolan, which provides various benefits to the body. The health benefits include:
1. **Reduces Cholesterol**: Tomato juice, which contains 13-oxo-ODA, a strong alpha PPAR agonist, helps lower high cholesterol levels in the body, reducing the risk of atherosclerosis, stroke, and other circulation-related issues. Consuming tomato juice aids in regulating fat metabolism and inflammation related to it, providing protection against chronic diseases associated with cholesterol metabolism disorders.
2. **Treats Diabetes**: Obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes. Tomato juice, as an alpha PPAR agonist, helps lower elevated cholesterol and glucose levels and can contribute to improving insulin sensitivity in diabetic patients. PPAR also helps reduce inflammation, one of the leading causes of diabetes, and increases the production of adiponectin and AdipoR hormones, as low levels of these can primarily stimulate obesity-related diabetes.
3. **Strengthens the Immune System**: Tomato juice is known for its high antioxidant content that boosts the body's immune system. The presence of powerful carotenoids like lycopene and beta-carotene in tomato juice has an immune-enhancing effect. Carotenoids can alter the expression of many proteins involved in cell proliferation and differentiation while clearing harmful free radicals.
4. **Prevents Cancer**: Lycopene in tomato juice exhibits cancer-protective properties. According to a scientific study, consuming tomato products is linked to a reduced incidence of various cancers, such as lung, stomach, breast, and prostate cancer. Lycopene, being a powerful antioxidant, helps eliminate free radicals in the body, thereby preventing cancer risk or aiding in its progression reduction.
5. **Reduces Heart Disease**: Consuming tomato juice is associated with a reduced risk of chronic inflammatory and non-communicable diseases like heart disease. The presence of lycopene (50.4 mg) in the juice, along with essential vitamins (like vitamin C) and phenolic acids, can improve body functions such as lowering cholesterol and glucose levels, which are risk factors for heart disease.
6. **Aids in Weight Loss**: Drinking tomato juice may be one of the simplest ways to reduce weight. According to recent scientific research, tomato juice can help reduce inflammatory cytokines, whose high concentration is linked to obesity or increased body weight, fat mass, muscle mass, and waist circumference. Additionally, the juice is low in calories and filling; hence it can assist in losing excess weight healthily.
7. **Treats Depression and Anxiety**: Tomato juice contains significant levels of lycopene and GABA amino acid. These compounds are known to alleviate various psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and mood swings. An imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain can lead to several psychological disorders, and as noted in specialized study results, since GABA and lycopene function as supportive neurotransmitters, their increased presence through dietary sources like tomato juice can aid in treating various mental health disorders.
8. **Combats Dehydration**: The water content of tomato juice is estimated at about 94.5 grams per 100 grams, making it an important source for hydrating the body, supporting its vital functions. Consuming tomato juice can help prevent dehydration and related illnesses.
9. **Reduces Osteoporosis**: A significant number of women post-menopause suffer from bone-related diseases like osteoporosis. Lycopene, available in abundance in tomato juice, can help reduce the bone resorption marker N-telopeptide (NTx) and oxidative stress due to its antioxidant ability, thus helping to lower the risk of osteoporosis.
10. **Functions as an Anti-Aging Agent**: Tomato juice contains carotenoids, which are natural anti-aging compounds. Including tomato juice in the daily diet can help prevent cell damage caused by free radicals and promote cell regeneration, crucial for slowing down the aging process. The juice also helps treat various skin issues like acne, blemishes, and skin dryness.
