Everyone knows that tomatoes have numerous health benefits, but a recent study has reached a scientific conclusion that might make you addicted to tomatoes. Consuming tomatoes or products that contain them can help reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure. According to the British newspaper "The Sun," scientists found that eating the equivalent of one large tomato daily reduces the chances of a person developing this fatal condition by up to 36 percent.
Researchers documented in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology: "The consumption of tomatoes, including products that contain tomatoes, is beneficial in preventing and managing high blood pressure." They followed 7,056 men and women aged between 55 and 80 for three years, with 5,821 of them suffering from high blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart attacks, heart disease, strokes, kidney disease, vascular dementia, and aneurysms.
The participants were divided into four groups based on their tomato consumption: less than 44 grams, between 44 and 82 grams, between 82 to 110 grams, and more than that. Approximately a handful of cherry tomatoes, one large tomato, or a quarter can of chopped tomatoes weighs about 110 grams.
A team from the University of Barcelona discovered that those who consumed more tomato-containing products had a lower risk of high blood pressure. The results could also apply to ketchup, although you may need to consume a substantial amount. It's important to note that some ketchup brands are high in sugar, which has its own health consequences.
Researchers attribute these benefits to an organic compound called lycopene. Rosa Maria Lamoyela Raventós, director of the Nutrition Research Institute, stated: "The heart-protective mechanisms involved in lowering blood pressure can be partially attributed to the presence of lycopene in tomatoes."
Potassium also plays a significant role, as it has been found to help counteract the harmful effects of salt in people with high blood pressure. Fresh medium-sized tomatoes contain about 290 milligrams of potassium and 4 milligrams of lycopene, while a bowl of tomato soup contains around 25 milligrams of lycopene and 280 milligrams of potassium, based on estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Other foods rich in lycopene and potassium include watermelon, apricot, cranberry, banana, sweet potato, and mushrooms.
