Tomato juice can lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels in people at risk for heart disease. This conclusion was made by Japanese scientists from Tokyo Medical University, whose research was published in the journal Food Science and Nutrition.
Experts selected 481 volunteers: throughout the year they consumed unlimited quantities of unsalted tomato juice. Each participant maintained a tomato juice diaries, recording any changes in health status.
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At the end of the experiment, the scientists compared the performance of all the subjects and came to the conclusion that the majority of the participants including men, women, and different age groups, with prehypertension or hypertension had an average drop of three percent in blood pressure.
Researchers also explained how the tomato contains a variety of bioactive compounds, such as vitamin A, carotenoid, gamma‐aminobutyric acid, and calcium, that play a important role in taking care of physical and psychological health, including the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
According to the NHS, we should control the amount of salt in out food and eat plenty of green vegetables and fruit.
“Aim to eat less than six grams (0.2oz) of salt a day, which is about a teaspoonful. Eating a low-fat diet that includes lots of fibre, such as wholegrain rice, bread and pasta, and plenty of fruit and vegetables also helps lower blood pressure,” advises the NHS.
The authors of the paper warned that salted tomato juice could have the opposite effect due to its high sodium content, and recommended that the drink should be consumed without any mixing.