The benefits and harms of tomato juice for the human body

The tomato, also known as the tomato, is a berry of the nightshade family. This amazing product with excellent taste and nutritional qualities was grown on the west coast of South America more than two and a half thousand years ago. An interesting fact is that for many centuries this vegetable was perceived as an inedible and even poisonous product, with which they even tried to poison US President George Washington, but nothing came of it.

The tomato came to Russia in the 18th century and was used for a long time as an ornamental plant, decorating houses like flowers. But in the second half of the same century, the mass cultivation of tomatoes began, over time they began to use it for cooking various dishes, as well as cooking tomato juice.

Today this drink has become one of the most beloved in our area, and the benefits and harms of tomato juice have long been studied by experts. It helps to quench thirst, reduce hunger, while the juice is low in calories and rich in calcium. Let’s try to figure out all the properties that this product has.

The benefits of tomato juice

• Prevents the development of cancer… One of the components that are found in large quantities in tomato juice is lycopene. This antioxidant substance helps prevent the progression of cancerous tumors and their enlargement. Even in the course of many scientific studies, it has been proven that people who regularly consume tomato juice are much less likely to experience cancer of the lungs, prostate, stomach, mammary glands, esophagus, rectum and cervix. Drinking about one to two liters of tomato juice every week, you guarantee yourself youth and good health for many years;
• Has a beneficial effect on the nervous system… The composition of this drink includes substances that stimulate the production of serotonin (“the hormone of joy”), which improves mood, helps to relieve nervous tension, prevent the effects of depression and stress;
• Improves the functioning of the digestive system and cleanses the body… Regular intake of tomato juice improves metabolism, removes toxins, toxins and radionuclides from the body. Once in the intestines, the components of the tomato destroy microbes, prevent purulent processes, and therefore help in the treatment of constipation, flatulence and other disorders of the digestive processes;
• Has a good diuretic and choleretic effect… Due to these properties, tomato juice is recommended for use in case of disorders of water-salt metabolism, the initial stages of urolithiasis, obesity, high blood pressure, anemia and angina pectoris;
• Regulates blood sugar… Tomato juice is one of the few juices that can be safely consumed by patients with diabetes mellitus without fear for their health. This product not only does not worsen the condition of the diabetic, but also contributes to the maintenance of normal sugar levels;
• Prevents the onset of diseases of the cardiovascular system… Taking juice from tomatoes removes harmful cholesterol from the blood thanks to pectin, improving blood composition and increasing hemoglobin levels. This makes tomato juice an excellent remedy for the prevention of atherosclerosis and anemia. This drink also prevents the accumulation of blood clots in blood vessels, strengthens them, improves blood circulation and helps prevent intraocular pressure, from which patients with glaucoma often suffer;
• Has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties… This is facilitated by the presence of a large amount of phytoncides in the product;
• Together with vegetable oil, it is almost completely absorbed by the body… If you add a little vegetable oil to freshly made tomato juice, then the human body will be saturated with all its useful substances. This is due to the fact that carotene, which is part of the drink, in combination with fats, is absorbed much more efficiently;
• Promotes weight loss… The cleansing, choleretic and diuretic properties of tomato, its ability to stimulate metabolism and the low calorie content of proteins, carbohydrates and fats contained in the product make it possible to use tomato juice as a dietary product to reduce excess weight;
• Drinking this drink induces an alkaline reaction.… In order not to cause oxidation processes in the body instead of an alkaline reaction, tomato juice should not be drunk together with starch-containing foods and concentrated sugars;
• Strengthens the immune system… Only two glasses of tomato juice a day contain the daily requirement of vitamins A and C, which is why it is especially recommended to use it during the winter cold season, when the body lacks vitamins and is exposed to colds and viral diseases;
• Is a preventive product against the development of pulmonary emphysema… The juice made from natural tomatoes is very useful for protecting the lungs of smokers. After each cigarette smoked, doctors recommend drinking one glass of tomato juice. The problem is that heavy smokers who smoke one or more packs a day need to drink a lot of juice;
• Improves the well-being of pregnant women… The content of the vitamin-mineral complex and folic acid in tomato juice is very useful for taking during pregnancy, since these substances protect the mother’s body from vitamin deficiency and various diseases, and also ensure the normal formation and development of the fetus. You should not give up this product during breastfeeding, as it improves lactation;
• Very effective as a cosmetic… For people with oily skin, cosmetologists recommend making tomato masks, applying it on the face for 15-20 minutes. This mask restores the natural complexion and tightens the pores. Also, using this product, you can relieve fatigue and tension in the legs by rubbing the juice into the feet. It is impossible not to mention the benefits of tomato juice for oily hair. For cosmetic purposes, it is best to use only ripe vegetables, since unripe tomatoes contain solanine, which is harmful to the skin and hair;
• Facilitates the well-being of a patient with ulcerative lesions of the digestive system… Daily consumption of tomato juice is useful for people suffering from stomach or duodenal ulcers, gastritis associated with low acidity of gastric juice, as well as other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract without exacerbation.

The harm of tomato juice

The rich vitamin and mineral complex of tomato juice is not always beneficial for human health. If you consume juice made from low-quality tomatoes and with the addition of preservatives, as well as in the presence of certain diseases, it can worsen a person’s well-being.

• Increases pain in neurotic spasms… Also, tomato juice is prohibited for use in case of exacerbated diseases of the digestive system. It increases pain due to its ability to enhance intestinal motility;
• May lead to the development of gallstone and urolithiasis… This product is useful only in the initial stages of these diseases and only if you drink only natural, and not canned juice exclusively with food, which contains as little starch and protein as possible, incompatible with this product. Otherwise, you yourself can provoke the formation of stones in the gallbladder or kidneys;
• Worsens the patient’s condition with exacerbations of gastritis, stomach or duodenal ulcers, pancreatitis and cholecystitis… In case of poisoning, it is also forbidden to drink the drink, because it activates the digestive processes, which leads to a better absorption of harmful substances;
• Don’t salt tomato juice… The healing qualities of juice with the addition of table salt to it are significantly reduced.

Now you figured out what the benefits and harms of tomato juice are. Without a doubt, we can say that this is one of the most useful and at the same time delicious drinks, however, like many other products, it has prohibitions and restrictions on its use. If you want to improve your health with the help of this juice, use a drink made only from natural tomatoes. Do not overuse canned tomato juice and drink it in moderation.

Nutritional value and chemical composition of tomato juice

Video about the benefits and harms of tomato juice