Besides being a vital ingredient in a Bloody Mary cocktail, tomato juice is a pretty impressive health drink. Tomato juice is loaded with nutrients and a serving of this tasty beverage contributes towards your daily recommended consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Tomatoes are considered to be a “functional food.” A functional food is more than just a source of calories, vitamins and minerals, these foods which include oatmeal, tomatoes and orange juice fortified with calcium, have a positive effect on health beyond basic nutrition, and are able to prevent or address disease conditions.
The humble tomato has come a long way in the last couple of centuries. Just 200 years ago it was considered to be poisonous. Thank goodness that we know better now! Our cuisine and our health would be a lot poorer without these delicious red (and orange, purple and yellow) globes.
Tomatoes Protect Your Eyes
Tomatoes are a rich source of powerful antioxidants – lycopene, lutein and beta carotene – that have been shown to protect the eyes from damage associated with the development of cataracts and neovascular age related macular degeneration.
The Age Related Eye Disease Study found that people with high dietary intakes of lutein and zeaxanthin had a 35 percent reduction in the risk of neovascular age related macular degeneration.
Tomatoes Help To Keep Bones Strong
Lycopene has been found to play an important role in bone health.
In one study researchers removed sources of lycopene from the diets of postmenopausal women for 4 weeks. The results of the study showed that the women had started to show increased signs of oxidative stress in their bones and unwanted changes in their bone tissue. The researches concluded that insufficient lycopene in the diet put women at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis.
Tomatoes Are Good For Your Skin
The antioxidants in tomatoes fight the free radicals that promote skin damage and premature aging.
As well as being a powerful antioxidant vitamin C is essential for healthy collagen production in your skin.
While collagen boosting skin serums are very popular, it’s important to take in good levels of vitamin C via your foods and drinks because vitamin C is used by your body for so many important processes. Drinking tomato juice will work from the inside to give you great looking skin.
One cup of tomato juice provides 44.5 mg of vitamin C which is 74% of the recommended daily intake.
Tomatoes Can Help You To Lose Weight.
As well as being low in calories and rich in filling fiber and fluid, an extract of tomato has been shown to stimulate the production of the amino acid carnitine. Carnitine has been found to speed up the body’s fat-burning capacity by over 30 percent.
Try These Refreshing Tomato Juice Recipes
Classic Tomato Juice
Ingredients
2 large tomatoes
1 stalk celery
1 cucumber
1 handful of fresh parsley
½ teaspoon pink Himalayan sea salt
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Handful of ice
Directions
Chop tomatoes into small sized pieces.
Place tomatoes, celery, cucumber and parsley in juicer.
Pour juice in shaker.
Add sea salt, cayenne pepper and ice.
Shake and strain in a glass.
Tomato Juice And Watermelon Cooler
Ingredients
½ small watermelon
2 medium tomatoes
Directions
Chop watermelon into small pieces
Chop tomatoes into small pieces
Place fruit in juicer, then serve.
Enjoy!!
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