Benefits of Tomato Juice

Tomato juice is one of the richest dietary sources of lycopene, a carotenoid known to have strong antioxidant capacity. For this reason, there are many benefits of tomato juice.

Benefits of tomato juice have been specifically studied in a variety of diseases including cardiovascular disease, cataracts, cancer, asthma, and hypertension.

Epidemiologic studies suggest that the benefits of tomato juice include decrasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular events, especially in women.

In terms of benefits of tomato juice for cancer, both prostate cancer and bladder cancer have been specifically studied. Risk of prostate cancer appears to be reduced in men who consume four or more servings of tomatoes per week. In general, epidemiological studies have been conducted to determine the benefits of tomato juice and other tomato products for a variety of cancers. The results remain mixed, but tomatoes don't worsen the condition.

There is preliminary evidence that specific extracts found in tomato juice may also improve exercise-induced asthma, preventing decreases in forced expiratory volume in response to exercise. Also, tomato extracts may also modestly reduce blood pressure but more evidence is necessary before this treatment can be recommended for anything but mild hypertension.

One of the benefits of tomato juice over other forms of tomato is that it is better absorbed than from fresh tomatoes. One cup of tomato juice contains approximately 23mg of lycopene. Lycopene may stimulate immune function.

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