When I think about juicing, tomatoes is not one of the first fruits or vegetables that comes to mind.
Tomatoes provide a wide array of nutritional benefits including essential vitamins and minerals the body needs to maintain good health, making tomato juice good for you.
Health Benefits of Tomato Juice
Tomato juice is rich in vitamins A and C. These vitamins don’t just strengthen the immune system; they also improve vision and bone health.
The presence of natural chlorine and sulfur in tomatoes makes it an excellent detoxifier.
Tomato juice helps your liver and kidneys maintain adequate function, and protects these organs from infection. Drinking tomato juice is also linked to a reduced risk of heart disease.
Aside from that, tomato juice is also a known antioxidant that fights off free radicals.
Does Tomato Juice Contain Lycopene?
Tomatoes and other related products, such as tomato juice, carry high amounts of lycopene.
Lycopene is a naturally occurring compound that provides the red color of tomatoes. A single cup of pure tomato juice could give you about 23 milligrams of lycopene.
Studies have shown that lycopene helps in preventing cardiovascular diseases. It assists in lowering the levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is considered as “bad” cholesterol.
Lycopene is a carotenoid that acts as an antioxidant. For this reason, it has been associated with the risk reduction of different types of cancer, with prostate cancer as the most-researched one.
Lycopene present in fresh tomatoes and tomato juice is also being studied to potentially prevent colorectal, pancreatic, and breast cancer.
Experts still continue to uphold further researches to prove the effect of lycopene in tomato juice against the onset of cancer.
Is Tomato Juice High In Fiber?
A cup of canned tomato juice, considering that it’s made of 100% tomatoes, could offer about 2 grams of fiber. This completes about 8% of the total dietary fiber that you should consume daily.
Fiber stimulates bowel movements while providing the body with working calories. It acts as a mild laxative that could help relieve constipation. Fiber also contributes to the breakdown of bad cholesterol.
Tomato Juice Nutrition Facts
Different brands of tomato juice vary in minimal amounts with regards to their nutritional values. This can be due to the amount of added flavors or ingredients, such as salt or sugar.
However, generally, one cup of homemade or 100% canned tomato juice would approximately have the following list of nutritional content:
- 41 calories
- 2 grams of fiber
- 2 grams of protein
- 10 grams total carbohydrates (including sugar)
- 22% of the daily value of Vitamin A
- 74% of the daily value of Vitamin C
- 16% of the daily value of potassium
How Many Carbs In Tomato Juice?
As listed above, a cup of canned pure tomato juice homemade tomato juice contains 10 grams of total carbohydrates. This amount consists mostly of sugar with 1-2 grams of dietary fiber left.
When it comes to commercially available ones, the carb content may vary depending on the added ingredients, especially sugar. Therefore, if you’re on a low-carb diet, be sure to buy the pure ones with no added sugar or incorporated flavors.
It is also preferable if you juice the tomatoes at home. A cup of chopped red tomatoes could give you around 7 grams of total carbs.
What Is Tomato Juice Good For?
Tomato Juice Benefits for Your Eyes
Aside from its antioxidant properties, lycopene in tomatoes could also help hinder vision related illnesses. The presence of lycopene in the ocular tissues helps prevent light-induced damage to the eyes.
Vitamin C in tomato juice is also a nutrient that promotes eye health.
Tomato Juice Benefits for Your Skin
Tomatoes carry lycopene and beta-carotene that enhance skin health.
Juice derived from tomatoes may relieve inflammation and reduce the risk of sunburns.
A study in 2006 involved ingesting tomato products to test their photoprotective effects. After 10-12 weeks, the volunteers showed a decreased sensitivity towards UV-induced erythema or redness of the skin.
Tomato juice is also linked to revitalizing damaged hair and warding off dandruff.
Tomato Juice Benefits for Your Cardiovascular System
A recent study over 12 months showed that unsalted tomato juice benefited some participating Japanese adults at risk of cardiovascular diseases.
At the end of the one-year observation, the researchers noted a significant drop in blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels in several of the participants.
More studies are being conducted to prove the effect of tomato juice against cardiovascular issues.
How Much Tomato Juice Should You Drink A Day?
While having tomato juice provides promising benefits to the body, you should still stick to the recommended daily intake of fruit and vegetable juices.
Experts advise a maximum of one serving or 150 milliliters of fruit juice a day, which also holds true for tomato juice. The limitation is rooted in the fact that most commercial tomato juice, or any fruit juices for this matter, contain added sugar.
Excessive intake of added sugar raises triglycerides level, increasing the risk of heart disease, which contradicts the heart-health benefits of tomatoes.
Is V8 Tomato Juice Good For You?
The manufacturers of V8 Tomato Juice claim that their product contains no preservatives and no artificial colors or flavors.
But if you’re limiting your sodium intake, V8 might not be recommendable for you.
A serving of V8 Tomato Juice offers over a quarter of the daily recommended intake for sodium. However, experts say that V8 is a better option compared to other beverages that are loaded with added sugar.
Of course, I am an advocate for making fresh tomato juice at home using your blender or juicer, over purchasing commercially available juices.
Is Canned Tomato Juice Good For You?
If you can’t make fresh tomato juice at home, you may consider purchasing canned tomato juice. In all honesty however, I’d rather you just bought a fresh tomato and ate it than buy something in a can.
Processed and canned tomato juices can be beneficial to you if they are made of 100% tomatoes. This means that there is no added sugar, no preservatives, and no artificial color or flavors mixed in with the canned tomato juice.
It is also better to choose the no-sodium or low-sodium canned tomato juice to minimize the amount of salt you consume from drinking canned juice. Excessive salt intake could trigger the risk of kidney failure and hypertension.
Also, ensure that the containers are BPA free and be mindful of foodborne botulism from canned juice or goods. Avoid cans that are dented or swollen and do not consume those which already have a foul smell upon opening.
Is Tomato Juice From Concentrate Good For You?
Tomato juice concentrate is typically more heavily processed compared to raw tomato juice. In concentrates, most of the water from the tomatoes is extracted to achieve a thick and syrupy texture.
Because of this, there’s lesser water present and lesser chances of bacteria to grow. Thus, juice concentrates generally have a longer shelf life than raw tomato juice.
Because of the strong flavor, many manufacturers use additives from artificial compounds or fruit byproducts. Salt and sweeteners are often added as well.
It far more beneficial for your body to choose raw and pure tomato juice. Homemade, freshly squeezed tomatoes are even better. If you absolutely have to purchase commercially produced tomato juice from concentrate, at least read the label to ensure it is made from 100% real tomatoes.
Is Tomato Juice Good For You When Pregnant?
If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, please consult with your Doctor before consuming raw tomato juice.
Pregnant women should always be extra careful about what they eat or drink. This leads to the argument if fruit and vegetable juices, such as tomato juice, are beneficial or harmful to pregnancy.
There are a lot of factors to consider regarding this topic. First, drinking tomato juice is a healthy choice when done in moderation. Too much salt and acid is bad for the kidneys and could therefore jeopardize a pregnant woman’s overall health.
Another thing to consider is the woman’s medical history. Tomatoes, especially when taken excessively, are harmful to people who have intestinal or kidney diseases.
Is Tomato Juice Good For You On A Diet?
The high-fiber content of tomato juice is the thing that makes it a miracle weight-loss drink claimed by several nutritionists.
Fiber creates a satiating effect on the body as they take time to break down. With this, you feel full for longer periods, thus making you crave and eat less.
Aside from that, the tangy and acidic taste also satisfies your taste buds. As a result, you don’t tend to binge-eat.
Also, tomatoes are one of the foods with a considerably low amount of calories that are enriched with fat-burning amino acids.
Tomato juice is a weight-loss drink that is said to drastically slim your waist circumference. You can also use tomato juice as part of a juice cleansing diet.
Are Tomatoes Bad For You?
“Everything is good in moderation,” says the universal diet rule. And tomatoes are not an exemption, regardless of the many health benefits that they carry.
Too much consumption of tomatoes may impose side effects, such as acid reflux, kidney stones, diarrhea, and allergies.
You’d have to take it easy on tomatoes if you often experience heartburn and acid reflux. This is because tomatoes contain malic and citric acid that could elevate the acid levels in your stomach.
They also carry a compound called histamine that could trigger allergies and skin rashes.
Although lycopene is good, overconsumption may also cause lycopenodermia. This condition is characterized by a discoloration of the skin. It is caused by excessive lycopene in the blood.
Are Tomato Seeds Bad For You?
People started to doubt if they should eat tomato seeds or not since it was thought to cause appendicitis. However, there is no scientific evidence proving such hearsay.
In fact, others claim that tomato seeds actually offer several health benefits. They are rich in potassium that relaxes the blood vessels, lowering blood pressure. Tomato seeds also help normalize cholesterol and strengthen immunity.
But then, moderation in consuming tomatoes and tomato seeds must always be observed. Physician consultation is always advised when dealing with any health issues.
Conclusion – Is Tomato Juice Good For You?
Freshly juiced tomatoes are good for you. They contain vitamins and minerals beneficial to the body and support your immune system.
Choose tomatoes that are bright in color and firm to hold. Soft or wrinkly tomatoes are getting old and best used in cooking rather than juicing.
Make sure you wash your tomatoes well before juicing, or ideally purchase organically grown tomatoes. Tomatoes are also really easy to grow in the garden, so you can enjoy tomato juice at home anytime!
