Tomato juice is a juice made from tomatoes and used as a beverage or plain or in cocktails such as Michelada or Bloody Mary. The juice is pasteurized and unconcentrated in Canada usually made from rope tomato pulp or whole tomatoes. Skins and stems should be discarded without adding water to the final product juice. It may incorporate citric acid, sweetening agent, and salt. It is a variable material that depends on the soil, fruit variety and climatic conditions, and processing conditions. Withal the quality of tomato juice has little effect on behavior during RO processing. The attempts were made at concentrating tomato juice by RO which was based on eradication of suspended material such as dietary fiber by ultrafiltration or centrifugation focusing clear serum by RO and followed by combining concentrate with insoluble precipitate or concentrate. But this method is not applied commercially.

Tomato is considered to be a well-known vegetable fruit. It is cooked on its own or combined with potato. This fruit has a good nutritive value which has good amounts of Vitamin C and other minerals such as iron, phosphorus, and calcium. Due to its low cost, it could be included in the daily diet of growing and young children.

With the consumption of tomatoes, there are various misbeliefs such as it causes hypertension but no scientific pieces of evidence are found to correlate with that. In fact, tomatoes have a high content of gamma-aminobutyric acid which is a compound that helps to lower blood pressure and the risk of heart disease. Tomatoes help to lower blood pressure due to lycopene which is a chemical found in tomatoes. The extract of tomato has carotenoids such as beta carotene, lycopene, and Vitamin E which help to neutralize free radicals and slow down the progression of atherosclerosis.

History

In 1917, tomato juice was served by Louis Perrin at French Lick Springs Hotel in Southern Indiana when he ran out of orange juice and required an immediate substitute. The mixture of squeezed tomatoes, sugar, and the special sauce became an imperative success as Chicago businessmen spread the word about tomato juice cocktails.

Health Benefits of Tomato Juice

Tomato is a crucial part of international and Indian cuisine. This fruit adds tangy flavor to innumerable delicacies but has beauty and several benefits. Tomato juice is rich in nutrients with low content of fat and calories. A glass of tomato juice offers 74% of the daily recommended intake of Vitamin C. It also contains vitamins such as B1, K, B3, B2, B6, and B3.

1. Loaded with antioxidants

Tomato juice has a high content of antioxidants and is rich in lycopene and beta-carotene responsible for the deep red color in tomatoes to lower the chances of developing heart disease. The phytonutrients and antioxidants counteract the body from free radicals which cause damage to cells.

2. Support digestion

The regular consumption of tomato juice stimulates bowel movement by preventing constipation and promoting digestion. This juice has rich amounts of fiber and acts as a mild laxative that could prevent constipation. It helps to prevent the chances of constipation.

3. Prevent clotting of blood

Tomatoes contain phytonutrient which prevents abnormal platelet cell clumping beneficial for those who are prone to heart problems. It could be added to the daily diet in form of dinner and lunch.

4. Healthy heart

Tomatoes contain a rich amount of Vitamin C, lycopene, Beta-carotene, and Vitamin E which support heart health. It helps to strengthen the walls of blood vessels and eliminate cholesterol from the blood.

5. Maintain healthy cholesterol

Tomato juice is a good source of fiber that helps to break down bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol). The presence of niacin has a vital impact on high cholesterol levels.

6. Supports vision

Tomato juice is packed with phytonutrients such as lutein, beta-carotene, and zeaxanthin with Vitamin C that helps to prevent eye problems such as age-related macular degeneration and cataract.

7. Speeds up recovery

It has the perfect balance of chemicals which assist the body to recover from strenuous exercise. Instead of fizzy energy drinks, choose tomato juice as it is loaded with numerous health benefits.

8. Beauty purposes

Tomato juice assists to get rid of counter discoloration of the skin, tanning, shrinks open pores, helps to treat acne, and regulates the secretion of sebum in oily skin. Drink juice regularly to reap all the health benefits that it offers. Tomato juice has iron and vitamin which helps to repair damaged, lifeless and rough hair. Antioxidants halt the cells from being damaged and support the repair of tissue and cells. Tomatoes ensure organs such as skin remain glowing and healthy all the time.

9. Cancer prevention

Tomato juice has carotenoid lycopene which is a provitamin A carotenoid responsible for pink to red color in tomatoes, other foods, and pink grapefruit. The processed products of tomatoes are considered to be the basic dietary lycopene source in the United States. Tomatoes and their byproducts possess hypolipidemic, anticarcinogenic, and antioxidant properties due to the presence of principal bioactive compounds found in them. The antioxidant helps to eradicate free radicals preventing tissue and cell damage and various cancer types. In addition, it contains Vitamin C which prevents the chances of oxidation. The anticarcinogenic properties prevent the body from cancer-causing carcinogens.

10. Liver detoxification

The liver is the largest and crucial organ in the body that purifies types of blood and is distributed to the body. The liver counteracts toxins and it requires some detox. Tomatoes are found to detox the liver so tomato juice is considered to improve liver health.

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Precautions                                                                                                 

• Tomatoes are acidic in nature so too much consumption of its juice causes acid reflux.
• Some people might experience allergic reactions such as eczema, hives, skin rashes, sneezing, coughing, swollen face, itchy throat, and swollen tongue. So people allergic to tomatoes should avoid the juice as well.
• Its excessive intake could lower the blood pressure level abnormally causing hypotension.
• Excess presence of lycopene in the body affects the prostate gland in males causing pain, cancer, and difficulty in passing urine.
• Its high intake could trigger headaches, migraines and increase uric acid levels resulting in gouts.

How to Eat         

• In the United States, chilled tomato juice is used as an appetizer.
• It is used to prepare tomato juice agar.
• Add it to shake and smoothie.
• Season tomato juice with sugar, pepper, or salt and consume as a breakfast juice.
• Mix it with cocktails or mocktails.
• Tomato juice is also used in cooking for making soups and broths, salsas, salad dressings, tablespoons of ketchup, and sauces.

References

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