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Tomato juice - an alternative to energy drinks

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 14.02.2024
 
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19 February 2013, 09:01

The scientists know about the benefits of tomatoes and tomato juice for a long time, tomatoes contain a lot of nutritious and useful substances necessary for the body, recent studies by Greek physicians have proved the undeniable benefits that tomato juice brings to athletes. Greeks are sure that the juice of fresh tomatoes is able to restore strength after training much more efficiently and faster than the so popular in our time energy. A two-hundred-grammed glass of tomato juice is enough to completely restore the muscles after several hours in the gym.

In the process of researching the beneficial properties of tomato juice, experts took under the supervision of 15 athletes. For two and a half months, the athletes were under the care of physicians, who monitored the changes in medical indications before training, after and during. During the experiment, 6 participants after drinking sports drank a glass of carbonated beverage-energy, and the remaining 9 - a glass of fresh tomato juice. After analyzing the data that were taken before and after training, the scientists found out that athletes who drink tomato juice were restored an order of magnitude faster. The level of harmful enzymes that form in the body due to damage to muscle tissue, came back to normal within minutes. Also, after a glass of tomato juice, the blood glucose level was normalized.

Experts believe that the amazing recovery effect of tomato juice is associated with a large amount of lycopene, which is found in fresh tomatoes. Lycopene is a bright pigment that provides a red color to ripe tomatoes and is an isomer of beta-carotene. The main function of this substance when it enters the human body is antioxidant. Regular use of lycopene-containing products provides a reduction in oxidative stress and protects DNA, which can prevent oncogenesis.

Recent research in the field of medicine confirms the undeniable benefits of lycopene for the human body. For example, at the moment it is established that products containing lycopene can have a preventive effect on cancer. It is proved that the risks of cancer in the stomach, prostate or intestine directly depends on the amount of lycopene in the human body. Daily consumption of tomato juice or fresh tomatoes can reduce the likelihood of stomach cancer by 15%.

The restoring properties of tomato juice are also used in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Doctors believe that tomatoes and products derived from them (tomato juice, tomato paste, even tomato jam) can prevent heart disease in the elderly and old people. The risk of developing atherosclerosis and other diseases of the cardiovascular system is directly proportional to the amount of lycopene that comes into the body daily with food.

Many nutritionists consider tomatoes and tomato juice to be necessary for athletes, as well as for people who care about proper nutrition. The Mediterranean diet, which is considered one of the most balanced diets, assumes daily consumption of fresh tomatoes.

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