Tomato Juice Benefits

Besides neutralizing skunk spray or polishing metals and coins, tomato juice provides tremendous benefits for a healthy human body. Tomato juice contains high levels of many important vitamins and antioxidants.

Vitamin C

Tomato juice contains over 50 percent of the daily vitamin C requirement, which is good for iron absorption and free radical damage. High vitamin C levels are a good indicator of complete nutritional health.

Lycopene

Lycopene is an antioxidant which protects DNA in the white blood cells as well as assists in the prevention of heart disease. A serving of tomato juice contains about 50 percent of the daily requirement.

Beta-carotene

Tomato juice provides about 20 percent of the daily requirement of beta-carotene, which gives the tomato its deep red color and converts to vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is needed for vision and eye health, as well as strengthening the immune system.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is important for strong bone health because it regulates and aids in the body's ability to absorb calcium. A serving contains about 18 percent of the daily requirement.

Type 2 Diabetes and Blood Clots

A daily glass of tomato juice seems to help those prone to blood-clot formation by providing a blood-thinning effect. Blood clots are a common concern for diabetics, but it also is beneficial to anyone susceptible, including air travelers, smokers or those with high cholesterol.

References

• Lycopene
• Beta-carotene
• SuperFoods HealthStyle; Pratt, Steven G., M.D. and Kathy Matthews; 2005

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Tomato benefits
• Vitamin and mineral chart