Eating tomatoes every day reduces the risk of suffering from high blood pressure, thanks to their high potassium content.
- Eating tomatoes daily reduces the risk of suffering from high blood pressure.
- The fruit is rich in potassium and lycophene, compounds that are beneficial for cardiovascular health.
- It is also one of the components of the Mediterranean diet, known for its health benefits.
Tomatoes are good for the heart. According to a study published in European Journal of Preventive Cardiologyeating this vegetable regularly would reduce the risk of hypertension. Its high potassium and lycophene content would explain its beneficial effects on cardiovascular health.
How to observe the effects of tomatoes on cardiovascular health?
This study is based on the participation of more than 7,000 Spaniards. They were all at high risk of cardiovascular disease. All the participants answered questionnaires about their health, lifestyle and diet. The scientists from the University of Barcelona, who carried out this work, were interested in their consumption of tomatoes, whether raw or prepared, such as in gazpacho or tomato sauces. They established four groups, according to the level of consumption: low, or less than 44 grams of tomatoes per day, intermediate, between 44 and 82 grams, upper intermediate, or between 82 and 110 grams, and finally high, over 110 grams.
Eating lots of tomatoes significantly reduces the risk of high blood pressure
According to the data analysis, tomato consumption is inversely proportional to the risk of high blood pressure: the more tomatoes you eat, the lower the risk of high blood pressure. Thus, the Spanish scientists observed a 36% reduction in this risk in the high consumption group. Even in participants with so-called intermediate consumption, they observed a reduction in blood pressure.
High blood pressure: How to explain the effects of eating tomatoes?
These beneficial effects of tomatoes on cardiovascular health could be explained by their composition. These vegetables contain potassium, which contributes to better heart health.There is a huge amount of data that suggests that higher potassium intake leads to lower blood pressure.”says cardiologist Gregory Katz in an interview with the media HealthTomatoes also contain a significant amount of lycophene, a compound known for its effects on reducing the risk of high blood pressure.
Tomato, an ingredient of the Mediterranean diet
In the same media, the co-author of the study, Rosa Maria Lamuela-Raventos, director of the Institute for Research on Nutrition and Food Security at the University of Barcelona, recalls that tomatoes “are an important part of some of the best diets, including the Mediterranean diet”. The latter is known for its beneficial effects on health. The co-author also emphasizes that it is an easily accessible food, everywhere in the world, and affordable financially.
