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Diet

Drinking Tomato Juice on a Daily Basis Can Help Kick Belly Fat to the Curb

Belly fat is a notoriously tricky issue to solve, even if you’re someone who’s incredibly vigilant about your diet and exercise. Our tummies just love to cling onto those extra inches, don’t they? That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with having a little bit of plumpness around our midections, but for those who are hoping to slim down, you might want to try adding one simple drink to your daily life: tomato juice. It might sound too good to be true — unless you’re someone who can’t stand the taste, sorry! — but there are plenty of studies to back up this claim.

Tomato Juice for Weight Loss

A 2014 study observed 30 women and asked them to drink about 8 oz. of tomato juice every day without changing anything else about their ordinary eating and exercise habits. The subjects followed this rule for two months and, according to the results, saw a significant decrease in their weight and inches around their waistlines. An earlier study from the British Journal of Nutrition in 2013 correlates with those findings; it found that tomato juice helped to reduce inflammatory mediators that are associated with becoming overweight and the development of diabetes in females.

Obviously, we aren’t trying to say that tomato juice is some sort of magic potion that will suddenly slim you down with zero other effort put forth; maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise are always important to keep in mind for overall health. Instead, adding tomato juice to your daily consumption just might help give your body an extra boost of nutrients to hopefully speed things along. Unless you’re completely grossed out by the idea of chugging cold, liquified tomatoes once a day, you have to admit it’s at least worth a shot to see if you can experience the same results. But weight issues aren’t the only perk a tall glass of tomato juice can unpack. Keep scrolling to learn more perks the fruit provides.

Health Benefits of Tomato Juice

A study in Nutrition Journal from 2015 focused specifically on the benefits of tomato juice for menopausal symptoms and cardiovascular diseases. This time, the researchers from Cambridge observed  95 women all between the ages of 40-60. After steering clear of all tomato-based foods and drinks for two weeks, the ladies spent eight weeks adding about 7 oz. of unsalted tomato juice to their diet. Researchers observed their Menopausal Symptom Scale (MSS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) before and after the study. They found a decrease in all menopausal symptoms, including anxiety, and an increase of heart health with higher resting energy expenditures and heart rate. 

The lycopene and carotene levels present in tomato juice can also help lower LDL (“bad cholesterol”) levels, which can decrease the chances of cardiovascular disease, according to another study in the British Journal of Nutrition. Researchers even included ketchup in their study, so that’s something to think about the next time you find yourself considering which condiments to put on top your a burger. For those of you who like to live an active lifestyle, you’ll be happy to learn that a 2011 study also found that the lycopene helped to relieve oxidative stress and improved performance levels in athletes. As you you’ve probably already concluded, adding more tomato juice to your life has so many potential benefits for your health that it might become your new favorite beverage.

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