Last Updated on February 15, 2024 by Aditi Gangal
Quick Take
A social media post claims that drinking tomato juice prevents heart attack and stroke. We fact-checked and found the claim to be Mostly False.
The Claim
A Facebook post highlights the health benefits of drinking tomato juice. This list claims that drinking tomato juice can reduce the risk of heart attacks and prevent strokes.
We have attached a screenshot of the post below:
Fact Check
Is juicing beneficial for reducing heart attacks and preventing strokes?
It may. Juicing may be beneficial for heart health and reduce the risk of strokes when part of a balanced diet. Juicing can provide essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support heart health. These nutrients can help reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, and promote overall cardiovascular health.
However, juicing should not be relied upon as the sole or primary method for preventing heart attacks or strokes. A healthy diet plan is a structured schedule of meals and eating habits. It is personalized to meet individual health needs, manage medical conditions, and improve overall well-being through nutrition.
We asked Sheela Krishnaswamy, a Registered Dietitian with 38 years of professional experience in the clinical, corporate and communication spaces about the claim. She informs, “Juicing can be a convenient way to increase your intake of fruits and vegetables but it should not replace whole foods entirely. Fibre that is present in whole fruits and vegetables is essential for a healthy gut. If at all you have to juice fruits or vegetables, do not add any natural sweetening agents like sugar or honey or jaggery, and also avoid synthetic sweeteners. Consuming excess juices can increase the risk of weight gain and gut problems”.
Is it better to drink juice than eat fruit or vegetables?
Not exactly. Drinking juice is not better than eating fruits or vegetables. The same has been confirmed by Dt. Krishnaswamy. Both drinking juice and eating whole fruits and vegetables have their benefits. Consuming a variety of whole fruits and vegetables is generally recommended for optimal health. However, incorporating fresh juice into your diet can be beneficial for people who cannot have fruits. Juice can be a good option as long as it is consumed in moderation and as part of a balanced diet. If you are unsure which option is best for you, consider discussing it with a healthcare professional or a registered dietitian who can provide personalized recommendations.
Whether it is better to drink juice or eat whole fruits and vegetables depends on various factors, including your nutritional needs, dietary preferences, and health goals. Here are some considerations to help you decide:
- Nutrient Content: Whole fruits and vegetables contain fiber, which is often lost during the juicing process. Fiber is essential for digestive health, regulating blood sugar levels, and maintaining a healthy weight. Juicing can remove the insoluble fiber from fruits and vegetables. But some soluble fiber may remain depending on the juicing method used. Eating whole fruits and vegetables ensures that you get the full spectrum of nutrients, including fiber.
- Caloric Content: Drinking juice can have more concentrated calories compared to eating whole fruits and vegetables. For example, it is much easier to consume the juice of several oranges than to eat the whole fruit. This can lead to higher calorie intake if not consumed mindfully. If you are watching your calorie intake, eating whole fruits and vegetables may be more beneficial.
- Hydration: Drinking juice can contribute to your daily fluid intake and help keep you hydrated, especially if you struggle to drink enough water throughout the day. However, whole fruits and vegetables also contain water and can contribute to hydration.
- Convenience: Juicing can be a convenient way to consume a variety of fruits and vegetables, particularly if you are on the go or prefer liquid forms of food. However, it requires time for preparation and cleanup, whereas whole fruits and vegetables are generally easier to grab and eat.
- Blood Sugar Impact: Whole fruits and vegetables contain natural sugars, but the fiber they contain helps slow down the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, reducing the likelihood of blood sugar spikes. Drinking fruit juice, especially if it is not freshly squeezed and contains added sugars, can lead to a quicker spike in blood sugar levels.
Does drinking tomato juice prevent heart attack and stroke?
Not exactly. Tomato juice is a popular beverage made from the extraction or pureeing of tomatoes. It contains various nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants that have been linked to potential health benefits, particularly for heart health.
Tomatoes have nutrients that may be beneficial for overall health.
- Lycopene: Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a carotenoid pigment responsible for their red color. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that helps neutralize harmful free radicals in the body, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Oxidative stress and inflammation are key factors in the development of cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and strokes.
- Potassium: Tomatoes, and consequently tomato juice, are a good source of potassium. Potassium is an essential mineral that plays a crucial role in regulating blood pressure. Adequate potassium intake is associated with a lower risk of high blood pressure, which is a significant risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
- Vitamin C: Tomatoes are also a source of vitamin C and other vitamins and minerals that contribute to overall health and well-being. Vitamin C, an antioxidant, helps support the immune system and may have protective effects on the cardiovascular system.
Several studies have suggested a potential link between higher consumption of tomatoes or tomato products and a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, it is important to note that correlation does not necessarily imply causation. While these studies show promise, they do not conclusively prove that tomato juice alone can prevent heart attacks or strokes. The hypothesis only associates reduced cardiovascular risk with the consumption of antioxidant-rich foods.
This can also mean that a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole foods, including tomato products like tomato juice, can be part of a heart-healthy lifestyle. The combination of various nutrients and antioxidants found in these foods contributes to overall cardiovascular health. To this, Dt. Krishnaswamy adds, “A single food cannot prevent any disease. It takes a completely healthy lifestyle like eating sensibly, exercising regularly, sleeping adequately, handling stressful situations positively and so on to prevent or postpone diseases”.
However, preventing heart disease or stroke involves multiple factors, including regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, managing stress, avoiding smoking, and limiting the intake of unhealthy fats and sugars. It is crucial to focus on overall dietary patterns rather than solely relying on one specific food or beverage. The same has been confirmed by Dr Harmeet Singh, MD, PhD, MEM, an experienced emergency medicine specialist. He currently works at Fortis Healthcare, New Delhi as Senior Consultant and Head of Emergency and Trauma.
Moreover, it is better to consult with a healthcare professional or a registered dietitian. They can provide personalized guidance based on your health status, dietary preferences, and lifestyle factors to optimize heart health.
Dr Amit Bhushan Sharma, Associate Director and Unit Head of Cardiology at Paras Hospitals, Gurugram, suggests that a heart attack or stroke may occur when a piece of plaque breaks off and lodges in the bloodstream, reducing blood flow. He further advises that blockages in arteries can also result in brain strokes, angina, and peripheral artery disease.
When asked about the role of diet in managing clogged arteries, Dr Sharma explained that when plaques build up inside a person’s arteries, they can become clogged, leading to restricted blood flow. While individual foods cannot remove plaque from the arteries, a healthy diet may help manage and prevent heart disease.
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