Have you had your lycopene today? If you ate a green salad with fresh chopped
tomatoes, then you not only got a healthy dose of this powerful antioxidant,
but you have also taken significant action toward lowering your blood pressure.
A recent double-blind study conducted in Israel has confirmed what
hearth-healthy Italians have enjoyed for centuries tomatoes (and tomato
sauce) lower blood pressure and the risk of heart disease.
Dr. Esther Paran, head of the hypertension division of Soroka Medical Center,
led up the Israeli study. It involved patients who were already being treated
for hypertension, but were not responding well to the medications. Dr. Paran
had patients take a supplement of tomato extract. The results were a
significant drop in blood pressure after just four weeks.
Tomatoes are so effective at lowering blood pressure because they contain
lycopene. This potent antioxidant is even the focus of some hybrid tomatoes
grown by the Israeli company, Lycomato, in order to have higher concentrations
of lycopene in each piece of fruit. Other antioxidants found in tomatoes make
this one super-food in the prevention of heart disease. It can even help keep
LDL cholesterol from oxidizing which makes it stick to the arteries and narrow
the passage way causing blood pressure to increase.
Even during the peak growing season it can be difficult to consume four whole
tomatoes each day, which is the recommended amount for having a positive impact
on blood pressure. Here are some ways to get the benefits of tomatoes without
having to eat them straight off the vine.
1. Make Chili. Using tomato puree, which is a concentrated form of tomatoes, as
the base for your chili utilizes the antioxidants without the bulk of a whole
tomato. Add some ultra-lean and high protein ground bison and kidney beans with
minced garlic and onions, and cayenne pepper and you have a heart-healthy main
course and a full day's allowance of tomato.
2. Since using olive oil with the tomatoes enhances the curative quality, make
your pasta sauce red with tomatoes, tomato paste and olive oil to sauté the
garlic and onion. Tomato paste used in making sauce contains more than 10 times
the nutrients of a single tomato.
3. Have a fresh salad as a side dish to either of these entrees and cut one
whole tomato on top. You'll get one-quarter of you tomato intake right there.
4. Drink tomato juice. It is better to make your own fresh juice so that you
can control the sodium. Store bought juices can be high in sugar and
sodium-based preservatives. If you have a juicer, you can make some incredible
veggie juices to suit your own tastes by adding carrots, celery and some
low-sodium seasonings.
5. Take a tomato supplement. If you just can't stomach tomatoes, then a 200 mg
supplement provides the equivalent of more than the recommended four tomatoes.
Adding tomatoes to your diet can reduce systolic blood pressure by 10 points
and diastolic pressure by 4 points as was evident in the Israel study. Whatever
way you slice it, tomatoes will keep strengthen your immune system and lower
blood pressure.
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