There are several studies supporting the medicinal properties of tomatoes. In particular, it has been shown to help lower high blood pressure. Find out more. Do tomatoes help lower blood pressure? We talk about it in this article.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is also known as “silent death” disease. This is because it is a disorder that often goes unnoticed, despite its severity. It is estimated that around 20% of those affected do not even know they suffer from it.
Do tomatoes help lower blood pressure?
In 90 – 95% of cases it is essential or primary arterial hypertension, which is not caused by another disease. The remaining percentage is linked to other pathologies or is caused by drugs or by pregnancy.
The symptoms of hypertension are not specific and often not even perceived. However, in some cases palpitations of the chest or head, dizziness and malaise occur. However, there are normally no obvious manifestations. In the next few lines, we will go deeper into the topic and see the use of tomatoes to lower high blood pressure.
Hypertension
The heart pumps blood to the whole body and does it through the arteries, veins and capillaries. The blood, circulating, exerts pressure on the walls of the arteries. Some devices measure the force of this pressure and the result gives the pressure value.
There are also small arteries called arterioles. They regulate blood flow in the body and sometimes narrow. Science does not know the precise reason why this happens, but in these conditions, the heart is forced to work harder to pump blood. This leads to an increase in pressure in the blood vessels causing high blood pressure levels.
Prolonged hypertension causes major damage to the body. Due to the pressure exerted inside the arteries, these can harden. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke. It is also possible for the heart to become enlarged causing damage to the eyes and kidneys.
Study on the use of tomatoes to lower blood pressure
A study on the relationship between tomato and hypertension was conducted at the Soroka Medical Center in Israel. Part of the research was based on data according to which in Italy the incidence of cases of hypertension is lower than in the rest of the other populations.
A group of patients with hypertension who did not respond well to drug therapy was selected for the study. Everyone was given several tomato-based supplements for four weeks. At the end of this period, all members of the group showed significant improvement.
This is because tomatoes contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant linked to the prevention of heart disease and good arterial health. Apparently, the ideal is to consume four tomatoes a day, raw or as an ingredient in other recipes.
A study on the tomato tree
The tomato tree, also known as barmanbrillo (Cyphomandra betacea), is equally excellent for regulating high blood pressure . This fruit is grown mainly in tropical areas and is mainly consumed in the form of juice.
In 2016, several universities and institutions from Ecuador and Venezuela conducted a study on the medicinal properties of the tomato tree. The results indicate that this fruit has a positive impact on the drop in blood pressure in patients diagnosed as hypertensive.
At the same time, its ability to lower triglyceride and HDL cholesterol levels was found. According to the research, daily consumption of tomato tree juice, lasting for six weeks, reduces hypertension and modulates glucose metabolism.
Use of tomato to lower high blood pressure
As indicated, the ideal is for hypertensive patients to eat four raw tomatoes a day. However, this habit can be monotonous and not very pleasant after some time. The good news, though, is that there are other delicious ways to get enough tomatoes into your diet.
The first way, and perhaps the most obvious, is to prepare a tomato sauce to flavor the dishes. Tomato goes well with almost everything: in addition to pasta, you can add it to beans, some meats or consume it in the form of velvety. It will give a delicious flavor to the chosen dish.
One of the most interesting aspects is that the tomato maintains its nutritional properties regardless of the type of preparation. That’s why you can choose to drink it in the form of juice, tomato cream or consume it in a salad.
On the contrary, as regards the barmanbrillo, it is almost always to be taken as a juice. You can also prepare a sauce to accompany both sweet and savoury dishes or prepare a delicious cake made from this fruit.
Do you suffer from high blood pressure? As you have read, tomato can be a great ally to bring it back to normal levels. However, it is good to clarify that it alone does not replace the medications prescribed by the doctor. Keep this in mind!
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