How Tomato Juice May Aid In Weight Loss
The latest diet fad that everyone is talking about is not some rare Japanese fruit or Nigerian root – it’s plain old tomato juice. Most people may cringe at the idea of drinking tomato juice, unless it is in the version of a Bloody Mary. But people have known the benefits of tomatoes and its juice for generations – it has been used for everything from the common cold to pancreatic cancer. It may also help people lose weight.
A recent study from China Medical University in Taiwan found that women who drank one nine-ounce glass of tomato juice per day for two months saw a considerable decrease in body fat and weight. The participants did nothing else to change their diets or exercise routines – they were simply told to drink the tomato juice as instructed. Some women who did not lose body fat still have improved overall health, with reductions in waist circumference and cholesterol levels. All of the women had increased lycopene levels, an antioxidant known to boost immune system function and reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.
Researchers were excited about their findings but must now find out if tomato juice could also help men reduce body fat levels. Since this study only involved women, there will need to be further studies conducted in order to determine efficacy on males. It is possible that the chemical makeup difference of men and women could mean different results, but if the results are similar in men it could lead to a mass demand for tomato juice. Until then, you may as well enjoy a glass of the red stuff every day – just in case it does work.
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