Tomato Juice for Diabetics

August 2004
Volume I, Number 1

Drinking tomato juice may help prevent one of the most serious side effects of type 2 diabetes. Australian researchers recently studied the effect of drinking tomato juice on platelet aggregation, the thickening of the blood that can lead to atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke in diabetic patients. They found that drinking about eight ounces of clarified tomato juice daily significantly reduced platelet aggregation.

Researchers believe the blood-thinning effect may be due to a substance named P3 found in the yellow, jelly-like fluid around the seeds of the tomato. Larger trials will test whether the daily dose of tomato juice reduces the incidence of heart disease. The safe dietary measure might also benefit long-distance air travelers and others prone to blood clots, such as smokers.

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Learn more about the Neighborhood Heart Watch program at www.neighborhood-heart-watch.org. This article © American Foundation for Preventative Medicine. All Rights Reserved.