Tomato juice may help reduce blood pressure in people with high blood pressure (hypertension) when consumed regularly.
Tomato juice contains two nutrients that can help maintain healthy blood pressure: lycopene and potassium.
- Lycopene: This is an antioxidant that gives tomatoes their red color. It blocks the production of a compound called angiotensin II, which normally tightens blood vessels and raises blood pressure. Lycopene also helps your blood vessels produce nitric oxide, a substance that relaxes vessel walls and improves blood flow.
- Potassium: One cup (240 milliliters) of tomato juice provides about 495 milligrams of potassium. Potassium helps the kidneys flush out excess sodium and water through urine, which reduces the total volume of fluid the heart needs to pump. Potassium also blocks the release of renin, an enzyme that triggers a chain reaction leading to higher blood pressure.
In a year-long study of adults with untreated high blood pressure, those who drank unsalted tomato juice daily saw their systolic pressure (top number) decrease by about four points.
There’s no official recommended amount of tomato juice for blood pressure management. In the year-long study, participants drank about 7 ounces (roughly 1 cup) of unsalted tomato juice daily and saw some reductions in their blood pressure.
This study looked at regular, consistent consumption over months or years, not occasional intake. It’s also worth noting that study participants drank unsalted tomato juice, which is important since added sodium can counteract the blood pressure benefits.
Tomato juice isn’t for everyone. You may want to skip it or talk with your healthcare provider first if you:
- Have kidney disease: The high amount of potassium in tomato juice can build up in the blood when the kidneys aren’t working well. Too much potassium can cause an irregular heartbeat.
- Have acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Tomato juice is acidic and can trigger or worsen symptoms.
- Are watching your sodium intake: Store-bought tomato juices are often high in salt, which can raise blood pressure instead of lowering it.
- Take certain blood pressure or heart medications: The potassium content may interfere with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, like Altace (ramipril), or potassium-sparing diuretics, like Aldactone (spironolactone).
If you want to try tomato juice for blood pressure support:
- Choose an unsalted or low-sodium option.
- Keep portions to about 1 cup daily, as this is the amount researchers have studied.
- Remember that it’s not a replacement for blood pressure treatments or healthful lifestyle changes.
- Check with your healthcare provider if you have kidney issues or take blood pressure or heart medications.
