Why should you eat a lot of tomatoes?
Protect your health by adding healthy foods like tomatoes.
Many people have the habit of meeting friends and drinking beer and wine on weekends. However, alcohol makes the body tired and damages the liver and cardiovascular system if abused.
Besides controlling alcohol intake, adding certain foods, typically tomatoes, to your diet is considered an effective solution to help reduce the harmful effects of alcohol.
Tomatoes - "Shield" to protect the liver from alcohol
The liver is the main organ that helps the body process and eliminate toxins from alcohol. However, when the amount of alcohol absorbed exceeds the threshold, the liver is easily damaged, leading to hepatitis, fatty liver, or even cirrhosis.
Alcohol puts a heavy burden on many organs. Photo: Minh Nhat
Many studies have shown that tomatoes contain large amounts of lycopene - a powerful antioxidant - which helps protect the liver and minimize damage caused by alcohol.
A study in the journalFood and FunctionJapanese scientists have shown that lycopene in tomatoes can reduce the level of alcoholic hepatitis by up to 35%.
Experiments on mice showed that the group of mice supplemented with tomato extract after consuming alcohol had significantly lower liver damage index than the group that was not supplemented.
At the same time, tomatoes also contain glutathione - a substance that effectively supports the liver in detoxification.
"Tomatoes not only help the liver reduce the pressure of processing alcohol, but also support faster recovery of liver function after damage caused by alcohol," said study author Dr. Hiroyuki Sugiura.
Usage advice:
- Drinking fresh tomato juice before and after drinking alcohol will reduce the burden on the liver.
- Eating raw tomatoes or dishes made from tomatoes also brings similar effects.
Acetaldehyde detoxification helps reduce hangovers
Acetaldehyde is a toxic substance formed during the body's metabolism of alcohol, causing familiar symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and fatigue. This substance is even listed as a compound that can cause cancer if accumulated over a long period of time.
Tomatoes are "good friends" of the liver and stomach. Photo: Getty
A study by Kyoto University of Medicine (Japan), published inJournal of Nutritional Biochemistryshows that lycopene in tomatoes has the ability to stimulate the enzyme ALDH (aldehyde dehydrogenase).
This is the enzyme responsible for breaking down acetaldehyde into a less toxic form. As a result, people who regularly consume tomatoes have up to 40% lower levels of acetaldehyde in their blood than those who do not eat this fruit.
In addition, tomatoes also contain vitamin C and polyphenol compounds that help the body increase resistance, thereby reducing the negative effects of alcohol on the nervous system and immune system.
Usage advice:
- After drinking alcohol, eat a bowl of tomato salad to help your body quickly eliminate acetaldehyde.
- If you feel nauseous, tomato juice mixed with a little salt will help soothe your stomach effectively.
Reduces stomach irritation caused by alcohol
Alcohol is highly acidic, damaging the mucous membrane that protects the stomach lining, causing ulcers or stomach irritation. This is why after drinking, you often feel bloated, have pain in the epigastric region or even feel nauseous.
A study published inJournal of Clinical GastroenterologyIt turns out that tomatoes are high in soluble fiber and natural anti-inflammatory compounds like beta-carotene, vitamin C, and lycopene.
These substances not only help soothe irritated stomach lining but also promote the regeneration of damaged cells, reducing the risk of ulcer formation.
Additionally, the natural acids in tomatoes (citric acid and malic acid) are balanced by natural alkalizing agents, which help reduce excess stomach acid caused by alcohol./.
