Wellness Tip: Tomato Time

Tomatoes, a staple in Meditteranean cooking, have been shown to help reduce your risk of some cancers and heart disease. More recently, tomato juice has entered into the spotlight for people who have diabetes. Tomato juice acts as a blood thinner and in one study was shown to decrease platelet aggregation by 30 to 40 percent after just 3 weeks of consuming 8.5 ounces of tomato juice per day. Platelets are responsible for blood clotting. When we take medications or eat foods that act as blood thinners, these substances reduce the “thickening” effects of platelets, reducing our risk of heart disease and stroke.

Those people who have been diagnosed with diabetes have an increased risk of heart disease because of the “stickiness” of their blood, cause by increased platelet aggregation. So…here’s to you…try drinking a glass of tomato juice next time you need a quick snack or want to quench your thirst. You may be on your way to a healthier new you in the year 2007!