A TV doctor in the UK is promoting a tasty weapon in the battle against high blood cholesterol - and there's no prescription needed.
It's tomato juice.
The juice is rich in lycopenes, which work by inhibiting the LDL cholesterol that leads to hardening of the arteries.
The benefits of lycopene have been known for some time, with tomato sauce, pasta sauce and pizza topping on the list of useful dietary additions.
Tomato juice offers a potentially more convenient and likely healthier way of consuming the required amount of the good stuff.
Japanese research in 2019 found that drinking 200mL of tomato juice per day lowered blood pressure and cholesterol in people at increased risk of the condition.
And in 2011, Australian researchers, who analysed 14 studies on the benefits of lycopene, went so far as to say tomatoes could be an 'effective alternative' to statins, with just 50 grams of tomato paste or half a litre of juice a day enough to help many patients.
Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Live, Dr Ranj Singh suggested viewers choose unsalted tomato juice, adding that a virgin bloody Mary "might be a great idea".
He also urged people with high cholesterol to increase their intake of whole grains to improve their fibre and help boost the gut.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 20 Jan 25
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