Do you like ketchup and mustard? This may not (necessarily) be bad news. According to a recent study relayed by The Sun, ketchup can also help reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
In this study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, scientists from the University of Barcelona (Spain) found that eating the equivalent of one large tomato per day reduced the risk of hypertension by 36%. “Consumption of tomatoes, including tomato products, is beneficial in preventing and controlling hypertension. High consumption of tomatoes reduces the risk of hypertension by 36%, and moderate consumption lowers blood pressure.“
Benefits of lycopene
As part of this study, 7,056 men and women aged 55 to 80 were followed for three years. All participants were divided into four groups based on their tomato consumption (raw tomato, tomato sauce, gazpacho, etc.). Although these results can therefore be applied to ketchup, beware of excessive consumption of this condiment. Indeed, many brands contain too much sugar in the composition.
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Those who already had high blood pressure and ate tomatoes could see their blood pressure drop. According to the authors of this study, these benefits are attributed to the lycopene present in tomatoes. “The cardioprotective mechanisms involved in lowering blood pressure may be partially attributed to the presence of lycopene in tomatoes.“, says Rosa Maria Lamuela-Raventos, director of the Research Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety. Other foods rich in potassium and lycopene are apricots, bananas, cranberries, etc.
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