Home Health TV doctor urges Brits to enjoy red drink that can lower cholesterol

TV doctor urges Brits to enjoy red drink that can lower cholesterol

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According to Dr Ranj Singh, TV doctor and NHS paediatrician, the drink (available for just £1 in supermarkets) is rich in lycopene, a chemical that gives tomatoes their famous red colour. .

They are a common ingredient found in millions of kitchens across Britain.

But the benefits of tomatoes could go far beyond a tasty pizza topping or pasta sauce.

Because drinking unsalted tomato juice could help reduce blood cholesterol levels, experts say.

According to Dr Ranj Singh, TV doctor and NHS paediatrician, the drink, available for just £1 in supermarkets, is rich in lycopene, a chemical that gives tomatoes their famous red colour.

Higher levels of this can help prevent plaque buildup in the arteries, which increases the risk of heart attacks, he said.

This is because lycopene works by inhibiting LDL, a type of harmful cholesterol that causes hardening of the arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the heart.

Cholesterol is a fatty, waxy substance found in the blood that is vital for bodily functions, including digestion, the production of vitamin D and hormones.

However, too much can accumulate in the blood due to the consumption of fatty foods, lack of exercise, being overweight, smoking and alcohol consumption.

According to Dr Ranj Singh, TV doctor and NHS paediatrician, the drink, available for just £1 in supermarkets, is rich in lycopene, a chemical that gives tomatoes their famous red colour.

Drinking unsalted tomato juice could help lower blood cholesterol levels, experts say

Drinking unsalted tomato juice could help lower blood cholesterol levels, experts say

Having high LDL cholesterol does not trigger any symptoms, but it can cause clogged blood vessels and increase the risk of heart problems and stroke.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, meanwhile, has long been considered good because of the wealth of evidence showing it protects the heart.

It removes cholesterol from the arteries and delivers it to the liver to be broken down and removed from the body, reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

HDL cholesterol has been shown to protect against heart disease, and the NHS states that levels above 18 mg/dL for men and 21.6 mg/dL for women are healthy.

But since then some research has begun to question the idea that more is better.

Speaking on BBC’s Good Morning Live, Dr Ranj said: “Tomato juice contains something called lycopene which helps lower cholesterol in some people.”

A virgin Bloody Mary “could be a great idea,” he added.

He also urged people with high cholesterol to increase their intake of whole grains to improve their fiber and help stimulate the intestine.

Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Live, Dr Ranj said:

Speaking to the BBC’s Good Morning Live, Dr Ranj said: “Tomato juice contains something called lycopene which helps lower cholesterol in some people.”

Studies have long suggested that there may be a link between lycopene in tomatoes and reduced blood sugar levels.

Studies have long suggested that there may be a link between the lycopene in tomatoes and reducing levels of “bad cholesterol.” In the image, a cholesterol plaque in an artery.

Oats, for example, contain a a soluble fiber called beta-glucan, he said, which has been shown to lower cholesterol levels.

Studies have long suggested that there may be a link between the lycopene in tomatoes and reducing levels of “bad cholesterol.”

In 2019, Japanese researchers found that Drinking a 200 ml bottle a day reduced blood pressure and cholesterol in people at risk of this condition.

Among those with high cholesterol, 125 experienced an average 3.3 percent drop in the fatty substance.

The beneficial effects were similar among men, women and different age groups, according to findings published in the journal Food Science and Nutrition.

Meanwhile, in 2018, scientists at Peru also discovered that participants who drank tomato juice with olive oil containing lycopene experienced a greater drop in cholesterol levels than those who did not.

The drink’can help lower cholesterol in patients,” they said.

And in 2011, Australian researchers even concluded that cooked tomatoes may have statin-like benefits for patients struggling with high cholesterol or high blood pressure.

After an analysis of 14 international studies on the benefits of lycopene, they said that tomatoes ccould be an “effective alternative” to statins, with Just two ounces of tomato paste or half a liter of juice a day are enough to help many patients.

Other experts, however, have expressed caution over such findings and say more research is still needed to accurately represent the health benefits of tomato juice.

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