Eating Tomatoes Every Day Has An Unexpected Effect On Your Blood Pressure

What’s not to love about a tomato? Tomatoes add a little juiciness to your favorite sandwich, and they liven up any salad. The thick, tangy tomato sauce clings to angel hair pasta. Unlike other fruits (yes, tomatoes are biologically fruits), you don’t bite into tomatoes as a snack. Instead, you can cut one up and pair it with mozzarella cheese.

The versatile tomato might also be good for your blood pressure. Although normal blood pressure is 120/80 or below, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says almost half of the U.S. population has high blood pressure. It’s important to get your blood pressure checked often because high blood pressure doesn’t always have symptoms. Untreated high blood pressure can lead to heart disease, heart attack, or stroke. Getting plenty of sleep and exercise, managing your weight, limiting your alcohol, quitting smoking, and eating a healthy diet are all ways to prevent and manage high blood pressure. The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan is the best diet for hypertension because it emphasizes low-fat protein, healthy fat, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Yet tomatoes have specific nutrients that could keep your blood pressure at healthy levels.