When you think of tomatoes, the first thing that comes to mind is probably growing them in a garden or even a small pot. That’s why; tomato juice is your best bet at keeping things healthy and ensuring that you get the best out of the homely grown tomatoes without any pesticides/insecticides involvement.
Unlike store-bought tomatoes, you can be sure of the condition they grow in, and the sense of fulfillment from making out something you grew yourself by putting in the effort makes the taste ten times better.
There are countless recipes, common to complex, that involve tomatoes, but you can always eat them raw or make juice out of them.
However, the question of how much tomato juice per day comes to light if you opt for the juicing side. So, in the end, how much tomato juice a day is okay for you to drink?
Drinking a cup of tomato juice is perfectly safe, and you can increase the amount to two or three cups per day, but remember to keep things in moderation. The excess tomato juice can harm your kidneys.
The article will discuss when you should drink tomato juice to get the most out of it, different ways to prepare it, and some health benefits. So, buckle up for more.
When To Drink Tomato Juice?
Knowing the amount of tomato juice you can drink daily is all good, but not knowing when to drink it can result in more harm than good. So, it is crucial to know when to drink it.
The best time to drink tomato juice is early morning (to start your day, i.e., breakfast), especially on an empty stomach. It will provide you with enough energy to carry on your daily tasks, and the high nutrient content will help your body maintain optimum function.
Contrarily, the worst time you can drink tomato juice is before heading to bed. The primary reason is the acidic nature, which can cause acidic reflux.
How To Prepare Tomato Juice
You can get tomato juice from a store, but the problem of additives will keep you worried over the effects it will have on your health, but fret not! Making tomato juice at home doesn’t take much.
Surprisingly, as simple as it sounds, tomato juice can be prepared in three different ways. These are as follows:
1. With Blender/Juicer
The most common option you have is using a blender to whip up a quick serving of tomato juice.
Ingredients
- Tomatoes
- Water
- Juicer/blender
Preparation
To prepare a one-cup serving, prepare one cup of water, two tomatoes, your blender, and a pinch of salt for taste. Add everything to the blender, blend well, strain, and enjoy!
2. Without Blender/Juicer
This method takes a traditional approach where you make the juice manually by squeezing it out using a cheesecloth.
Ingredients
- Tomatoes
- Water
- Salt
Preparation
The preparation starts by getting five-six tomatoes. Start with two tomatoes of medium size and put them in the cheesecloth. Squeeze them hard to drain out the juice while leaving the skin behind. Repeat the process 2-3 times, add water and salt, and enjoy!
You can always skip out water if you want a more concentrated juice, and only add a pinch of salt to bring out the flavor.
3. By Cooking
Another option at your disposal is cooking it like a puree, i.e., if you don’t have a blender or juicer and don’t want to do manual labor.
The best option for those who want to store their juice for a long time is to make a puree, which you can use for longer.
Preparation
The process starts by finely chopping the tomatoes. After chopping three tomatoes, transfer them to a pan for heating. Add two tablespoons of water and let it heat slowly.
On medium heat, continue cooking the mixture until a paste is formed. Here, you have two options: make the paste thick or light. The more concentrated the paste, the longer it will last, as smaller servings can help you make a cup of tomato juice.
However, a lighter paste is best for a single or, at most, two servings. After making the paste, strain it using a sieve and press on it with the back of a spoon to squeeze the juice out, and you are done.
You can store it in a jar and keep it in the freezer for as long as a month. But it is advised to use it within a week to get the actual taste. The recommended option is peeling the tomato skin and drinking the left-out materials with the juice to get fibers from it.
Health Benefits of Tomato Juice
The main benefit of drinking tomato juice is for people trying to lose weight. Tomato juice coupled with exercise or a gym routine helps curb the extra belly fat. Also, it can help you tackle your energy drink addiction.
Takeaway
To wrap up, drinking a cup of tomato juice daily before breakfast can help you charge your energy to tackle your daily troubles. Also, it can prevent you from gaining weight by helping you cut down on extra calories from store-bought juices.
However, making tomato juice at home is best to be sure of what is in it. Store-bought juices have many additives, but the meaning is also lost if you use canned tomatoes to make tomato juice.
Lastly, drinking 2-3 cups is okay unless you have a blood pressure condition or kidney troubles. But remember, moderation is the key, so try to keep it to 1-2 cups and not more daily.
