A new study published in the latest issue of the British Journal of Nutrition shows that regular consumption of ketchup plays an important role in protecting the heart. Scientists from the University of Oslo, Finland, found through experiments that this British dietary favorite greatly helps in curbing "bad" cholesterol, also known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
In the study, volunteer participants added 30 grams of ketchup to their breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea daily, or drank 400 milliliters of tomato juice daily. Researchers discovered that after just 3 weeks, the participants' total cholesterol levels decreased by 6%, while their LDL cholesterol levels decreased by nearly 13%.
The researchers recommend that individuals with high cholesterol can reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke by consuming more ketchup or drinking tomato juice.