Are Tomatoes Good for Your Heart?

Yes, tomatoes can support heart health when eaten as part of a balanced diet because they provide potassium for blood pressure regulation and fiber for a heart-healthy eating pattern.

Can tomatoes be part of a heart-healthy diet?

Tomatoes are a useful food to include alongside vegetables, fruit, whole grains, beans and other foods that support cardiovascular health. They are not a substitute for medical care or a guarantee against heart disease.

How tomatoes are prepared matters too. Fresh tomatoes and tomato products without much added salt can fit into a heart-healthy diet, while some packaged tomato sauces and canned products contain substantial sodium. For a wider range of choices, see the best foods for heart health.

How might tomatoes support heart health?

Tomatoes provide potassium, a mineral involved in normal muscle function, including the work of the heart. Potassium also helps regulate blood pressure, although people with certain kidney conditions or medications may need individualized advice about their intake.

Tomatoes also contain dietary fiber, particularly in the flesh and skin. Fiber is part of a heart-healthy eating pattern and can help with cholesterol management, but eating a tomato alone is not a proven treatment for high cholesterol.

Red tomatoes contain lycopene, a pigment with antioxidant properties. Its presence does not establish that eating tomatoes prevents heart disease, and it is not possible to assign a specific heart benefit to the lycopene in a serving of tomato from the evidence available here.

The rest of the meal matters as much as the tomato. Adding tomatoes to a meal in place of a higher-sodium or higher-saturated-fat ingredient may help improve the overall nutritional balance. For beverage choices that fit a broader heart-healthy pattern, see the best drinks for heart health.

What does the evidence say about tomatoes and heart disease?

We found no tomato-specific clinical studies. That means it cannot establish whether tomatoes themselves prevent heart attacks or strokes, lower blood pressure by a measurable amount, or improve cholesterol in a particular person.

The roles of potassium and dietary fiber in a balanced diet are better understood than the effect of any single food on a person's risk. Nutrients also occur in many foods, so a healthy eating pattern does not depend on tomatoes alone.

It is reasonable to enjoy tomatoes as part of that pattern, but claims that tomatoes clean arteries or replace heart medicines go beyond what can be concluded here. If you have a cardiovascular condition, follow the treatment plan you and your clinician have agreed on.

How can you include tomatoes in a heart-healthy diet?

Add fresh tomatoes to salads, sandwiches or grain dishes. They also work cooked with beans, vegetables or whole-grain pasta; choose preparation methods and accompaniments that fit your overall eating plan.

Canned tomatoes can be convenient when fresh tomatoes are unavailable. Compare labels and choose products with no added salt or lower sodium when possible, since sodium levels can differ between products.

For tomato sauce, check the label rather than assuming every option has the same amount of salt. A simple sauce made with tomatoes and herbs lets you decide what else goes into the meal.

You do not need to eat tomatoes every day or reach a specific amount to make your diet heart-healthy. Variety helps you get nutrients from different foods, and another vegetable or fruit can be a good choice if you dislike tomatoes or cannot eat them.

Who should be careful with tomatoes?

If you have kidney disease, have been told your blood potassium is high, or take medicines that can raise potassium, ask your clinician or dietitian how tomatoes fit your diet. These medicines include some blood pressure medicines and potassium-sparing diuretics. Do not change or stop prescribed medication on your own.

Tomatoes can aggravate reflux symptoms for some people. If they consistently cause discomfort, discuss the symptoms with a clinician rather than forcing yourself to eat them; other foods can contribute to a balanced diet.

Food allergy is another reason for caution. If eating tomato causes symptoms such as swelling of the tongue or trouble breathing, seek emergency help. For young children, cut cherry or grape tomatoes lengthwise into quarters and supervise eating to reduce choking risk.

Seek medical advice about persistent symptoms or concerns about blood pressure, cholesterol or heart disease. New chest pain or pressure, sudden severe breathlessness, or signs of stroke such as facial drooping, arm weakness or speech difficulty require emergency services immediately.