Short Answer: Tomato soup is good for diabetes. Because it has lycopene and other nutrients that can positively affect blood sugar levels, insulin sensitivity, blood pressure, and inflammation.
Diabetes is a condition that affects your blood sugar levels and how your body uses glucose for energy.
In diabetes, your body either does not produce enough insulin, a hormone that helps glucose enter your cells, or does not respond well to insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels.
This can lead to various health problems, such as heart disease, kidney damage, nerve damage, eye damage, and infections.
One of the key factors in managing diabetes is diet.
What you consume can affect your blood sugar levels, which can impact your diabetes symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage diabetes, you should consume fiber-rich foods like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, and avoid sugar-rich foods like candies, cakes, and sodas.
Now, tomato soup is a type of soup made from tomatoes, water or broth, and sometimes other ingredients like cream, herbs, or spices.
People usually eat tomato soup as a starter, a main course, or a snack.
Tomato soup is good for diabetes because it contains lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that may protect against oxidative stress and inflammation, which are linked to diabetes complications.
Lycopene may also improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood pressure, according to some studies¹².
One cup (240 ml) of tomato soup can give you about 15% of your daily needs for vitamin C, 12% for vitamin A, 9% for potassium, and 4% for vitamin K.
These nutrients can support your immune system, vision, blood pressure, and blood clotting.
Lycopene can positively affect diabetes by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, improving insulin sensitivity and blood pressure, and possibly lowering the risk of some cancers.
Furthermore, tomato soup is a low glycemic index food, meaning it does not cause a rapid spike in blood sugar levels.
Low glycemic index foods are beneficial for diabetes because they help control blood sugar levels and prevent complications.
You can eat one to two cups of tomato soup per day safely.
More than that can cause excess sodium intake, which can raise your blood pressure and harm your kidneys.
Choose low sodium or homemade tomato soup to avoid this problem.
Also, you shouldn’t eat tomato soup if you have acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to prevent heartburn and indigestion.
Because tomato soup is acidic and can irritate your esophagus and stomach.
You can buy fresh tomatoes in your local market or can order them online.
Always choose ripe, firm, and bright red tomatoes.
Because they have more lycopene and flavor.
You can store them at room temperature for up to a week or in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.