V8 is vegetable juice comprising of 8 fruits, namely, tomato, carrot, romaine lettuce, beet, parsley, watercress and spinach. It is a 1933 in blend invention in Illinois, USA, which was later developed by W.G Peacock. V8 is a vitamin rich vegetable juice with multiple health benefits as we shall discover in this article.
Health Benefit 1: Source of Lycopene
V8 is rich in lycopene by virtue of the fact that tomatoes make part of the 8 juices blend. Lycopene is an anti-oxidant that is a bright red carotene pigment and phytochemical usually found in tomatoes. It is responsible for the e bright red color in ripe tomatoes. Lycopene neutralizes the harmful effects of free radicals. Free radicals cause various chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Health Benefit 2: Vitamins
Tomato juice in v8 provides vitamin A and C. Vitamin A is a vitamin that is fat and available from retinoid as well as carotid. This vitamin promotes good vision (especially at night), a healthy immune system as well as growth of cells. On the other hand vitamin C or ascorbic acid vitamin C is soluble in water. This vitamin is also important in the body for boosting immune system and preventing attack from diseases such as scurvy.
Health Benefit 3: low calories in Beets
V8 juice contains natural sugar and low calorie, thanks to beet vegetable making up the v8 juice. Beet contain no fat with good amount of fiber(both soluble and insoluble).The 37 calories per half a cup servings makes them ideal for weight watchers.
Health Benefit 4: Potassium in Celery
Celery in the v8 vegetable juice provides a good source of potassium. Of importance here is not the amount of potassium in celery but the role it plays a diuretic. It maintains safe levels of both potassium and sodium without necessarily changing blood ratio.
Health Benefit 5: Alpha and Beta-carotene in Carrots
As one of the constituents of V8, carrots supply you with anti-oxidants alpha and beta-carotene when you consume v8 vegetable juice. These two are provitamin A carotenoids, which are changed to vitamin A (retinol) when needed by the body. The vitamin A or retinol is important for visual acuity. Deficiency in this vitamin could cause blindness, hence very important in the diet. Which could lead to blindness. These two anti-oxidants also promote a healthy immune system as well as destroy harmful micro-organisms that cause diseases in the body.
Health Benefit 6: The Flavor and Low calories in Lettuce
To appreciate how low calories in lettuce, you need to figure this out: Simply to metabolize the 390 calories in celery, you may require walking for one hour and 48 minutes! It is therefore a good food for maintaining weight. Notably, One cup of raw leaf lettuce contains 9 calories. Lettuce contains fiber, carbohydrates, fat, and some protein as well.
Health Benefit 7: The Vitamins A, C, Folate in Parsley
Parsley in v8 vegetable contains vitamins such as A, C folate as well as potassium. These nutrients play various roles in the body, enhancing parsley to boost immune system, nervous system, strong bones and so on.
Health Benefit 8: Vitamin A in Watercress
This super-vegetable Watercress contains vitamin A from beta-carotene, a retinol belonging to the fat-soluble vitamins.
Health Benefit 9: Mineral Rich Spinach
The final vegetable constituent in this v8 juice is spinach, rich in vitamins A and C, iron, potassium, folic acid, and magnesium.
Health Benefit 10: Energy Boost
V8 restores used up vitamins especially by athletes as it aids in easy absorption of minerals and vitamins.
