It speeds muscle recovery and brings down the body’s glucose levels quicker than fizzy “energy” drinks.
Athletes were tested before, during and after training and those who drank tomato juice after exercise recovered quickest.
Anti-oxidants in tomatoes are known to combat cancer, heart disease and other ailments, which is why a tomato-rich Mediterranean diet is seen as a healthy option.
The latest research by Greek scientists suggests tomatoes can also aid the rebalancing of enzymes and proteins that cause muscle damage after exercise.
The study is reported in the Elsevier science journal Food and Chemical Toxicology.