Is vegetable juice and tomato juice the same thing?

Juices made from fruits and vegetables are a popular way for people to get nutrients and antioxidants in their diet. Two common types of vegetable juice are tomato juice and mixed vegetable juices. While both provide important vitamins and minerals, there are some key differences between them.

What is Vegetable Juice?

Vegetable juice refers to any juice made primarily from vegetables, rather than fruits. Common ingredients in vegetable juices include:

• Carrots
• Celery
• Beets
• Spinach
• Kale
• Cabbage
• Parsley
• Cucumber

Vegetable juices may contain just one type of vegetable, like carrot juice, or mixtures of several veggies, like a homemade green juice with kale, cucumber, celery and parsley. Store-bought vegetable juice blends often contain tomato as one of the ingredients.

What is Tomato Juice?

As the name implies, tomato juice is made solely from tomatoes. It’s created by pressing fresh tomatoes to extract the juice and pulp, then sometimes blending with salt and other seasonings.

Store-bought tomato juice may also contain added ingredients like citric acid, onion powder, garlic powder and other flavorings. Some tomato juices also mix in small amounts of other vegetable juices like carrot and celery.

Nutrition Comparison

Both vegetable juice and tomato juice provide important vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. However, their specific nutritional profiles differ quite a bit.

Here is a nutrition comparison of 8 ounces (240 ml) of vegetable juice vs tomato juice (1, 2):

Nutrient	Vegetable Juice	Tomato Juice
Calories	50	41
Protein	2 grams	2 grams
Carbs	11 grams	9 grams
Sugar	6 grams	5 grams
Fiber	2 grams	1 gram
Vitamin A	120% DV	15% DV
Vitamin C	45% DV	40% DV
Vitamin K	60% DV	5% DV
Potassium	15% DV	12% DV
Lycopene	Small amounts	22 mg

As you can see, vegetable juice is higher in vitamin A, vitamin K and fiber. Tomato juice provides more lycopene, which is a powerful antioxidant compound in tomatoes.

Potential Benefits

Here are some of the evidence-based health benefits associated with vegetable juice and tomato juice:

May Reduce Inflammation

Chronic inflammation is linked to many diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and cancer (3).

Vegetable juice provides antioxidants, like vitamin C, carotenoids and manganese, that can help reduce inflammation and protect cells from damage (4).

Tomato juice also contains anti-inflammatory lycopene, which has been shown to reduce inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (5).

May Boost Heart Health

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of heart attack and stroke (6).

Vegetable juice contains potassium and antioxidants that support heart health by reducing blood pressure, cholesterol and oxidative stress (7, 8).

Tomato juice is also linked to improved blood pressure, blood vessel function and cholesterol levels due to its content of lycopene (9).

May Reduce Cancer Risk

A diet high in fruits and vegetables may help protect against certain types of cancer, including lung, stomach and colon cancer (10).

Carotenoids, vitamin C and other antioxidants in vegetable juice can help fight the oxidative damage that leads to cancer growth (11).

Lycopene from tomato juice has been associated with a lower risk of prostate, lung and stomach cancers (12).

May Support Blood Sugar Control

Fiber and antioxidants in vegetable juice may benefit blood sugar control. Vegetables help slow the digestion and absorption of carbs, resulting in a steadier rise in blood sugar (13).

One study found that drinking 16 ounces (480 ml) of carrot juice per day for 3 months reduced blood sugar levels in people with diabetes (14).

Tomato juice may also have beneficial effects on blood sugar. One study in 57 people found that 4 weeks of tomato juice consumption reduced fasting blood sugar by 18% (15).

May Promote Vision Health

Vegetable juice is high in vitamin A, providing 120% of the RDI per 8 ounces (240 ml). Vitamin A supports eye health and helps prevent vision loss and night blindness (16).

Lycopene from tomato juice has also been linked to a lower risk of developing cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (17).

May Reduce Kidney Stone Risk

Dehydration is a key risk factor for kidney stone formation. Vegetable juice and tomato juice can help increase fluid intake and hydration, which may lead to a lower risk of kidney stones (18).

One study found that drinking just over 1 cup (200 ml) of tomato juice per day decreased urinary calcium oxalate levels, one of the main compounds that form kidney stones (19).

Downsides

Despite the many benefits, some downsides are associated with vegetable juice and tomato juice:

Lower in Fiber Than Whole Vegetables

Juicing vegetables removes the pulp and skin, which contain the majority of the fiber. An 8-ounce (240-ml) serving of vegetable juice provides 2 grams of fiber, which is significantly less than what you would get by eating whole vegetables.

High in Natural Sugars

Vegetable juices contain around 6 grams of natural sugars per cup (240 ml), while tomato juice has about 5 grams. This is far less than soda but more than you would get from eating whole vegetables.

May Contain Added Sugars and Sodium

Store-bought varieties often contain added sugars to improve flavor. Canned tomato juice tends to have a high sodium content as well.

Not as Filling as Whole Foods

Juices tend to be less filling than whole vegetables and fruits. This may negatively impact satiety and weight control.

Potential Pesticide Residue

Unless organic, juices may contain pesticide residues. Peeling and cooking vegetables can reduce residue levels, but this is not possible with juicing.

Whole Vegetables vs. Juice

For most people, eating whole vegetables and fruits is a healthier choice than drinking vegetable juice. Whole foods provide greater nutrition, fiber and satiety.

However, replacing a soda or sweetened drink with vegetable juice can still benefit health.

Additionally, juice can be a way to increase intake of vegetables and nutrients for those who struggle to eat enough produce. Just keep portions moderate, ideally around 8 ounces (240 ml) per day.

Making Your Own

Making homemade vegetable juice is simple with a good juicer. You can control the ingredients and skip added sugars that are often found in store-bought versions.

Here is a healthy vegetable and tomato juice recipe to try:

Ingredients

• 1 cucumber
• 3 carrots, peeled
• 1 small beet, peeled
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 inch ginger, peeled
• 2 celery stalks
• 1/2 lemon, peeled

Instructions

1. Wash all produce thoroughly.
2. Cut ends off carrots and beet. Cut cucumber and celery into sections that fit through juicer.
3. Run all ingredients through a juicer, one at a time.
4. Stir juice to combine ingredients.
5. Serve immediately.

This vegetable-tomato juice combo provides a nutritious mix of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Feel free to tweak ingredients to your preferences.

The Bottom Line

Tomato juice and mixed vegetable juices are both nutritious choices that provide important nutrients. However, they differ in a few key ways.

Vegetable juice has more vitamin A and K but less lycopene. It also tends to be higher in potassium and fiber.

That said, tomato juice is lower in calories and sugar than vegetable juice. Both provide benefits like reduced inflammation, better blood sugar control and improved heart health.

Enjoying vegetable juice or tomato juice in moderation can add valuable nutrition as part of a healthy diet.