Lycopene: A Powerful Antioxidant with Many Health Benefits

Lycopene is a bright red carotenoid, found primarily in tomatoes and has potent anti-oxidant capabilities. Lycopene is also found in watermelon, pink grapefruit, red bell peppers and guava.

What it does

1. Anti-oxidant: The anti-oxidant effects of lycopene appear to reduce the risk of degenerative diseases, protect the heart and prostate gland and support the immune system.

Potential Uses

Lycopene is a carotenoid, which is a type of pigment found in plants. It is what gives tomatoes, watermelons, and other fruits and vegetables their red color. Lycopene is also found in some algae and fungi.

Benefits of Lycopene

Lycopene has a number of health benefits, including:

• Heart health: Lycopene may help to protect the heart from damage caused by oxidation. Oxidation is a process that can damage cells and tissues.
• Cancer prevention: Lycopene may help to prevent some types of cancer, such as prostate cancer and lung cancer.
• Eye health: Lycopene may help to protect the eyes from damage caused by the sun and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a leading cause of blindness in older adults.
• Skin health: Lycopene may help to protect the skin from damage caused by the sun.
• Weight loss: Some studies have shown that lycopene may help to promote weight loss.

Consequences of Deficiency

A deficiency in lycopene is not well-established. However, some studies have shown that people with low levels of lycopene may be at an increased risk for some health problems, such as heart disease and cancer.

Examples of Products Full of Lycopene

The highest sources of lycopene are:

• Tomatoes: Cooked tomatoes are a good source of lycopene. The heat from cooking helps to break down the cell walls of the tomatoes, releasing more lycopene.
• Watermelon: Watermelon is another good source of lycopene.
• Grapefruit: Grapefruit is also a good source of lycopene.
• Pink grapefruit: Pink grapefruit has more lycopene than white grapefruit.
• Canned tomato products: Canned tomato products, such as tomato sauce and tomato soup, are also a good source of lycopene.

How to Use Lycopene

The best way to get enough lycopene is to eat a diet rich in lycopene-rich foods. You can also take a lycopene supplement. The amount of lycopene you need depends on your age and health status. It is best to talk to your doctor to determine the right amount of lycopene for you.

Uses of Lycopene

Lycopene is used in a variety of products, including:

• Food supplements: Lycopene is a common ingredient in food supplements. These supplements are designed to help boost the body’s intake of lycopene.
• Cosmetics: Lycopene is also used in some cosmetics, such as sunscreen and moisturizers. These products are designed to help protect the skin from damage caused by the sun.
• Food coloring: Lycopene is also used as a food coloring. It is used to give foods a red or pink color.

Lycopene in Tomatoes

Lycopene is the most abundant carotenoid in tomatoes. It is what gives tomatoes their red color. Lycopene is also found in other red fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon, pink grapefruit, and guava.

Lycopene is more easily absorbed by the body when it is cooked. This is because the heat from cooking helps to break down the cell walls of the tomatoes, releasing more lycopene.

Cooking and crushing tomatoes (as in the canning process) and serving in oil-rich dishes (such as spaghetti sauce or pizza) greatly increases assimilation from the digestive tract into the bloodstream.

Is Lycopene Used for Weight Loss?

Some studies have shown that lycopene may help to promote weight loss. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings.

If you are interested in using lycopene for weight loss, talk to your doctor. They can recommend the best way to get enough lycopene for your individual needs.

Cautions

At the time of writing there were no well known negative drug interactions with lycopene.

Generally, there are no side effects or contra-indications from using lycopene.