What is Lycopene?
Lycopene is a bright red color pigment that is commonly found in the fruits and vegetables that are red in color like tomatoes and in other red color fruits.
Lycopene is the most common carotenoid, a type of pigment, present in human body that has the powerful antioxidant property. Antioxidants are the substances that help in scavenging the free radicals that are
harmful particles for the body. In this way, it protects the body from their damaging effects.
Dietary sources of lycopene include fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, pink grapefruit, watermelon, pink guava, papaya and rosehip. Lycopene in tomatoes is the most abundant source of lycopene.
There is a very interesting fact about the lycopene that upon processing its concentration increases. Thus, lycopene in processed foods like tomato paste, pasteurized tomato juice, sauce, soup and ketchup are more concentrated than the fresh
fruits. In fact processed tomatoes products are the best way to get lycopene into the human body and they provide more benefits to the human body because of more bioavailability of lycopene in them.
Several studies have revealed that the consumption of lycopene in the forms of tomatoes and tomatoes-based products reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. Certain other studies suggest that consumption of lycopene is also associated with the decreased chances of developing lung and stomach cancers as well.
Several studies have suggested the use of lycopene food to reduce the risk of heart problems and prostate cancer and, this is because of its antioxidant property.
Lycopene supplements are beneficial in the following health conditions. Lycopene and Prostate Cancer: Different researches have suggested that eating lycopene
foods like tomatoes and tomatoes based products, may help in reducing the risk of getting prostate cancer, lungs cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer and colorectal cancer. It is suggested because lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that pick up free radicals in the body, and protect the body from their damaging action. Lycopene and Heart Health: Lycopene because of its powerful antioxidant property is implicated in heart diseases, because it helps in neutralizing the free radicals. Due to this reason, lycopene foods are considered as a heart protective food.
Other health benefits of lycopene include that it provides aid in bone health and blood pressure and aging process. Lycopene and Skin: One of the effects of lycopene, that researchers have suggested is to protect the skin from sunburn. Lycopene together with other carotenoids improves the ultraviolet-induced sunburn. Atherosclerosis and High Cholesterol Level:
Atherosclerosis is a condition in which small blood vessels called arteries become harden and it is characterized by the adherence of a plaque. This plaque is formed in the arteries due to the deposition of high level of bad cholesterol in the blood, and causes the narrowing of the arteries and may even cause blockade. Atherosclerosis increases the risk of other heart diseases including heart attack and stroke.
Lycopene is believed to provide protection against the bad cholesterol called Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), and in this way it helps in preventing the heart diseases.
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Side Effects of Lycopene: |
No side effects have been reported but people allergic to tomatoes should avoid the
Lycopene. Pregnant and lactating women should consult first to their doctor before taking
lycopene supplement. |
