Lycopene
Lycopene is a carotenoid which can be found in fruits like tomatoes, watermelon, pink grapefruit, Guavas and more, it is not produced in the body but can be found in plant life and is a fat-soluble nutrient which does not lose its nutritional properties through cooking.
It has high antioxidant properties which can help to protect our bodies from free radicles and toxins in our cells.
Using food sources for your daily nutritional needs should be your prefered method to attain a healthy balanced diet and lifestyle.
And in this case getting Lycopene in your diet through food would be the best option because although there are supplements out there, they would not have the same benefit as food like tomatoes and could also have an adverse reaction to any medication that you are on.
Also, it would be worth noting that the body would need some fats to absorb Lycopene since it is a fat-soluble nutrient.
Heating the food up would have better benefits than just eating it raw for example cooking tomatoes and adding avocado to the meal would ensure that your body gets the best out of the nutrients on offer.
Lycopene may help
- Reduce the risk of Prostate Cancer
- Minimise the possibility of Heart Disease
- may help prevent seizures in epilepsy
- keep bones strong and healthy
What are the Benefits?
1) Reduce the risk of Prostate Cancer
“Lycopene could help to reduce the risk of certain cancers and reduce the growth of some cancers by blocking the signal pathways”. According to US National Library of MedicineNational Institutes of Health (1), It is reported to act as an antioxidant, helping to prevent cell damage caused by free radicals. It’s possible that it may accumulate around the prostate, which could make it quite popular with those worried about prostate health.
2) Lycopene may benefit heart health
Lycopene, the compound that gives tomatoes their red colour, may benefit heart health by boosting the body’s natural antioxidant defences and protecting against DNA damage, says a new study from South Korea. (2)
3) Prevent seizures in epilepsy
It may help to prevent seizures in epilepsy and reverse the oxidative damage caused by seizures, seizures limit oxygen to the brain and may cause permanent brain damage if they go on too long. In a study on mice that were given Lycopene for 29 days, results show that it helped in the case of seizures and reversed the oxidative damage caused. (3)
4) keep bones strong and healthy
It is also known to prevent or slow down the death of cells also known as apoptosis within the bones keeping them strong and healthy by reducing the effects of oxidative stress caused by free radicals.
Lycopene synergy, and works well with
- Selenium helps in the protection of cells from oxidative stress
- Vitamin E helps to protect cells from oxidative stress by helping to maintain circulatory health
- Vitamin C helps with protecting cells from oxidative stress also, as it is an Antioxidant, which help protect the body from the harmful effects of Free Radicals
resources
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26779636
- https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2011/01/28/Study-unlocks-lycopene-s-heart-health-benefits
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26633078
