Lycopene

Lycopene is a bright red carotenoid pigment with antioxidant activity.

Content of Lycopene in Food

Lycopene doesn’t lose its properties after being subject to thermal treatment. That is why it is present in meal and products made of tomatoes. When exposed to high temperatures, lycopene changes its properties and becomes more digestible. Examples of such products may be tomato paste, spaghetti sauce, ketchup, tomato juice. Drinking two glasses of tomato juice every day, provides daily requirement of lycopene. Lycopene is present in small quantities in pink grapefruits, watermelons and some other fruits and berries. Besides tomatoes, it is contained in vegetables such as pumpkins, carrots, red peppers. In order lycopene could be better digested, you should add sunflower or olive oil to products. For example, it is advisable to use olive oil for tomato salads.

Useful Properties of Lycopene

The most studied are the antioxidant properties of lycopene. Scientists claim lycopene to be one of the most powerful natural antioxidants, comparing it with vitamins E, C and A. Tomatoes, which are high in lycopene are especially useful. Studies have shown that regular consumption of products containing lycopene reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and prostate cancer. First and foremost, lycopene improves the immune system and activates the immune defense cells - macrophages and K cells. It is the immune system that prevents uncontrolled multiplication of own cells in the body.

In addition to the influence upon the immune system, lycopene appears as cardioprotector. High levels of lycopene in human body reduces the risk of heart attacks by 50%, and decreases the level of cholesterol in the blood, thus reducing or preventing the symptoms of atherosclerosis.

Lycopene contributes to normalization of appetite, activation of the digestive glands, stops reproduction of pathogenic bacteria in the gut. Lycopene is involved in maintaining of the acid-alkaline balance and has a positive effect upon metabolic processes.

In the circulatory system, its effect is manifested trough strengthening of the walls of blood vessels and capillaries.