Lycopene is a type of natural pigment, which is part of carotenoids. It is responsible for the pleasant and deep red color of some fruit such as tomatoes, watermelon, papaya, pink grapefruit, apricots and many others.
The beneficial properties of lycopene are due to the fact, that lycopene is one of the most powerful antioxidants. The fact that lycopene is a carotenoid does not mean that it is converted to vitamin A.
If you want to protect your skin from the scorching sun, especially in summer, to reduce the risk of cancer, to slow down aging, this means that you should definitely include lycopene foods in your menu.
This antioxidant has been shown to play an important role in preventing cardiovascular disease. There is also evidence that if there is enough lycopene in our body, it reduces the risk of certain cancers - breast, prostate, lung, cervical, skin cancer, stomach cancer, pancreas and others.
As we know, free radicals can do a lot of damage to our body and especially change the DNA of our cells. They can also cause irreversible damage to our body and this leads to cancer and diseases of our immune system.
All antioxidants, including lycopene, can prevent the harmful effects of free radicals. The structure of lycopene allows it to come into contact with free radicals, which damage the DNA of our cells.
You've probably heard of another and equally powerful antioxidant, which is beta-carotene. Let's compare lycopene and beta-carotene and see the difference between the two important health compounds.
The first thing to note here is that compared to beta-carotene, lycopene is less well known. However, lycopene is a much stronger antioxidant than beta-carotene. There is one scientifically proven fact and it is that lycopene and lutein have very strong antioxidant properties. It's no secret that men who eat more foods, which contain lycopene are less likely to get prostate cancer.
One study found that men who ate more lycopene-containing foods reduced their risk of prostate cancer by up to 45%. There are other studies that show that lycopene has the ability to improve the concentration of spermatozoids, which cannot have children.
However, if you are not allowed to eat more foods containing lycopene, it is recommended, that you take nutritional supplements, which contain lycopene. Check how often you should intake lycopene with your doctor or specialist. Keep in mind that lycopene is fat-soluble, not water-soluble.
To get the right amount of lycopene, see our appetizing suggestions for healthy tomato soup. These suggestions for stuffed tomatoes will also help you to include more healthy foods with lycopene in the daily menu.
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