Lycopene is a plant nutrient with antioxidant properties.
It's the pigment that gives red and pink fruits, such as tomatoes, watermelons
and pink grapefruit, their characteristic color. Lycopene has been linked to
health benefits ranging from heart health to protection against sunburns and
certain types of cancers. Word lycopene from the neo-Latin Lycopersicum, the
tomato species. Lycopene is carotenoid, a natural pigment that gives red, pink
and bright colors to some vegetables and fruits, such as tomatoes, watermelon,
carrots, grapefruits and papaya. it is not present in many red and bright color
fruits like strawberries and cherries on the other hands there are many foods
which are not red or pink but contain lycopene, like asparagus and parsley.
Chemically lycopene is a carotene but it does not have any vitamin A activity.
In plant, algae and other photosynthetic organisms, lycopene is intermediate in
the biosynthesis of many carotenoids including beta carotene.
Benefits of Lycopene :
Lycopene is a plant nutrient with antioxidant properties, it is linked to number
of health benefits important are listed below.
1. Lycopene is a strong antioxidant
2. Promotes heart health
3. Protects against certain types of cancer, like breast and prostate cancer.
4. May help our eyesight
5. Provides protection against sunburn.
6. Improves bone health.
7. May help preventing seizures
Sources of Lycopene :
Absorption of lycopene requires that it be combined with bile salts and fat to
form micelles. Intestinal absorption of lycopene is enhanced by the presence of
fat and by cooking. Lycopene dietary supplements (in oil) may be more
efficiently absorbed than lycopene from food.
Following are top dietary sources of lycopene :
1. Tomatoes and tomato products
2. Watermelon
3. Pink Grapefruits
4. Papaya
5. Guava
6. Red peppers
7. Asparagus
8. Parsley
9. Basil