What is lycopene?
Lycopene is a carotinoid found in red fruit such as tomatoes and melons. Carotinoids are natural pigments that act as antioxidants for the body. Antioxidants serve to reduce the effects of free radicals that some in the scientific community blame for cell damage. Lycopen acquires its name from the classification of tomatoes, lycopersicon esculentum .
numerous studies have shown that consumption of high lycopene foods is beneficial in averting heart disease and several types of cancer such as lungs, prostate, cervical, digestive tract and breast. Continued studies focus on effects on conditions such as macular degenerative diseases and lipid oxidation in serum. Good sources are pink grapefruit, Guava, melon and pink, but the most common and perhaps the strongest are tomatoes. Fresh tomatoes are an excellent source, but cooked tomato products such as tomatoes and pizza sauce, tomato juice, tomato soup and even ketchup, are concentrationSome more. For example, one fresh tomato contains 3.7 mg, while 1 cup (236.5 ml) tomato soups has 24.8 mg. Due to the form of lycopene in this cooked type of tomato product, the body can more easily absorb the chemical.
Not everyone accepted the benefits of lycopene. The world regulatory agencies for health have not yet been approved as a nutrient, but because of the promising results of timely research on the medical community, it really looks at its role in the diet. Of course, most healthcare workers agree that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is part of a healthy lifestyle.
Many dietologists urge people to increase lycopene consumption by including tomato -based meals. People can increase their income by serving sliced fresh tomatoes as an alternative side dish, adding tomatoes to salads and sandwiches, eating red fruit with high lycopeneBy planning the main courses that include cooked tomato products.
companies that produce dietary supplements offer lycopene in the form of tablet and soft-gel; Some of these products are combined with other diet compounds. People who are interested in increasing their consumption can buy these supplements in grocery stores, health food stores or online on the pages of food supplements.
No upper lycopene limits have been set. Participants in clinical trials were given up to 6.5 mg daily without poor effects. To date, no incidents on overdose of this carotinoid have been reported.