Lycopene a bright red natural pigment found in tomato. This family of anti-oxidants are known as Carotenoids. The chemical Lycopene found in tomatoes is converted by the manufacturing process used, to make it more easily absorbed. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is known to be beneficial to health.
Lycopene is a bright red carotene and carotenoid pigment and phytochemical found in tomatoes and other red fruits & vegetables, such as red carrots, watermelons and papayas (but not strawberries or cherries). Although lycopene is chemically a carotene, it has no vitamin A activity.
In plants, algae, and other photosynthetic organisms, lycopene is an important intermediate in the biosynthesis of many carotenoids, including beta carotene, responsible for yellow, orange or red pigmentation, photosynthesis, and photo-protection. Structurally, it is a tetraterpene assembled from eight isoprene units, composed entirely of carbon and hydrogen, and is insoluble in water. Lycopene's eleven conjugated double bonds give it its deep red color and are responsible for its antioxidant activity. Due to its strong color and non-toxicity, lycopene is a useful food coloring.
Lycopene is not an essential nutrient for humans, but is commonly found in the diet, mainly from dishes prepared with tomato sauce. When absorbed from the stomach, lycopene is transported in the blood by various lipoproteins and accumulates in the liver, adrenal glands, and testes.
Because preliminary research has shown an inverse correlation between consumption of tomatoes and cancer risk, lycopene has been considered a potential agent for prevention of some types of cancers, particularly prostate cancer. However, this area of research and the relationship with prostate cancer have been deemed insufficient of evidence for health claim approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (see below under Antioxidant properties and potential health benefits).
Unlike other fruits and vegetables, where nutritional content such as vitamin C is diminished upon cooking, processing of tomatoes increases the concentration of bioavailable lycopene. Lycopene in tomato paste is four times more bioavailable than in fresh tomatoes. For this reason, tomato sauce is a preferable source as opposed to raw tomatoes.
While most green leafy vegetables and other sources of lycopene are low in fats and oils, lycopene is insoluble in water and is tightly bound to vegetable fiber. Processed tomato products such as pasteurized tomato juice, soup, sauce, and ketchup contain the highest concentrations of bioavailable lycopene from tomato based sources.
Studies have shown that a diet rich in lycopene containing vegetables has the potential to protect against some types of cancer
Lycopene is not produced by the body .A powerful antioxidant which can help to protect against free radicals – harmful elements resulting from poor diet, pollution, stress, smoking , pesticides, radiation and even alcohol.
Prostate cancer ¨C the Facts .The most common cancer in men. In North America: 1 in every 6 men will develop prostate cancer.
1 in every 28 men will die from prostate cancer.The number of cases of men in their 40s and 50s has risen dramatically.
Emma Guns, Ph.D.Assistant Professor, UBC Head, NHP Research Program Head, Analytical Pharmacology 34 % reduced risk of prostate cancer
A six year study of 47,000 men conducted by Harvard Medical School found that consuming tomato products more than twice a week, as opposed to never, was associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer or up to 34 percent.
FDA approval to use qualified health claim for using tomato.Based on health claim guidance provided by the FDA, the
risk of prostate cancer may be reduced by eating half to one cup of tomatoes per week.
High level of lycopene in body helps to protect from heart attack. University of North Carolina compared 1,379 American and
European men who had suffered a heart attack with the same number of healthy men found that those with high
levels of lycopene appeared to be protected against the disease with about half the risk.
Reduced risk of stroke & acute coronary events A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition reveals evidence that increasing your intake of lycopene may help reduce your risk of stroke and acute coronary events
Male infertility: 15% of couples suffer from infertility A male factor is responsible for the couple infertility in 30% to 50% of the cases
5% to 10% of males are infertile or sub-fertile Recent studies show that lycopene supplementation improves the quality of sperm in infertile men
Tianshi Lycopene We recommend 4 tablets a day to supplement your food In cases of severe deficiency use 8 tablets a day.
Author Resource:-
This article has been made accessible by the author, Bank Koapit. .Should you require any further information regarding immune booster and slimming belt please visit his lycopene resources
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