Lycopene

Lycopene and Cancer Prevention

Depending on the source of information Lycopene is a(n):

Antioxidant
Carotenoid
Phytochemical
Red pigment

found in our health-friendly tomato!

"Happiness is good health and a bad memory."
Ingrid Bergman

Studies suggest that lycopene may reduce incidence of prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung and cervical cancer. It may also prevent cardiovascular disease and age-related macular degeneration, a common cause of blindness.

Lycopene and Prostate Cancer Studies

A quick search online will provide much material on studies focusing on lycopene's effect on prostate and other cancers. As with most things in life, there are contradictions.

I tend to believe studies confirming the efficacy of naturally occurring nutrients because I believe that we are created to eat foods produced by nature. After all, has any harm ever been caused by a person eating a naturally grown ripe tomato? This alone is enough to encourage me to consume more tomato products and reduce my consumption of less natural foods.

Antioxidants and Free Radicals

Free radicals are reactive molecules that often contain oxygen and can cause damage to otherwise healthy DNA molecules, lipids or cells.

Antioxidants help to prevent and repair damaged cells by neutralizing harmful free radicals and inhibiting DNA oxidation that some studies indicate may lead to some cancers.

Our bodies do not produce lycopene, but it is available through the food we eat. Other sources include guava, rosehip, watermelon and pink grapefruit, but most lycopene comes in the form of tomatoes and tomato products such as tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, tomato juice, and tomato soup. Strangely enough, research indicates that lycopene from tomatoes is more readily absorbed into the bloodstream if it is first heat processed.

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Will increase tomato consumption guarantee that you remain free of cancer? Probably not but many studies I found online indicate that it could reduce your chance of developing cancer and other diseases. Armed with this knowledge I have decided to start drinking tomato juice as a preventative measure and as a substitute for soda. I know it's not the same but I drink too much soda anyways.

And there you have it. Enjoy a little extra tomato sauce on your spaghetti, try a pink grapefruit for breakfast or feast on watermelon on a hot summer day! What an easy way to enjoy food and improve your health at the same time.