| What is lycopene? Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant, which research suggests is potentially an anti-cancer agent.
Lycopene is related to vitamin A, and falls into the carotenoid group. It is a natural plant substance, which gives tomatoes, watermelon and red grapefruit their red colour.
Researchers say that lycopene is two times as powerful as beta-carotene in the destruction of free radicals.
What lycopene does for youA growing body of evidence shows that lycopene can significantly reduce the risk of prostate cancer in men.
Research also suggests that lycopene could play a role in preventing heart disease.
How much lycopene do you need?A daily intake of 3mg - 7mg of lycopene is recommended. This estimation is based on the consistency of 5-6 servings of fruits and vegetables.
Which foods have lycopene?Lycopene is found in high levels in tomatoes.
Other sources include: papaya, pink grapefruit, watermelon, guavas, tomato-based pasta sauces, tomato juice, tomato-based pizzas, tomato soup and tomato sauce.
Cooked tomato products provide a more accessible release of lycopene than raw tomatoes.
Signs of lycopene deficiencyNone reported to date.
New research on lycopeneResearch shows that men who eat 10 or more servings of lycopene-rich foods per week has a 45% reduced risk of prostate cancer development.
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