Lycopene is a phytochemical found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables like watermelon, apricots and papaya. It's been found to prevent heart disease and prostate cancer. Tomato paste is loaded with it and therefore a good lycopene source to cook with.
Lycopene
Lycopene is an antioxidant that may support prostate health and prevent heart disease and macular degeneration. It is found in many foods such as tomatoes, papaya, watermelon and pink grapefruit and other healthy foods, which have the red pigmentation. Supplements have higher amounts of lycopene than food and are a viable option to increasing your lycopene levels.
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredLycopene is an antioxidant, it neutralizes free radicals. Lycopene is not water soluble and is resistant to breakdown caused by heat, which makes the lycopene more available to the body. Although direct correlation of lycopene and treatment or prevention of disease has not been firmly established, lycopene appears to support cardiovascular, eye, and prostate health as well as promoting general well-being and fighting disease.
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredLycopene should usually be consumed through food sources, but lycopene is available in softgel and capsule form, and is often included in multivitamin and mineral compounds. Manufacturers might recommend dosages ranging from 10 to 30 mg twice daily, but dosages administered during clinical studies have measured from 13 to 75 mg per day. Lypocene is available in commercial products like Lyco-O-Pen and Lyc-O-Mato with recommended dosage ranging from 2-30 mg daily.
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredLycopene is found naturally in the human body and is generally considered safe for consumption through food products. Anyone who is interested in supporting general health and well-being and preventing cancer should be consuming fruits and vegetables, like tomatoes, pink grapefruit, and payapa. No studies have concretely determined the definitive causal relationship between an increase in lycopene and specific changes in the body, but many studies have shown that diets rich in lycopene seem to improve prostate, cardiovascular, and eye health, and general well-being. Doctors do not usually diagnose 'lycopene deficiency' but if you have benign prostate hyperplasia, exercise induced asthma, macular degeneration, hypertension, or gingivitis, increasing your lycopene intake could prove beneficial. If you are considering a lycopene supplement, you may want to consult your doctor first.
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredThe best way to take lycopene is through consuming a variety of fruits, vegetables. Lycopene becomes more effective and available to the body when heated and used in conjunction with fat products. Tomato products that have been processed contain lycopene that is much better absorbed than that in fresh tomatoes. You may also take lycopene in softgel or capsule form or within a multivitamin or mineral compound.
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Intermountain Registered Dietitians , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Intermountain HealthcareLycopene gives certain foods a red color. To help your heart, eat more of these red, lycopene-rich foods:
- Tomatoes and tomato products
- Watermelon
- Strawberries
- Pink grapefruit (Grapefruit and grapefruit juice interact with some drugs. Do not eat them unless your physician or pharmacist has approved it.)
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Intermountain Healthcare answeredSee All 4 AnswersTo help your heart, eat more of these red, lycopene-rich (an antioxidant) foods:
- Tomatoes and tomato products
- Watermelon
- Strawberries
- Pink grapefruit
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredLycopene is most commonly consumed through fruits and vegetables and is considered safe. Risks include any allergic reactions to tomatoes or lycopene. Tomatoes may sometimes cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and might irritate ulcers. The risks of using lycopene supplements at doses larger than obtained through food consumption have not been studied enough to be absolutely certain.
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredLycopene may interact with certain medications used to treat cancer and bacterial infections. The safety of lycopene supplements has not been thoroughly studied. Review of available scientific literature finds tomatoes, tomato-based products and lycopene supplements generally well tolerated. However, rare reports of diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain or cramps, gas, vomiting and loss of appetite have been reported. Tomatoes and tomato-based products may be acidic and irritate stomach ulcers. Lycopene has been associated with death from a cancer-related hemorrhage, although causality is unclear.
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredLycopene is general considered safe for consumption, but like with any medicine, if you are taking lycopene in supplement form, you should let your doctor know. The effects of lycopene in high dose supplement form have not been thoroughly studied so the immediate and long term effects may not be completely understood. Lycopene may also cause allergic reactions or gastrointestinal problems, and may interact with certain medications.