What is Lycopene?

Technically, lycopene is a carotinoid that is found in red fruits, such as
tomatoes and watermelons. Carotinoids are natural pigments that act as
antioxidants for the body. Antioxidants serve to lessen the effects of
free radicals, blamed by some in the scientific community for damage to
cells. Lycopene gets its name from the species classification of the
tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum.
Numerous studies have shown that eating foods high in lycopene is
beneficial in warding off heart disease and several types of cancer such
as lung, prostate, cervical, digestive tract and breast. Continuing
studies are looking at the affect of lycopene on such conditions as
macular degenerative disease and serum lipid oxidation.
Those who support those findings urge people to include lycopene in their
diet for general good health. Good sources of lycopene are pink
grapefruit, guava, watermelon, and rosehips, but the most common and
perhaps most powerful is the tomato.
Tomatoes are chock full of lycopene. Fresh tomatoes are an excellent
source of lycopene, but cooked tomato products such as tomato and pizza
sauce, tomato juice, tomato soup, and even ketchup, are more concentrated.
For example, one fresh tomato contains 3.7 mgs of lycopene, while one cup
of tomato soup has 24.8 mgs of lycopene. Because of the form of lycopene
in this cooked type of tomato product, the body can more easily absorb the
chemical.
Not everyone has accepted the benefits of lycopene. The world health
regulatory agencies have not yet endorsed lycopene as a nutrient, but
because of the promising results of early research, the health community
is taking a serious look at the affect of lycopene in the diet. Of course,
most health professionals agree that a diet rich with fruits and
vegetables is part of a healthy lifestyle.
Many dieticians urge people to increase their consumption of lycopene by
including tomato-based dishes several meals a week. People can increase
their intake of lycopene by serving sliced fresh tomatoes as an
alternative side dish, adding fresh tomatoes to salads and sandwiches,
eating red fruits high in lycopene for snacks and breakfast, and by
planning main courses that include cooked tomato products.
Companies that produce dietary supplements offer lycopene in both tablet
and soft-gel form; some of these products are combined with other dietary
compounds. People interested in boosting their lycopene consumption can
buy these supplements at organic grocery stores, health food stores, or
online at dietary supplement sites.
No upper limits of lycopene have yet been established. Participants in
clinical studies have been given as much as 6.5 mg per day with no ill
effects. To date, there have been no reported incidents of overdoses of
lycopene.

... Firement have longer hoses.