Lycopene Benefits

Lycopene is a carotenoid with strong antioxidant properties that is responsible for giving foods their red pigment. You can find Lycopene in tomatoes, watermelon, ruby red grapefruits and red cabbage – but also asparagus, parsley, carrots and chicken.

Here are a few reasons why you should make sure you add Lycopene into your daily diet based on its benefits:

1. Protects from heart disease: Lycopene stops LDL cholesterol from being oxidized by free radicals and deposited into plaques in the arteries. Furthermore, this carotenoid ensures regular functioning of blood vessels.  
2. Treat infertility: Lycopene has been known to boost sperm concentration in men.
3. May slow cancer growth: While Lycopene does not act alone, preliminary studies suggest that it can slow the growth of tumors and even kill prostate cancer cells. 
4. Protection from the sun: Lycopene, in addition to other carotenoids like beta-carotene and vitamin C, may help reduce sunburn and protect the skin. Researchers found that subjects who consumed tomato paste had 33% more protection from sunburn. It won’t beat sunscreen with UV protection, but it’s a good natural way to protect the skin nevertheless.
5. Stroke prevention: One study found that participants with the highest amounts of Lycopene in their blood were 55% less likely to have a stroke than people with the lowest amounts of Lycopene in their blood.

Countless other benefits are being examined in studies. It’s not realistic to presume that Lycopene is a magic bullet for curing prostate cancer or preventing heart disease. But what we do know is that Lycopene has too many ties to good outcomes to be ignored!

Cooking foods containing Lycopene can improve bioavailability, but supplements ensure you are getting enough of this nutrient in your diet.

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