Lycopene
Promote The Health Of Heart
Lycopene is a Carotinoid (a red pigment) appears in tomatoes and other redfruits. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant. Lycopene is a derivative fromtomatoes which is responsible for giving many fruits and vegetables a healthyred color. This natural substance is an unsaturated carotenoid pigment, similarto Beta-Carotene. While Lycopene has no vitamin A activity, research has shownit to be one of the most important natural antioxidants produced today. Lycopenein tomatoes can be absorbed more efficiently by the body if processed intojuice, sauce, paste and ketchup. The chemical form of Lycopene found in tomatoesis converted by the temperature changes involved in processing to make it moresimply absorbed by the body. Lycopene is related with reduced risk of maculardegenerative disease, serum lipid oxidation and cancers of the lung, bladder,cervix and skin.Lycopene is a potent antioxidant that may help to encourage thehealth of the heart, prostate, skin and eyes.
Lycopene is mostly stored in blood and tissues such as the testis, adrenalglands, liver, prostate, breast, colon, and lungs. Lycopene is a fat-solubleessence that requires the occurrence of dietary fat for correct absorption intothe body. A diet low in fat can harm the bodys ability to absorb Lycopene.Also, certain cholesterol-lowering medications, margarines enriched withsynthetic plant sterols such as Benecol, and fat substitutes such as Olestra canalso decrease the bodys ability to absorb Lycopene. Lycopene also reduce lipidper oxidation, suggesting a decreased risk of Cardiovascular Disease.Lycopene is currently being evaluated for its possible protective role in cancerprevention, especially cervical, prostate, and pancreatic and stomach cancers.
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