Know more about "Lycopene"

Know more about "Lycopene"

Lycopene (from the neo-Latin Lycopersicum, the tomato species) is a bright red carotene and carotenoid pigment and phytochemical found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables, such as red carrots, watermelons, gac, and papayas, although not in strawberries or cherries.

Lycopene is an intermediate in the formation of yellow, orange and red pigment. It is insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. The deep red color of Lycopene is used as an official coloring agent in America, Australia, New Zealand and EU. 

The red color of Lycopene usually stains plastics (that's why your tomatoes and chilli peppers stains your plastic bows/plates).

Where can I find Lycopene? 

In fruits and veggies 

Tomatoes, autumn olive, pink grapefruit, pink guava, watermelon, papayas, etc

You can readily get it as a supplement pill or in ketchup. 

Unlike other vitamins in veggies that reduce on cooking/crushing, Lycopene increases 4times more when heated. Also, it is well absorbed when prepared in oil based meals like spaghetti sauce or pizza. 

Medical Uses

Lycopene is known to prevent;

√ Heart diseases 

√ Cancer

√ Diabetes

√ Arteriosclerosis (hardening of arteries) 

√ Bladder cancer

√ Enlarged Prostate 

√ Cataract 

√ High Cholesterol 

√ Human papiloma Virus (HPV) 

√ Colorectal Cancer

√ Ulcer caused by H.pylori

√ Male infertility 

√ Brain Tumor 

√ Menopausal symptoms, etc

Adverse effects 

It is a non toxic drug, however those that are allergic to it, usually come down with diarrhea,  nausea and vomiting. It's in said to be unsafe in pregnancy as it causes early births and weight loss of the baby, avoid it when breastfeeding also. 

References: Wikipedia, webmd

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