What is lycopene benefits

Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Uses Lycopene, found primarily in tomatoes, is a member of the carotenoid family—which includes beta-carotene and similar compounds found naturally in food—and has potent antioxidant capabilities.

What Are Star Ratings? This supplement has been used in connection with the following health conditions: Used for Why 2 Stars. Lycopene, an antioxidant found in tomatoes, helps reduce exercise-related asthma attacks. Take 6 mg daily from a tomato extract during periods of high sun exposure.

Studies have shown lycopene to be helpful in protecting the skin from sunburn. The carotenoid lycopene, present in high amounts in tomatoes, may help prevent atherosclerosis. Large amounts of the carotenoid lycopene have been shown to increase the activity of natural killer cells in the elderly. Large amounts of the carotenoid lycopene have been shown to increase the activity of NK cells in the elderly. In a controlled trial, 15 mg of lycopene significantly increased NK cell concentration, but no other immune functions.

In a preliminary trial, supplementing with lycopene reduced the incidence of prostate cancer in men with precancerous changes in their prostate glands. In a preliminary trial, supplementation with 4 mg of lycopene twice a day for one year reduced the incidence of prostate cancer in men with precancerous changes in their prostate glands. Long-term controlled studies are needed to confirm these promising initial reports.

How It Works How to Use It The ideal intake of lycopene is currently unknown; however, the men in the Harvard study with the greatest protection against cancer consumed at least 6.

Plants care about their health, too. In fact, they produce phytonutrients, also called phytochemicals, as a way to stay healthy. Some of these plant nutrients protect it from bugs, and others protect against disease. But many of them also benefit the health of humans who eat those plants. Lycopene is one of those phytochemicals. This natural pigment and antioxidant gives some fruits and veggies their signature pink or red color—and also has many potential health benefits for humans.

You probably associate lycopene with tomatoes. And even some foods that we now watch for their sugar content, like ketchup and tomato sauce, boast exceedingly high lycopene content. Other pink and red produce, such as watermelon and pink grapefruit are rich sources. But not every piece of scarlet produce has lycopene. There are constantly many chemical reactions going on inside of cells. Some of these chemical reactions create byproducts known as free radicals. Free radicals are unstable atoms that can cause damage to cells, which is known as oxidative damage.

Essentially, antioxidants like lycopene and free radicals need to be balanced to prevent health problems caused by having too much of either.

Roman Daily—Multivitamin for Men. Our team of in-house doctors created Roman Daily to target common nutrition gaps in men with scientifically backed ingredients and dosages. Others make pumpkins bright orange or corn golden yellow. Eating moderate amounts of lycopene-rich foods is safe. In fact, increased lycopene intake may protect women against high blood pressure in pregnancy preeclampsia [ 49 ].

Lycopene supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use. Speak with your doctor before supplementing. The below doses may not apply to you personally. If your doctor suggests using a lycopene supplement, work with them to find the optimal dosage according to your health condition and other factors. Lycopene is the pigment that colors tomatoes bright red. Increasing lycopene intake — either through food or supplements — may protect against prostate cancer and heart disease, while the evidence for other benefits is insufficient.

Pregnant women and children should avoid lycopene supplements, while others should consult with their doctor first. Joe Cohen won the genetic lottery of bad genes. As a kid, he suffered from inflammation, brain fog, fatigue, digestive problems, anxiety, depression, and other issues that were poorly understood in both conventional and alternative medicine.

All of our content is written by scientists and people with a strong science background. If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please leave a comment or contact us at [email protected] Note that each number in parentheses [1, 2, 3, etc. To sum it up, lycopene may protect the heart by preventing atherosclerosis and reducing LDL cholesterol and blood pressure.

Higher intake of tomatoes and lycopene may help prevent prostate cancer, but further studies are needed to solidify this connection. Due to conflicting research results, more studies are needed to evaluate the potential role of lycopene in breast cancer prevention. Lycopene supports brain health and may enhance cognition, but clinical studies have yet to confirm this benefit.

Eating more tomato-based products may reduce sunburns. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene and other skin-protective compounds. Takeaway Lycopene is the pigment that colors tomatoes bright red. Contents What Is Lycopene? Read More. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Lycopene is a natural compound that is found in bright red fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, watermelon, and grapefruit. Lycopene is a carotenoid, which are yellow, orange, or red pigments that give this color to its plants.

Lycopene has been linked to many health benefits, including disease prevention and protection. Tomato products have the highest amounts of lycopene and ketchup, tomato juice, and pizza sauce are considered to be the highest sources of lycopene in an average diet for a person living in the United States, accounting for 80 percent of lycopene intake among the population.

One of the biggest benefits of lycopene is that it is an antioxidant and protects the body of damage from free radical stress, which can hurt DNA and other cell structures. The antioxidant properties help balance free radical activity in the body and in doing so, may offer protection against certain diseases, keep bones strong and healthy, and help eyesight by helping delay or prevent cataracts , macular degeneration , and other age-related eye disorders.

While more research is needed, previous studies have made a connection between lycopene and cancer prevention. Because of its antioxidant profile, lycopene may stop cancer growth and build up enzymes in the body that help break down cancer-causing agents.

Research published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that in addition to its antioxidant properties, lycopene may have the ability to reduce LDL bad cholesterol while increasing HDL good cholesterol levels.

There may also be a connection to those who have higher amounts of lycopene in their tissues and a lower risk of heart attack , blocked or clogged arteries, lower blood pressure, and other cardiovascular diseases. While cancer prevention and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease are among two of the largest potential benefits of lycopene, the carotenoid may have additional benefits should someone have a high-lycopene diet.

A study published in the journal Neurology found that lycopene may help prevent strokes , particularly strokes caused by blood clots. Lycopene along with other carotenoids may also protect against UV damage caused by the sun. It's important to note, however, that lycopene does not and should not substitute as a replacement for SPF. When consumed in foods, lycopene is safe to eat for everyone.

Eating excessive amounts of lycopene could lead to a condition called lycopenemia, which is an orange or red discoloration of the skin. The condition itself is harmless and goes away by eating a diet lower in lycopene. Lycopene is available in supplement form but should be avoided by people who are pregnant or breastfeeding as some research found taking a daily supplement increased the risk of premature births and low birth weights.

Lycopene may also increase the risk of bleeding when taking certain medications such as aspirin, anticoagulants blood thinners , antiplatelet drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen. The same goes for mixing lycopene and herbs that may increase bleeding, like ginkgo biloba. Those taking medication for low blood pressure should not take lycopene, as it could cause lower blood pressure even more.