 What Is
Lycopene?
Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant found in tomatoes, pink
grapefruit, watermelon, papaya, and rosehip. It gives these
fruits their red coloring, and is found in all red fruits. Most
lycopene used in supplements is extracted from tomatoes,
although watermelon is being investigated as a possible source
of commercial lycopene as well.
Lycopene belongs in the class of
antioxidants known as carotenoids. Carotenoids are fat soluble,
and this fact becomes important when trying to absorb as much
of these beneficial nutrients from the diet as possible.
Researchers from Iowa State University, Ohio State
University, Columbus, and The Procter & Gamble Nutrition
Science Institute in Cincinnati wrote that:
"Essentially no absorption of carotenoids was observed when
salads with fat-free salad dressing were consumed. A
substantially greater absorption of carotenoids was observed
when salads were consumed with full-fat rather than reduced-fat
salad dressing." (Nutraingredients.com)
Their study looked at how well the carotenoids carotene,
ß-carotene, and lycopene were absorbed when people ate
salads with full fat, fat free and low fat salad dressings.
Other well known carotenoids include beta-carotene, which
the body can use to make vitamin A.
Improving The Absorption Of Lycopene
Lycopene from tomatoes is best absorbed when the tomatoes
are cooked. This turns the lycopene into a form the body can
absorb better, and it doesn't reduce its' effectiveness. So,
foods like ketchup, tomato paste, and juice are great ways to
boost your daily lycopene intake.
How Does Lycopene Work?
There are a couple of ways that scientists think lycopene
works in the body. Firstly, as an antioxidant, it mops up free
radicals. Free radicals are rogue, single molecules of oxygen
that disrupt the structure of regular cells and nutrients. And
lycopene is the most powerful antioxidant in the carotenoid
family.
But, like a gospel singer, lycopene has some other,
infinitely positive ways to shore up the enemy. Dr John
Bertram, a researcher at the University of Hawaii, told
Nutraingredients.com:
"We've looked at five or six carotenoids and they all appear
to have this ability to restore communication between
cells."
Cellular communication is important in preventing cancer.
One of the characteristics of cancerous cells is that they have
lost the ability to communicate with each other. This is
believed to lead to excessive cell growth, and cancer.
Lycopene is believed to foster gap junction communication
between cells. Gap junctions allow for electrical and chemical
communication between cells next to each other. They're
important in regulating healthy cell growth, and also allow for
nutrients to pass from cell to cell.
And because lycopene is deposited in the skin, colon, lungs,
liver, and prostate gland, it is easy to see how it might
protect the body from illnesses in these organs.
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