Lycopene

What is Lycopene?

Lycopene is a natural compound with antioxidant properties found in fruits such as tomatoes, watermelons and pink grapefruit. It is part of the carotenoid family which are yellow, orange and red pigments that give these fruits their characteristic colours. Lycopene is linked to many health benefits including heart health and disease prevention.

Tomato products have the highest amount of lycopene, with ketchup, tomato juice and pizza sauce considered the highest sources in the average diet for a person living in the US.

Health Benefits:

Heart Health

Lypocene has been shown to reduce heart disease risk factors such as reducing free-radical damage, ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol levels and increasing ‘good’ HDL cholesterol levels. It could also increase the life expectancy of those with metabolic syndrome, as research suggests that sufferers with the highest blood lycopene levels had up to 39% lower risk of dying prematurely.

Could protect against certain cancers

The strong antioxidant action of lycopene may prevent or slow the progression of some cancers. One study shows that it may limit tumour growth in prostate and breast cancer, whilst another links high intake of carotenoids such as lycopene to a 32-50% lower risk of lung and prostate cancers.

A study that looked at more than 46000 men over 23 years showed that those who consumed at least two servings on lycopene-rich tomato sauce per week were 30% less likely to to develop prostate cancer than men who ate less than one serving of tomato sauce per month.

May protect against sunburn

Research suggests that lycopene could offer some protection against UV exposure. Participants of a study were exposed to UV rays before and after consuming either lycopene or a placebo, those who consumed the lycopene had less severe reactions to UV than those who didn’t. Although it has been proven that lycopene can offer some protection against the sun, it is worth noting that it should not be used as a replacement for sunscreen.

Typical Uses:

The appropriate dose of lycopene depends on several factors such as the user’s age, health, and several other conditions. We suggest taking 1 of our Lycopene capsules daily with food, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner.

Sources:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22965217/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23317928/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26779636/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12424325/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26817504/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20854436/