What do tomatoes, pink grapefruit, and watermelon have in common? All three fruits owe their red hue to an increasingly popular antioxidant called lycopene.
Lycopene is a cartenoid that occurs naturally in fruits and vegetables. Although it is found in other plant foods, it is found more abundantly in tomatoes. Cooked tomatoes, in tomato pastes and sauces, offer a more digestible form of the chemical, as heat breaks the chemical into smaller particles that are more easily absorbed into the bloodstream. Once absorbed by the body, lycopene helps to repair and prevent damaged cells.
So what may be health benefits of having a grapefruit for breakfast or plate of spaghetti with tomato sauce for lunch?
“I have been keeping up with the research concerning lycopene and prostate cancer,” said Chris Enmon, a junior accounting major from Atlanta. “The trend with black males and prostate cancer is alarming, so I make sure to add tomatoes to my salads at least three times a week.” The incidence of prostate cancer is highest among black American men.
A study conducted at Harvard Medical School estimated that the consumption of tomato-based products twice a week versus none was linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer of up to 34%.
For years, scientists have made a connection between a decrease in various types of diseases with a high fruit and vegetable consumption.
“Phytoestrogens, found in plant products, have in the diet may already be an alternative to the current estrogen treatment for prostate cancer,” said Dr. Wesley Gray, a biochemistry professor at Southern University. Dr. Gray has a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and is currently conducting research on the effects of phytoestrogens on prostate cancer.
In addition to battling prostate cancer in men, lycopene has also been proven to put up a good fight against cardiovascular diseases. A study published this summer in the Journal of Nutrition found that women with the highest consumption of sources rich in lycopene had the lowest risk for cardiovascular disease.
There is no currently published recommended daily allowance for the intake of lycopene, but health professionals advise several servings of processed tomato-based products per week.
