I am sure you had no idea that a nutrient as rich as Lycopene was hiding in plain sight, in your kitchen! That’s right, Lycopene is the king among nutrients. It has multifarious benefits for health and can even help in the prevention of deadly diseases and conditions like cancer and macular degeneration.
Many people are not aware of the existence and importance of this nutrient in their diet. As a result, they lose on its vital role in maintaining a healthy body and mind. Here are some features that place Lycopene at the top of the nutrient chart:
Having established that our body cannot produce Lycopene, it is important to know what foods are the best sources of this nutrient. Though many vitamin supplements incorporate Lycopene in the recommended dosages, it is smart to include it in your daily diet by adding all foods present in the red spectrum. Some easy to find sources of Lycopene are:
The best and most feasible source of Lycopene has been sitting right there in the vegetable shelf of your refrigerator. Tomatoes contain the maximum amount of Lycopene. When used fresh, they easily provide you with your daily requirement of Lycopene. But, surprisingly, when tomatoes are ingested in the form of ketchup, soup and other cooked forms, they release three times more Lycopene than the fresh fruit! Remember – the deeper, darker the tomato, the more loaded with Lycopene it is.
Again, the keyword is ‘pink’ or ‘red’. Pink and red guavas also have a high Lycopene content. In addition to Lycopene, guavas are also good sources of Vitamin C, Omega-3 fatty acids and fiber. Pick red or pink guavas to fill up your nutrition meter whenever you feel you are lacking these vital elements.
Ripe watermelons have that beautiful red shade that makes them irresistible to most people, and for good reason. The brain is fine tuned to recognizing brightly colored food as good sources of different vitamins and nutrients. The presence of Lycopene makes this otherwise simply watery fruit a favorite among many. It is also a good diuretic and source of fiber.
Find papaya a dull fruit with gross looking gooey seeds? The reason why you must have this fruit is that it is an excellent source of Lycopene. For those who don’t have access to pink guavas, papayas will give you the same amount of Lycopene. So, gather your courage and try this yellow-red tropical fruit.
Yes, we have ‘pink’ grapefruit! This slightly bitter fruit is a gold mine of Vitamin C and Lycopene; almost as much as a tomato. This fruit is also known for its cholesterol absorbing properties.
Caution: People prone to kidney stones should avoid this fruit.
Dieticians and nutrition experts have long been touting the many benefits of Lycopene for skin. From curing sunburn to reducing the risk of skin cancer, this nutrient does it all. Here are some skin benefits of Lycopene:
It is common knowledge that UV-A is responsible for most of the skin damage caused by sun exposure as it goes deep into the skin and UV-B is the one that causes sunburns as it is more topical. Research has shown that the use of high-Lycopene foods in diet, in addition to sunscreens, can reduce the damage to skin caused by UV-A and UV-B exposure.
When ingested, Lycopene is converted to Vitamin A or Retinol by the body. Retinol is one of the best ways to reduce the effects of ageing as it promotes the production of collagen and melatonin, both of which regulate the overall health of the skin.
Lycopene has been shown to reduce Erythema or skin redness to a large degree. It can also soothe rough skin by promoting the growth of new skin cells.
The mild nature of Lycopene promotes the functioning of Melanin, which regulates skin color. It has been shown to reduce skin darkening and age spots.