Health & Medicine
Lycopene
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Lycopene
What is Lycopene? We have either eaten it or we totally unaware about it. Lycopene is a pigment that gives vegetable and fruits, such as tomatoes, pink grapefruit and watermelon, their red coloring. More importantly, lycopene also appears to exhibit strong anti-oxidant capabilities. antioxidant serve to lessen effects of free radicals, blamed by some in the scientific community for damage cells. Lycopene gets its name from species classification of the Tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum
How It Function.
Lycopene is especially effective at quenching a free radical called singlet oxigen. Singlet oxigen is a highly reactive free radical formed during normal metabolic processes that reacts with polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are major constituents of cell membranes. Due to the facts that lycopene is commonly located in cell membranes, it plays an important role in preventing oxidative damage to membrane lipids, thereby influencing the thickness, strength and fluidity of the membranes. Apart from its antioxidant activity, lycopene has been shown to suppress the growth of tumors in vitro (test tube) and in vivo(animal) experiments. One way of the ways that lycopene may limit tumor growth is by stimulating cell to cell to communication.
Where Do I Find Lycopene
Other fruits and vegetable such as watermelon, guava,apricots and pink grapefruit also provide lycopene.
Deficiency Symptoms
Whats the result for lacking Lycopene
Inadequate intake of lycopene and other carotenoids, over a period of many years may set the stage for the development of several chronic diseases, including heart disease and various cancer.Research indicates that diets low in carotenoids can increase the body's susceptibility to damage from free radicals. As a result, over the long term, carotenoid-deficient diets may increase tissue damage from free radical activity and increase risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and cancers.
Heath Condition
- Age-related macular degeration
- Breast Cancer
- Cardiovascular disease
- Cataract
- Cervical cancer
- Exercise-induce asthma
- Lung cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Skin cancer
- Stomach cancer
Cooking Recipes
Of course lycopene have to be included
Corn Tortilla Wrap with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto and Jack CheeseThis is one of those sandwiches that can be quickly thrown together when you want a no-effort lunch or a substantial snack-and with no saturated fat and only about 100 calories, and a little soy, too. Jars of different flavored pestos and olive mixtures are good pantry items, since they can be the starting point for a whole range of quick and easy dishes.
Serving Suggestions: Accompany with a chicory and Belgian endive salad, or a shredded spinach salad with orange segments.
Makes 4 sandwiches.
Prep: 5 minutes. Cook: 30 seconds.
4 corn tortillas (6 inch), low-fat if available
1/4 cup bottled sun-dried tomato pesto
4 slices Monterey-jack-style, mozzarella-style, or Swiss-style soy cheese
Over each tortilla, spread 1 tablespoon pesto. Top with cheese and roll up. Microwave or run under broiler until cheese melts, about 30 seconds. That's it!
Dandelion Salad With Tomatoes
Ingredients:
1/2 pound torn dandelion greens
1/2 red onion, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
In a medium bowl, toss together dandelion greens, red onion, and tomatoes. Season with basil, salt, and pepper.
Gather the dandelion leaves early in the spring before the plants flower or they will be bitter.
Broccoli & Mushroom Salad
broccoli flowerets
cup fresh mushrooms
2 medium sized carrots cut into short sticks
cup sun dried tomatoes finely cut up
1 medium sized onion thinly sliced
olive oil
balsamic vinegar
crushed garlic
Boil or steam the broccoli in salted water for 5 minutes. Salt is not necessary if you prefer to cook without salt.
Sweat the onions, sun dried tomatoes and garlic with a teaspoon of olive oil in a hot Teflon (non-stick) pan. One minute is enough. This to release the taste of the lycopene packed sun dried tomatoes.
Assemble the salad; add the contents of the pan.
The dressing I use is one-third balsamic vinegar and two-thirds olive oil. Salt and pepper to your taste.
Pour the dressing over the salad shortly before eating. To serve this dish hot one can either heat it with the dressing in a microwave or briefly stir-fry in the dressing. This dish can be kept for a couple of days
* Courtesy Taken From Lenny's Recipes
Spaghetti Sauce
Lycopene is easier to absorb from cooked or processed tomatoes. One half cup of spaghetti sauce or marinara sauce has over 20 milligrams of lycopene. Try making your own spaghetti sauce or look for ready made brands that are low in sodium and made with healthy ingredients, like Muir Glen Organic Spaghetti Sauce. Make a healthy meal by serving with whole grain pasta and a garden salad. A Big Slice of Watermelon
Take a watermelon and cut it into 16 pieces. Each one of those pieces of watermelon has about 13 milligrams of lycopene. That same watermelon is also a delicious source of potassium, vitamin C and vitamin A. Watermelon can be served all alone or for a wonderful salad try this recipe for Watermelon, Basil & Mozzarella Salad with Balsamic Syrup.4. Salsa
Cocktail Drink
Thai-Style Tomato CocktailHere's an easy, fun way to add some lycopene to your prostate-savvy diet. Warm up the cocktail on a cold winter's day or serve it over ice in summer. Ginger, lime, sweet onion, and cilantro spice up this southeast Asian-style version of a classic virgin mary drink.
Serving Suggestions: Sip with a veggie burger or sandwich. If mixing for a party, feel free to add a splash of vodka or gin
Makes 1 drink.
Prep: 5 minutes.
6 ounces tomato juice
1 tablespoon grated sweet onion, such as Vidalia
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
2 teaspoons ginger juice (see Note below)
1/2 teaspoon regular or reduced-sodium soy sauce
Ice cubes (if serving cold)
Finely chopped fresh cilantro and lime slices, for garnish (optional)
For a cold drink, in 8-ounce glass, combine tomato juice, onion, lime juice, ginger juice, and soy sauce. Add ice and garnish with cilantro and lime slices, if using. Or, for a warm drink, in small saucepan, combine first 5 ingredients, and warm gently over low heat. Serve in a mug, garnished with cilantro and lime, if you like.
Note: To make ginger juice, grate a knob or thumb-size piece of unpeeled fresh ginger into a sheet of paper towel. Gather into a bundle and squeeze gently over a small bowl to extract juice. The amount of juice you'll get depends on the freshness of the root-the fresher the root, the more juice. Use leftover ginger juice to flavor lemonade, hot or iced tea, broths, and stir-fry dishes.
Link Supply Information
- Lycopene.org
- A comprehensive resource on lycopene and its health benefits including current research, media releases, and recipes.
- Lycopene - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Lycopene is a bright red carotenoid pigment, a phytochemical found in tomatoes and other red fruits. Lycopene is the most common carotenoid in the human ...
- Lycopene
- Lycopene is a member of the carotenoid family of chemical substances. Lycopene, similar to other carotenoids, is a natural fat-soluble pigment (red, ...
- ACS :: Lycopene
- Lycopene is the compound that gives tomatoes and certain other fruits and vegetables their color. It is one of the major carotenoids in the diet of North ...
- Lycopene
- Lycopene - The ultimate phytochemical nutraceutical?, Foods with lycopene, lycopene references.
- Lycopene - MayoClinic.com
- Mayo Clinic offers award-winning medical and health information and tools for healthy living.
- Lycopene, What is Lycopene? About its Science, Chemistry and Structure
- Find out about the science and chemistry of Lycopene (Tomato Red), see colourful images of Lycopene and explore interactive 3D molecules of Lycopene.
- What is Lycopene?
- Brief and Straightforward Guide: What is Lycopene?
- Molecular Expressions: Phytochemical Gallery - Lycopene
- Lycopene, a red plant pigment, is a proven anti-oxidant that may lower the risk of certain diseases including cancer and heart disease.
- Lycomato - Natural Tomato Lycopene complex
- Lyc-O-Mato® is an all natural tomato lycopene complex high in lycopene and other important antioxidants from tomato. Antioxidants play a vital role in ...
- ScienceDaily: No Magic Tomato? Study Breaks Link Between Lycopene ...
- Tomatoes might be nutritious and tasty, but don't count on them to prevent prostate cancer. Researchers now report that lycopene, an antioxidant ...
- Lycopene - Prevention Agents
- Lycopene is one of 600 or so plant-derived carotenoids, substances responsible for the yellow, orange, and red colors of fruits and vegetables. ...
- Biochemistry of Lycopene
- Lycopene is the red pigment in tomatoes and several fruits. Find out more about how this antioxidant protects against cancer and heart disease.
- MedlinePlus Herbs and Supplements: Lycopene
- Lycopene is a carotenoid, and is present in human serum, liver, adrenal glands, lungs, prostate, colon, and skin at higher levels than other carotenoids. ...
- Lycopene
- In what plants can we find Lycopene? What are the medicinal properties of Lycopene? Facts about Lycopene.
- Lycopene : by Ray Sahelian, M.D., lycopene benefits lycopene prostate
- lycopene prostate cancer lycopene supplement lycopene benefit.
- lycopene: Definition and Much More from Answers.com
- ly·co·pene ( ) n. A red carotenoid pigment, C 40 H 56 , found chiefly in blood, the reproductive organs, tomatoes, and palm oils.
- lycopene articles, information and news
- Orange colored tomatoes better source of lycopene, study finds. (NewsTarget) New research suggests that the human body absorbs lycopene better from ...
- Lycopene in Tomatoes and Prostate Cancer
- Lycopene in Tomatoes and Prostate cancer. Can lycopene prevent prostate cancer? Find out what research studies are saying about lycopene.
- Lycopene and cardiovascular disease123
- Considerable evidence suggests that lycopene, a carotenoid without provitamin A activity found in high concentrations in a small set of plant foods, ...
- UANews.org | Boosting Lycopene in the Diet
- The UA tomato consumption study focuses on the levels of lycopene present in the blood of participants who eat two fresh tomatoes daily. ...
- Le Magazine, December 2004 - All About Supplements: Lycopene
- Lycopene, a powerful plant-based antioxidant nutrient, may offer protection from both cancer and heart disease. Lycopene is fast becoming known as nature's ...
- Welcome to Knowledge in a Nutshell - Unlock the Power of Lycopene
- This updated version of Unlock the Power of Lycopene, originally published in 2001, contains all you need to know about the antioxidant lycopene found in ...
- Lycopene's anti-cancer effect appears stronger when not acting alone
- John W. Erdman Jr., professor of food science and human nutrition and of internal medicine, has found that lycopene's punch is stronger when not acting ...
- Lycopene Supplements and Products
- Lycopene Supplements and products discounted at at 20% to 75% off retail. eVitamins offers a wide selection of vitamins, supplements and Lycopene ...
- Morning Star's Lycopene Information Home Page
- The Morning Star Company is pleased to present the processed tomato industry's most comprehensive online resource for Lycopene, explaining its benefits, ...
- Tomato lycopene and its role in human health and chronic diseases ...
- LYCOPENE IS A CAROTENOID THAT IS PRESENT IN TOMATOES, processed tomato products and other fruits. It is one of the most potent antioxidants among dietary ...
- Lycopene.org - Lycopene Content
- Product, Lycopene (mg /100 ga), Serving Size b, Lycopene (mg /serving). Tomato Juice (without salt added) ... Lycopene.org. All rights reserved.
- Watermelon Packs a Powerful Lycopene Punch
- An all-American favorite, watermelon is highly nutritious and packed full of the phytochemical lycopene. It's one of the few foods that contain it in large ...
- Lycopene may be able to inhibit the growth of prostate tumours
- A study by Dutch and German researchers has provided evidence that lycopene may be able to inhibit the growth of prostate tumours and that its effect may be ...
- Orange colored tomatoes better source of lycopene, study finds
- Orange colored tomatoes better source of lycopene, study finds.
- Watermelon Shows Its Lycopene Stripes / June 4, 2002 / News from ...
- Watermelon growers aren't exactly singing the new tune: "Our lycopene is better than your lycopene." But there is a new twist on the amount of healthful ...
- Tangerine tomatoes - better source of lycopene?
- Tangerine tomatoes - better source of lycopene? The lycopene content of orange tomatoes is more bioavailable than the form of lycopene found in the red.
- LYCOPENE -ANTIOXIDANT BENEFITS, INFORMATION ON SUPPLEMENTS ...
- Information, advice, facts, articles, links, news, and answers to questions regarding lycopene.
Wikipedia
Lycopene is a bright red carotenoid pigment and phytochemical found in tomatoes and other red fruits. Its name is derived from the tomato's species classification, Solanum lycopersicum where "lyco" is Greek for wolf, "persicum" means peach and tomato implies "wolf-peach".
In plants, algae, and other photosynthetic organisms, lycopene is an important intermediate in the biosynthesis of many carotenoids, including beta carotene, responsible for yellow, orange or red pigmentation, photosynthesis, and photo-protection. Structurally, it is a tetraterpene assembled from eight isoprene units, composed entirely of carbon and hydrogen, and is insoluble in water. Lycopene's eleven conjugated double bonds give it its deep red color and are responsible for its antioxidant activity. Due to its strong color and non-toxicity, lycopene is a useful food coloring.
Lycopene is not an essential nutrient for humans, but is commonly found in the diet, mainly from dishes prepared with tomato sauce. When absorbed from the stomach, lycopene is transported in the blood by various lipoproteins and accumulates in the liver, adrenal glands, and testes.
Because preliminary research has shown an inverse correlation between consumption of tomatoes and cancer risk, lycopene has been considered a potential agent for prevention of some types of cancers, particularly prostate cancer. However, this area of research and the relationship with prostate cancer have been deemed insufficient of evidence for health claim approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (see below under Antioxidant properties and potential health benefits).
Tomatoes / Lycopene To Reduce Prostate Cancer Risk
By by V.K. Gadi, MD
Lycopene is naturally found in several fruits and vegetables, but most notably in the cooked tomato. It seems that lycopene in raw tomatoes is not as available as when it is cooked. The highest sources of lycopene are available in tomato juices and tomato sauces including spaghetti sauce.
One particularly well organized study showed significant anti-prostate cancer effects of lycopene in tomato based products. It actually demonstrated reduced PSA levels and tumor cell reduction after the participants consumed 30 mg/day of lycopene from cooked tomato based products for a period of three weeks.
Although more research is needed to determine if a lycopene supplement works as well as the dietary lycopene found in tomato products, it seems prudent to supplement your diet with tomato products to reduce your chance of developing prostate cancer.
For your reference, here is the approximate amount of lycopene available in some common food products:
* Tomato Juice (1 cup) = 22mg
* Catsup (1 Tbsp) = 2.9 mg
* Spaghetti Sauce (1/2 cup) = 20 mg
* Tomato Soup (1 cup) = 13.1 mg
* Tomato Sauce (1/4 cup) = 7.3 mg
So, my recommendation: Choose your tomato, and get 30 mg of lycopene per day.
Lycopene Can Be Found In Tomatoes
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Hey! this guy knows what he is talking about :)
Harvest Eating Tomato Sauce Video Recipe
Visit http://www.harvesteating.com to get the written recipe for this video. Chef Keith Snow shares his secret family tomato sauce recipe.
Runtime: 6:11
3790 views
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Unlock the Power of Lycopene: Redefining Your Diet with Lycopene and Tomatoes, Revised Second Edition
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Reader Feedback
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rose08
Great information about Lycopene. An apply a day keeps doctor away. It's said that colorful vegetables are very good to health. Tomatoes, as one of the red vegetables, have high nutrition people need, and it can anti cancer like you presented. I'm learning some food biochemistry for my home kitchen working. Your lens is very useful. Thanks a lot for your detail introduction. Posted September 19, 2008 |
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Dr_Joe
Very informative. Posted July 04, 2008 |
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health_advisor
Very informative. Posted June 19, 2008 |
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Marc3ll
Hi Labelstone. Thank you for coming and rated my lens. Sure, I will visit your lens. Posted July 17, 2007 |
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LABELSTONE
Great information and so timely as tomatoes are starting to ripen. Do visit my lens when you have a chance. Posted July 14, 2007 |
Look who made this lens!
Marc3ll
Hi Guys,
I guess, being a health conscious person, I am really have to look after my body. We have a choice to make either we make a change on our diets or refuse to...
What's here
- How It Function.
- Where Do I Find Lycopene
- Deficiency Symptoms
- Heath Condition
- Cooking Recipes
- More...
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