Have you ever wondered why “tomatoes” are one of the ingredients that we often find in healthy foods? The answer is: “Lycopene” Lycopene is an important antioxidant. Lycopene is a carotenoid that gives tomatoes their bright red color and plays an important role in preventing many diseases, from heart disease to cancer. So who should consume lycopene and how should they consume it to get the right amount of lycopene for their body?
Why is lycopene important?
Lycopene not only helps protect cells in the body from being damaged by free radicals, but also helps reduce inflammation in the body, helps slow down cell degeneration, and reduces the risk of serious diseases such as “cancer”, especially prostate cancer in men. Studies in many countries have found that regular consumption of lycopene reduces the risk of this type of cancer.
Who should take lycopene?
- People at risk for cardiovascular disease
Lycopene plays an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease as it has been found to reduce inflammation in blood vessels, lower LDL cholesterol levels and increase the elasticity of blood vessels, เล่น UFABET ผ่านมือถือ สะดวกทุกที่ ทุกเวลา . which are important factors in reducing the risk of heart disease.
- man
Men should get lycopene regularly because they are at higher risk of developing an enlarged prostate and prostate cancer.
- Elderly
For older adults, lycopene can help slow down the deterioration of cells in the body and skin. Lycopene has antioxidant properties, which can help reduce damage from free radicals, which are the main cause of cell deterioration and skin aging. It is also beneficial in reducing the risk of chronic diseases in the elderly, such as cancer and heart disease.
Easily available sources of lycopene
- Tomatoes and tomato products, such as ketchup, tomato juice or tomato soup.
- Red bell peppers are a good source of lycopene and can be used in a variety of dishes, such as salads, stir-fries, or grilled.
- Watermelon is another fruit that is high in lycopene and adds freshness in the summer.
- Pink grapefruit is a sour fruit that is rich in lycopene and helps boost vitamin C.
- Pink guava is a fruit that is high in vitamins A and vitamin C.
How can the body absorb lycopene better?
- Cooking: Cooking tomatoes releases the lycopene from the plant cells and makes them more absorbable by the body. Cooked tomatoes contain more lycopene than fresh tomatoes.
- Consume with good fats. Lycopene is a fat-soluble substance. Consuming lycopene with good fats, such as olive oil or rice bran oil, will help increase absorption.
- Choose ripe tomatoes. Ripe tomatoes contain more lycopene than raw tomatoes.
- Consuming lycopene with foods rich in vitamins E and C can increase the absorption and potency of lycopene. For example, a salad containing tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, and olive oil can increase the absorption of lycopene.
- Pureeing or mashing tomatoes. Pureeing or mashing tomatoes is a way to help the lycopene be released from the plant cells, allowing the body to absorb more of the lycopene.
If you are someone who doesn’t like tomatoes, don’t worry, it may be because you haven’t found a way to eat them that you like. Try changing the way you choose or cook tomatoes. For example, choose sweet varieties like cherry tomatoes. Or if you don’t like the green smell, choosing fleshy tomatoes or Japanese tomatoes is an interesting choice because they have a sweet taste and soft texture. Try seasoning or sprinkling a little salt to bring out the sweetness of the tomatoes. It will make the tomatoes more delicious and well-rounded.
If you want to adapt it to your food menu, try cooking tomatoes in various dishes such as fragrant Nam Phrik Ong, delicious stir-fried tomatoes with eggs, refreshing Tom Yum, or pasta with fresh tomato sauce. It is guaranteed that it will change your mind and make you love tomatoes more easily. Just like this, you will easily get lycopene without realizing it.
The important thing is that adding tomatoes to our favorite menu will allow us to get the full benefits of lycopene, both in terms of protecting the heart, reducing the risk of cancer, and also helping to slow down cell degeneration. So, don’t forget to add tomatoes to your next meal and you will be healthy together.