Lycopene And Cooked Tomatoes

A diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables is important, of course, for multiple reasons -- particularly if these fruits and vegetables are varied and brightly colored. One of the benefits such a diet will provide is plenty of lycopene, which can provide some extra benefits above the nutritional value of the fruits and vegetables themselves.

Carotenoids

Lycopene is a type of carotenoid. Carotenoids are natural substances that give different types of plants their color. Lycopene is one of the most common such carotenoids, along with lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, beta-carotene and alpha-carotene. When included in your diet, these carotenoids can have a variety of beneficial antioxidant properties. These carotenoids are generally best absorbed when eaten as part of a meal that contains some fats.

Sources

Lycopene is present in a variety of fruits and vegetables, particularly those with red, yellow, orange or pink coloring. Guavas, pink grapefruit and watermelon all contain significant levels of lycopene, but tomatoes are a particularly rich source. Processed tomato products, such as ketchup, chili, pasta sauce and tomato juice also contain high lycopene levels.

Cancer

If you eat a diet that is high in tomatoes and similar high-lycopene products, your risk of some types of cancer may be lower. According to the American Cancer Society, this risk is especially lower for prostate, lung and stomach cancer, although other types of cancer may also be affected.

Cooked vs. Raw

It is a commonly held belief that raw fruits and vegetables tend to be more nutritious than cooked fruits and vegetables. While this may be true in some cases, it is not true in the case of the lycopene found in tomatoes. According to a study in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," for example, your body will receive several times more lycopene from tomatoes that have been cooked than from raw tomatoes. That is because the cooking process allows your digestive system to process the lycopene in the tomatoes more easily and effectively.