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Lycopene: An Antioxidant for Good Health

October 1, 2004

Fruits and vegetables provide important nutrients including antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene and lycopene. Antioxidants have disease-fighting properties that protect cells from damage by substances called free radicals. Antioxidants also may help keep the immune system healthy and reduce the risk for cancer and other diseases.

Lycopene has received a lot of attention from researchers in recent years. It is a pigment that gives vegetables and fruits, such as tomatoes, pink grapefruit and watermelon, their red color. It also appears to have strong antioxidant capabilities. Several studies suggest that consumption of lycopene-rich foods is associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Lycopene is not produced in the body, so you can only obtain its benefits by eating lycopene-rich foods. Canned tomato products, such as spaghetti sauce, tomato juice, ketchup and pizza sauce are by far the major sources of lycopene in the typical American diet. Other fruits and vegetables such as watermelon and pink grapefruit also provide lycopene, but in smaller amounts.

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team