Tomatoes and Red Foods with Lycopene

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Tomatoes and Red Foods with Lycopene

Researchers

have discovered that lycopene, which gives tomatoes their bright

red colouring, increases the chances of male fertility, The Telegraph

newspaper reported.

Researchers at the University of Portsmouth studied the effect of lycopene

in the diet on a random group of six healthy men, with an average age of 42.

The men were asked to consume a 400g tin of Heinz cream of tomato soup every

day for two weeks.

The researchers, from the university’s Biomedical Science Department,

said

that during the two weeks, levels of lycopene in the men’s reproductive

cells rose between seven and 12 per cent, which was “significant”.

The results, published in the British Journal of Urology, said that

infertile men have lower levels of lycopene in their reproductive cells.

The study suggests that higher levels of lycopene are associated with

increased fertility.

It is not known what part lycopene actually plays in fertility, although it

has been suggested that the antioxidant may mop up harmful free radicals in

the body which can affect fertility.

The hidden health benefits

Tomatoes contain large amounts of vitamin C, providing 40 per cent of the

daily value (DV). They also contain 15 per cent DV of vitamin A, 8 per cent

DV of potassium, and 7 per cent of the recommended dietary allowance of iron

for women and 10 per cent for men.

Studies conducted by Harvard researchers have discovered that men who

consume 10 servings of tomatoes a week can cut the risk of developing

prostate cancer by a formidable 45 per cent.

Italian researchers found that those who consume more than seven servings of

raw tomatoes lower the risk of developing rectal colon or stomach cancers.

Researchers have found that lycopene is a powerful inhibitor of lung, breast

and endometrial cancer cells.

Research has also indicated that the lycopene in tomatoes can help older

people stay active longer.

Other fruits and vegetables that are high in lycopene include watermelon, pink

grapefruit, pink guava, papaya and rosehip.