tomatoes, lycopene and eye health

Lycopene is one of a family of pigments called carotenoids, which occur naturally in fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes. Other carotenoids include alpha- and beta-carotene, lutein, etc. Lycopene is the pigment that makes tomatoes red. The redder the tomato, the more lycopene is present. Numerous studies suggest that lycopene levels in the blood may be associated with reduced incidence of prostate, digestive tract, breast, lung and cervical cancer as well as cardiovascular disease and age-related macular degeneration - the most common form of blindness for elderly people in the western world. In one study, lycopene and a wide range of dietary carotenoids were detected in high concentrations in ciliary body and retinal pigment epithelium, which leads researchers to believe that lycopene and other carotenoids, like lutein and zeaxanthin, may play a role in the prevention of age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and other blinding disorders.

In addition to their center-stage phytonutrient, lycopene, tomatoes are filled with traditional nutrients that have been shown in many studies to be helpful for all various health conditions. For example, tomatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin A, the latter notably through its concentration of carotenoids including beta-carotene. These antioxidants travel through the body neutralizing dangerous free radicals that could otherwise damage cells and cell membranes, escalating inflammation and the progression or severity of atherosclerosis, diabetic complications, asthma, and colon cancer. In fact, high intakes of these antioxidants have been shown to help reduce the risk or severity of all of these illnesses. In addition, tomatoes are a very good source of fiber, which has been shown to lower high cholesterol levels, keep blood sugar levels from getting too high, and help prevent colon cancer. Recent research clearly shows that tomatoes' protective effects against prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease are due not simply to their lycopene content, but result from the synergy of lycopene with other phytonutrients naturally present in whole tomatoes.