Lycopene Uses for Cardiovascular Diseases | Tomato Health Benefits

As per the research done by the scientists of Cambridge Theranostics Ltd, a biotech firm, lycopene pigment present in tomatoes protect us from cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and strokes.

Lycopene is a carotenoid with antioxidant property which is mainly available in red tomato skin.

Research was done on the lycopene benefits and they prepared a lycopene pill. The lycopene pill was prepared using lycopene, soya bean protein and milk.

This lycopene pill when administered regularly prevents the formation of harmful fats in the blood, thereby reducing the damage to the blood vessels which inturn protects the heart against cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and strokes.

Cambridge Theranostics Ltd had announced the release of lycopene pill for clinical use in 2009 and they proved that lycopene pill is more powerful then statins.

Sources of Lycopene

Lycopene is the red colour pigment present in tomatoes. It is also available in watermelons, papaya, grapes and guavas.

The tomato products like tomato ketchup, tomato sauce and tomato juice are the rich sources of this lycopene carotenoid.

The processed tomatoes have abundant amount of lycopene than the raw/fresh tomatoes as the cooking of tomatoes result in breakdown of cell walls thereby releasing more lycopene as well as concentrating it.

Lycopene Uses | Tomato Health Benefits

• Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant and can be used as a natural food colouring agent.
• Lycopene is known for preventing some cancers, especially prostate cancer.
• Lycopene also helps in preventing age related macular degeneration due to its antioxidant properties.
• Lycopene has anti-cancer property.
• Vitamin C present in tomatoes helps in developing immunity and resistance to infections.

Besides these health benefits of Lycopene of tomatoes, it also has beauty benefits for skin.

Let us see how to use tomatoes for healthy and beautiful skin. Follow some of these easy and useful beauty tips with tomatoes at home.

Tomato Benefits for Skin

Tomatoes have astringent property and help in precipitating the proteins.

When you are exposed to sunlight for long hours resulting in weak and dull skin, then you can try out this simple tip.

Grind some tomatoes to extract juice, add some curd to tomato juice and apply this mixture to your dull skin and wash your skin after 20 minutes.

Your skin regains freshness after this tomato juice curd face pack.

To make your skin soft and to improve the glow in your face, take equal proportion of tomato juice and honey and apply this on your skin. Wait for 15 minutes and wash your face. Do this regularly for getting soft and glowing skin.

Tomatoes for Acne and oily skin

If your skin is oily with pimples on your face, try this simple pack.

Take equal amount of tomato juice and cucumber juice, mix them well. Take a clean cotton swab, dip it in the prepared mixture and wipe your face with it.

Do this regularly to reduce the oil on your skin. Reduction of oil in turn treats the pimples and makes your face clear.