Lycopene is a natural compound that is found in bright red fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, watermelon, and grapefruit. Lycopene is a carotenoid, which are yellow, orange, or red pigments that give this color to its plants. Lycopene has been linked to many health benefits, including disease prevention and protection.
Lycopene’s primary role in human health is as an antioxidant. Antioxidants neutralize the activity of reactive compounds called free radicals, which create oxidative stress within our body.
Sometimes oxidative stress can be beneficial for our body (like when we need to repair damaged tissues or fight against cancer cells), but when the amount and activity of free radicals overwhelms the protective effects of antioxidants, this uncontrolled oxidative stress can be associated with developing chronic diseases like certain types of cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Lycopene’s antioxidant properties help to maintain the balance of free radical activity in the body, which may be protective against some of these conditions.
The strongest evidence of lycopene’s benefit to health is related to its blood-pressure lowering effect. Consuming more than 12 milligrams (mg) of lycopene per day has been shown to lower blood pressure, especially in people with high blood pressure.