If you love eating pasta with marinara sauce, did you know you are doing your heart a favor? Tomatoes, especially processed tomatoes, contain large amounts of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that has many health benefits.
Lycopene is a beta carotene pigment that gives vegetables and fruits, such as tomatoes, pink grapefruit and watermelon, their red color. Several studies and research suggest that consumption of foods rich in lycopene may help support prostrate and cardiovascular health. Lycopene helps protect cells from free radical damage, unstable molecules that attack cells which may lead to numerous health concerns and premature aging.
The nutritional properties found in lycopene may help maintain healthy vision function, healthy cholesterol levels already in the normal range, and overall immune system function. Because the body cannot produce lycopene, dietary supplementation may be important to your health. If you feel that you are not including as many lycopene-rich fruits and vegetables as you should in your diet, you may want to consider taking a daily supplement that contains this powerful antioxidant.