Phytonutrients Online: Lycopene

What is lycopene?

Lycopene is a bright red pigment, a phytochemical found in tomatoes and other red fruits. Its name is derived from the tomato's species classification, Solanum lycopersicum. Ironically, the highest natural concentrations of lycopene in food are found not in tomatoes, but in watermelon. Almost all dietary lycopene comes from tomato products, however.

What are the benefits of lycopene?

For information on the health benefits of lycopene, please see lycopene.org

How do I get more lycopene?

Obviously, you can get lycopene by eating tomatoes, watermelons, etc. To get much lycopene, though, you would have to eat profuse quanitities of organic, 100% vine-ripened produce that is consumed raw within hours after picking.

A better option is to take a phytonutrient supplement that contains lycopene, such as our phytonutrient supplement.