|  | Diet Nutrition | Nutrition

List of Foods with the Highest Levels of Lycopene

Lycopene is an antioxidant that helps rid the body of damage causing free radicals, helping to prevent premature aging, slowing cell damage, boosting your immune system and lowering your risk of getting certain kinds of cancer. Unfortunately lycopene is not produced by the body itself, so you must incorporate lycopene-rich foods into your diet to receive the numerous benefits that this wonderful antioxidant can provide.

  1. Tomatoes

    • Tomatoes are a very lycopene-rich food and probably the most well known source of it. Tomato products are readily available on the market in a variety of forms. You can consume this free radical blasting fruit as sauce, soup, juice, salad dressing, sun-dried, stew, salsa, ketchup, and of course freshly sliced. Heating tomatoes will assist in the absorption of the lycopene into the body. Mixing a healthy fat, such as olive oil, with this fat soluble antioxidant will also aid in absorption.

    Watermelon

    • Lycopene is what makes watermelon red. Watermelon is very rich in lycopene, potassium, as well as vitamins A and C. It also makes for a great fat free, thirst quenching snack.

    Grapefruit

    • Grapefruit also get their rich color from lycopene. This fruit is packed with lycopene and is also a good source of vitamin C. This is a good low calorie way to start your day.

    Apricots

    • Apricots are another dietary option for incorporating lycopene into the body. These fruits also are a good source of fiber, vitamin C and beta-carotene.

    Red Peppers

    • This is another vegetable that gets its red color from lycopene. There is a smaller amount of lycopene found in this vegetable compared to tomatoes, but it is still a good choice to add into your diet.

    Asparagus

    • Eating freshly cooked or frozen asparagus will help incorporate a small dose of lycopene. Asparagus is a healthy green alternative, as it is a vegetable that does not hold pesticide residue well.

    Carrots

    • You can consume raw carrots or carrot juice to get a small dose of lycopene from this low-calorie food. The added benefits of beta-carotene and vitamin A are packed in these delicious orange vegetables.

Nutrition - Related Articles