In the April 2011 edition of Runner’s World Magazine, there is a fun mini article on “The Runner’s Pie” suggesting a creative, and healthy version of pizza for runners and athletes alike to enjoy and benefit from. In the description for the sauce, they suggest readers to use Marinara sauce which is rich in lycopene, which they state, is a cancer fighting antioxidant. Curious to learn more, I decided to do some research on this antioxidant and was very pleased with what I found.
Lycopene, a bright red carotenoid pigment, is found naturally in numerous fruits such as tomatoes and watermelon giving them their lush red color. This specific carotenoid is the most common carotenoid found within in the human body. Other forms of carotenoids are responsible for the yellow and orange colors in other fruits. When I read that lycopene was a carotenoid I immediately thought of the Evolutionary Biology class which I took last year in which we learned how carotenoids assisted male birds in attracting mates. Birds such as blacks birds and zebra finches have orange beaks which brightness and vibrancy is determined by the amount of carrots (which contains an orange version of carotenoids) which they consume. The bright colors allow the females to determine how well the males are at obtaining food as well as the health of their immune system, thus making the brighter beaked males an ideal choice for mating. But how could this carotenoid assist humans with there health? In plants caroteno
ids function within chloroplasts and help absorb damaging blue light and near ultraviolet light. When consumed by humans, they promote vitamin A activity, enhance the immune system, form antioxidants, and assist the function of the reproductive system, and most importantly inhibit cancer cell growth and reproduction of cell populations. This has been seen in the treatment of individuals with both lung and breast cancer. A study done at the University of Negev, lycopene treatment produced a “concentration dependent reduction in HL-60 cell growth” as well as the inhibition of the G0/G1 phase in the cell cycle. Lycopene assists in protecting the skin by reducing redness and skin cell damage due to environmental factors such as pollution and sun. In combination with vitamins C and E, lycopene helps reduce sunburn and shields skin from premature aging. It ability to do so comes from its characteristic of enhancing collagen production and reducing DNA damage when incorporated into skin cells.Lycopene is found naturally within tomatoes, but unfort
unately it is covered by indigestible fibers, so in order to get the most out of your tomatoes its best to eat them cooked or even processed, like in tomato sauce. There is still much research to be done on lycopene, but studies has shown that its has helped to improve bone, prostate, eye, lung, and cardiovascular health as well as improving blood pressure. Could this super antioxidant be a key in the battle to cure cancers? I definitely believe it has a lot of potential, and I’m curious to see what further research uncovers. Till then, enjoy the tomato sauce on your pizza!
