Lycopene is an antioxidant-rich plant nutrient that gives red and pink fruits and vegetables, such as tomato, papaya, guava and red bell pepper their characteristic color. Lycopene has been linked to health benefits ranging from heart health to protection against sunburns and certain types of cancers, and experts say that it may be an even more potent antioxidant than vitamin C.
Potential Benefits of Lycopene:
- Antioxidant protection from damage caused by compounds known as free radicals. When free radical levels outnumber antioxidant levels, they can create oxidative stress in your body. This stress is linked to certain chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer’s.
- Help protect skin from UV rays, and reduce skin redness and burn reaction.
Lucky for us, lycopene is most effective when consumed in food rather than in supplement form. The most potent source of lycopene is sundried tomatoes, followed by tomato puree, guava and watermelon. Cooking these foods dramatically boosts their amount of lycopene (as much as 35%!), because the heat breaks down the plants’ thick cell walls and aids the body’s uptake of nutrients.
At Pureyay, we prioritize colorful foods that introduce your little one to new flavors and textures. Our lycopene-rich blends include Aloha Oats, with Papaya, Oat Groat and Spinach, Baby Gazpacho with Tomato, Cucumber, Shallot and Olive Oil, and Pump It Up, with Pumpkin, Red Bell Pepper, Black Bean, Cilantro and Lime.