Which tomatoes have more lycopene?

Insoluble organic compounds synthesized by tomatoes during fruit ripening have a high level of carotenoid-lycopene. The pigment has a high antioxidant activity, has a positive effect on the human body.

Beneficial features

After conducting a large number of studies, chemical scientists have found that the pigment content in the human body depends on the amount of the substance in food. The properties of lycopene make it an effective prophylactic and drug in the fight against:

• defeat of the upper layers of the skin and nails with fungi of the genus Epidermophyta;
• ringworm smooth skin of the body;
• chronic disease caused by a fungus of the genus Sporotrichium, affecting the skin and subcutaneous tissue;
• thrush;
• ringworm;
• salmonellosis;
• typhoid fever;
• food toxicoinfection;
• escherichiosis;
• dysentery;
• campylobacteriosis;
• tonsillitis;
• epiglottitis;
• sinusitis;
• pneumonia;
• violation of the vessels and capillaries;
• initial fibrosis of the liver;
• hemochromatosis;
• cavernous hemangioma of the liver;
• negative effects on the human body of free radicals;
• angina pectoris;
• ischemic heart disease;
• cerebrovascular pathologies of the heart muscle;
• arrhythmia;
• heart failure;
• atherosclerosis;
• oxidation of the low-level lipoprotein;
• a malignant tumor that develops from prostate cells;
• violation of intestinal microflora;
• body imbalance and carotenoid deficiency in the body with frequent use of alcohol;
• necrospermia;
• akinospermia;
• blocking the process of spermatogenesis;
• chronic hyperglycemia, resulting from a violation of the interaction of insulin with tissue cells;
• age-related lack of collagen in the body;
• deterioration in Alzheimer's disease;
• affective seasonal disorders;
• hyperpigmentation;
• chloasma;
• age pigment spots;
• Efelidami;
• patches of faded skin on the legs;
• dysplastic pigmented nevi;
• acanthosis;
• keloid scars;
• basal cell carcinoma;
• hair loss in men due to an excess of dihydrotestosterone;
• thinning of bone mass;
• increased bone fragility;
• osteomyelitis;
• dystrophic bone lesions;
• osteoarthritis;
• ankylosing spondylitis;
• tumor lesions of the musculoskeletal system;
• imperfect osteogenesis;
• Paget's disease.

Characteristics and volume in fruits

The main elements of lycopene with antioxidant qualities are alpha, beta and gamma carotenoids. Substances having the same molecular formula and different properties are distinguished by the structure of cycloparaffins and biological activity. Elements do not dissolve in water at all, volatilizing only under the influence of organic solvents: benzene, fats and oils.

Tomatoes that can be cooked contain seven times more carotenoid than fresh ones. And when choosing fruits, it should be remembered that the darker their color is, the more useful substance they contain.Since the body is not able to produce pigment alone, tomatoes must be present in the diet of each person.

A peculiarity of tomatoes is that lycopene contained in mature fruits contains an increased amount of phytochemical compounds. As well as the fact that under the influence of high temperatures, the element-lycopene is not only not destroyed, but changes the structure of molecules, is better absorbed by the body. The pigment content in 100 g of product:

• red tomato - from 2.50 mg to 2.60 mg;
• ketchup - from 10 mg to 12 mg;
• tomato paste - from 75 mg to 80 mg.

Lycopene content in tomato varieties

Yellow tomatoes have the lowest lycopene content; fruits red and orange color, high - pink, brown and purple tomatoes. The concentration of the substance in tomatoes depends on the degree of ripeness of the fruit and the time of year.

Varieties with maximum lycopene content

Tomatoes with dark purple and black color of the fruit, have a lot of advantages over red and yellow tomatoes due to the increased content of alpha, beta and gamma carotenoids. In the original color is painted not only the skin, but also the flesh of the fruit. The color of such unique tomatoes varies from light brown to black-violet color scheme. The process of producing unusual pigments provides anthocyanin and lycopene. Most lycopene, reaching 5 mg-6 mg per 100 g of pulp, is found in tomato varieties:

• Purple Cognac;
• Purple Wessel;
• Afternoon delight;
• Alice's dream;
• Jasper;
• Blue Dragon;
• Amethyst jewel;
• Beautiful dreamer;
• Cherokee;
• Violet heart;
• Purple pumpkin.

For the prevention and treatment of a large number of diseases, it is necessary to use tomatoes containing lycopene. However, it should be remembered that only those tomatoes that are grown at home without the use of chemistry.