If you go shopping for a lycopene supplement, one of the first things that you are likely to notice is the great variation in price. While some supplements are definitely worth more, some are simply over-priced for no good reason.
Here are a few facts that should help you get the most for your money.
Over the last several decades, many researchers have been focused on the health benefits of specific foods and the differences in people's blood contents of trace nutrients. While the essential vitamins, such as A, C, D and E, are well-known, there are many other trace nutrients in foodstuff that are still not well understood.
Lycopene, which is found in tomatoes and some other red vegetables, is one of them. There is basically one fact that accounts for the increase in popularity of supplements containing it. There is a relationship between high levels in the bloodstream and a lower incidence of prostate cancer.
Men that have prostate cancer typically have lower blood levels of the nutrient. Alternative and mainstream practitioners alike are now suggesting a lycopene supplement for their male patients.
There is a small amount of evidence indicating that the nutrient may be beneficial for the prevention of breast cancer, too. Other claims associated with supplementation include increased energy level and a reduced risk of heart disease, as well as a reduction of other age-related diseases.
Here's the problem. The nutrient is only one of many. The benefits associated with it are not unlike those associated with other antioxidants.
Antioxidants of all kinds address one of the causes of cellular aging. That cause is free radical damage. Free radicals or oxygen radical species, as they are sometimes referred to, are present in all of the cells of the body. If a person has a good antioxidant "status", the radicals are neutralized before they can damage the cells.
There is no reason to believe that a lycopene supplement is any better than any other antioxidant for preventing free radical damage. In fact, one of the most potent antioxidants is l-glutathione, which is not normally included in dietary supplements, because it is more expensive.
In order for it to be absorbed into the bloodstream, the reduced form must be used and it must be protected by an enteric coating. So, when it comes to price variations, supplements that include l-glutathione in the reduced form and an enteric coating are worth more.
According to some scientists, a lycopene supplement might not provide the benefits associated with eating tomatoes. The benefit could be due to all of the different vitamins that are in them, including the basic vitamin C.
Taking a good multi-nutritional supplement is worthwhile for many reasons. The best ones contain nutrients that address all of the causes of cellular aging. Free radical damage is only one of them.
So, instead of shopping for a single ingredient lycopene supplement, look for a good multi-nutritional supplement that contains it. That's how to really get the most for your money.
I have found lycopene as an ingredient in a well balanced multi-nutritional supplement that I personally take and highly recommend visit my website now http://www.radiant-health.info
Susan is passionate about maintaining good health by taking high quality supplements. She says the most valuable and effective supplements she has come across are not very expensive or the most advertised. Check out her website http://www.radiant-health.info today.
By Susan Taylor
Here are a few facts that should help you get the most for your money.
Over the last several decades, many researchers have been focused on the health benefits of specific foods and the differences in people's blood contents of trace nutrients. While the essential vitamins, such as A, C, D and E, are well-known, there are many other trace nutrients in foodstuff that are still not well understood.
Lycopene, which is found in tomatoes and some other red vegetables, is one of them. There is basically one fact that accounts for the increase in popularity of supplements containing it. There is a relationship between high levels in the bloodstream and a lower incidence of prostate cancer.
Men that have prostate cancer typically have lower blood levels of the nutrient. Alternative and mainstream practitioners alike are now suggesting a lycopene supplement for their male patients.
There is a small amount of evidence indicating that the nutrient may be beneficial for the prevention of breast cancer, too. Other claims associated with supplementation include increased energy level and a reduced risk of heart disease, as well as a reduction of other age-related diseases.
Here's the problem. The nutrient is only one of many. The benefits associated with it are not unlike those associated with other antioxidants.
Antioxidants of all kinds address one of the causes of cellular aging. That cause is free radical damage. Free radicals or oxygen radical species, as they are sometimes referred to, are present in all of the cells of the body. If a person has a good antioxidant "status", the radicals are neutralized before they can damage the cells.
There is no reason to believe that a lycopene supplement is any better than any other antioxidant for preventing free radical damage. In fact, one of the most potent antioxidants is l-glutathione, which is not normally included in dietary supplements, because it is more expensive.
In order for it to be absorbed into the bloodstream, the reduced form must be used and it must be protected by an enteric coating. So, when it comes to price variations, supplements that include l-glutathione in the reduced form and an enteric coating are worth more.
According to some scientists, a lycopene supplement might not provide the benefits associated with eating tomatoes. The benefit could be due to all of the different vitamins that are in them, including the basic vitamin C.
Taking a good multi-nutritional supplement is worthwhile for many reasons. The best ones contain nutrients that address all of the causes of cellular aging. Free radical damage is only one of them.
So, instead of shopping for a single ingredient lycopene supplement, look for a good multi-nutritional supplement that contains it. That's how to really get the most for your money.
I have found lycopene as an ingredient in a well balanced multi-nutritional supplement that I personally take and highly recommend visit my website now http://www.radiant-health.info
Susan is passionate about maintaining good health by taking high quality supplements. She says the most valuable and effective supplements she has come across are not very expensive or the most advertised. Check out her website http://www.radiant-health.info today.
By Susan Taylor
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