Compound in tomatoes may help stave off weight gain (Lycopene) (2025)

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Posted on 05/11/2025 8:22:23 PM PDT by ConservativeMind

New research suggests that lycopene, which gives fruits like tomatoes and watermelons their bright red color, supports healthy liver functioning and may help prevent weight gain.

Lycopene is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory compound that is naturally produced by some plants. It is also available as a dietary supplement.

The researchers' interest in studying the impacts of tomato consumption and lycopene on obesity was sparked by a previous study that showed dietary estrogen supplements prevented zebrafish from becoming obese despite being overfed. Since lycopene and other compounds found in tomatoes affect some of the same chemical pathways as estrogen, the scientists wondered if eating tomatoes could have a similar effect.

Researchers conducted a series of experiments in which they fed zebrafish a normal or high-fat diet along with various combinations of tomato extract, estrogen supplements and lycopene supplements.

They found that fish consuming a high-fat diet supplemented with a tomato extract were more effectively protected from weight gain than fish on a high-fat diet supplemented with dietary estrogen. Also, fish that were fed a high-fat diet supplemented with both estrogen and lycopene had lower blood sugar levels compared with fish consuming a normal diet. This finding suggests that lycopene consumption improves the breakdown of fat in the liver.

The researchers also found that the benefits of tomato consumption happened fast, showing a significant difference in metabolism after just one week.

(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...

To: Mazey; ckilmer; goodnesswins; Jane Long; jy8z; ProtectOurFreedom; matthew fuller; telescope115; ...

2posted on 05/11/2025 8:23:05 PM PDTby ConservativeMind(Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)

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3posted on 05/11/2025 8:37:36 PM PDTby Getready(Wisdom is more valuable than gold and harder to find. )

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4posted on 05/11/2025 8:38:17 PM PDTby Repeal The 17th(Get out of the matrix and get a real life.)

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5posted on 05/11/2025 8:42:29 PM PDTby lee martell

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6posted on 05/11/2025 9:03:48 PM PDTby ConservativeMind(Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)

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7posted on 05/11/2025 9:05:19 PM PDTby lee martell

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8posted on 05/11/2025 10:35:58 PM PDTby Angelino97

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9posted on 05/12/2025 1:00:31 AM PDTby FamiliarFace(I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)

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11posted on 05/12/2025 3:53:36 AM PDTby maddog55(The only thing systemic in America is the left's hatred of it!)

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12posted on 05/12/2025 4:17:05 AM PDTby yldstrk(Nothing like the truth)

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13posted on 05/12/2025 7:53:01 AM PDTby ConservativeMind(Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)

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14posted on 05/12/2025 9:49:49 AM PDTby FamiliarFace(I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)

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