Tomatoes have always been praised for their variety and versatility. They have been found to be very wholesome and nutritious for the human body. The latest addition to the benefits of tomatoes is the prevention of dopamine cell loss, which could potentially be helpful in treating Parkinson’s disease. The ingredient which makes this possible is one that is naturally present in tomatoes, called lycopene.
Parkinson’s disease is a nervous system disorder which entails the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which is responsible for controlling body movements. This inability to produce dopamine results in the patients having uncontrollable body movements, such as shaking and stiffness, as well as slowed movements. Scientists are working hard to find the cure for this degenerative disease which currently has no known medical treatment.
A recent study done on mice has shown that when supplemented with lycopene, the mice had preserved dopamine-producing brain cells. The study, as of now, is only in its infancy, but it appears to have promising results for the prevention of Parkinson’s disease.
Lycopene, the ingredient which has drawn scientists’ attention, is an antioxidant that is responsible for the characteristic red color of tomatoes. In general, antioxidants help in reducing the damage done by free radicals, harmful molecules that are formed in the body.
Since the study was done on mice, there is a need for additional research to confirm these results on humans. That being said, this study may well become another step towards better brain health and preventing serious diseases such as Parkinson’s disease.
If you are interested in increasing your intake of lycopene, you can easily do so by adding foods rich in this ingredient to your diet. It is most abundant in cooked tomatoes, so you could add tomato sauce or tomato paste to your meals more often. Other foods that contain lycopene are watermelon, pink grapefruit, and papaya, but tomatoes are the most common and the most beneficial. You can also cook with tomatoes more often as a way of increasing your intake of this helpful ingredient.
It is of utmost importance not to overlook the fact that while lycopene may be very beneficial in the prevention of Parkinson’s disease, it is only one piece of the puzzle. There are many things contributing to the development of the disease, and a healthy, balanced diet and frequent physical activity are also vital in its prevention and treatment.
When it comes to brain health, it is important to take care of it in more than one way. It is necessary to have a well-rounded, nutritious diet, along with exercising and keeping your brain active. There is no doubt that lycopene has potential. Its discovery could be very useful in fighting Parkinson’s disease, as well as other serious brain diseases. Scientists continue to speculate on the antioxidant’s potential uses in the medical field.
The study done on mice has shown that lycopene could be used in the prevention of Parkinson’s disease. The antioxidant has the potential of being very useful in the fight against this serious degenerative disease. The possibility of it being helpful in other medical fields is also very real. It will be very interesting to see how science will continue to use and expand the applications of this particular antioxidant.