Isn the tomato a better source of lycopene than watermelon?
Most clinical research dealing with lycopene used tomatoes as the food source — hence, the prevalent view that tomatoes are the best source of lycopene. But a recent study by the South Central Agricultural Research Laboratory in Lane, Oklahoma and the Phytonutrients Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland found that lycopene uptake from non-heat processed watermelon juice was similar to that of heat processed tomato juice. That heat treatment isn’t required for the body to absorb the lycopene in watermelon gives it a distinct advantage over tomatoes as a lycopene source. The same study also suggested that, while the actual amount depends on the variety and growing conditions, watermelon can contain up to 40% more lycopene than an equivalent weight of tomatoes.
