Over the last twenty years, scientists have carried out more and more research on the bio-active and secondary components to be found in plants.  Thus it has been shown that vegetables and fruit can offer much more than merely essential food and fibre.  There are many minor substances produced by plants, such as growth regulators, colour, taste and olfactory components as well as substances that protect the plant against insect predators.

As with vitamins, minerals and  fibre, the secondary materials can have a positive influence on our health.  This is the area in which the carotinoids play an active role.  Lycopine is a dark red carotinoid that is to be found in many types of fruit, in rose hips and especially in tomatoes.  Research has shown that the carotinoid lycopine is an important preventative food component.  It is a strong anti-oxidiser which can neutralise harmful free radicals in the body.

Lycopine is seen by food researchers as a bio-active substance whuich strengthens the immune system, lowers the cholesterol level in the blood, slows down infections, tackles bacteria and viruses, regulates the viscosity of the blood and prevents affection of the blood circulation.  Numerous international studies confirm that lycopine protects our body from the many illnesses that are part of our modern civilisation.  Large scale epidemiological studies have shown indications that a diet rich in lycopine clearly lowers the risk of developing prostate cancer and hart infarcts.

Its anti-oxidising effect has been confirmed in statistical research carried out in the north of Italy where tomatoes, rich in lycopine, form an important part of the diet. It became apparent that considerably fewer tumours developed in the buccal cavity, throat, gullet, stomach, intestines and rectum.

It has also been demonstrated that older people who take in a lot of lycopine are healthier and more energetic than people of the same age with a lower lycopine intake.

Recently developed dietary supplements containing natural and vital lycopine cannot entirely replace a natural dietary intake but the body can profit from its positive characteristics and so prevent various illnesses. An adequate supply of lycopine forms a natural protection to the body as a whole.