Tomatoes have long been hailed as a great source of vitamins and fiber, but that’s not all they offer. In particular, there’s one compound found in the fruit – yes, tomatoes are technically fruits – called lycopene that has been linked to many health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease.
Now, scientists have found that the compound, which, by the way, also gives tomatoes their red color, may offer a new way of fighting diabetes. Research funded by the French government has shown that lycopene can dampen down the inflammatory process of diabetes and slow down the development of resistance to insulin – the hormone used to treat the condition. The research project, backed by $568,000 in funds, is now looking into producing a modified lycopene pill to be used in human trials.
