Tomato: benefits for eyesight

When dealing with  preserving good eye health, we often hear about the importance of carrots and green leafy vegetables. However, there is another colourful and delicious vegetable which deserves attention in the search for optimal vision: the tomato..

Tomatoes are an excellent ally of our ocular health, and for this reason, making them a key player in our diet is a recommended and supported choice by the entire scientific community.

Let's explore the wonders of tomatoes and find out why they are an essential addition to any diet for eye health.

Tomatoes are a rich source of vitamin A, primarily in the form of beta-carotene, one of the most important nutrients for eye health. This vitamin plays a key role in maintaining the health of the retina, a light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, and is essential for proper vision, especially in low-light conditions.

Tomatoes also contain vitamin C, which has several benefits for eye protection. It is known for its ability to reduce the risk of cataracts by maintaining the health of the lens. Additionally, it helps combat oxidative stress, which can lead to eye diseases.

The tomato is particularly rich in polyphenols, very important antioxidants capable of countering cellular oxidative stress, delaying aging, and preventing all pathologies (including ocular ones) related to the passage of time.

Furthermore, the tomato stands out as the most important source of lycopene, a red carotenoid that has various biological properties, such as antioxidant and photoprotective effects.

Lycopene helps to protect the retina from oxidative stress and inflammation, both known risk factors in the progression of AMD.

It also supports overall eye health by reducing oxidative damage, and supporting overall eye structure and function.

Finally, it has been observed that lycopene works synergistically with other macular carotenoids, such as lutein and zeaxanthin, enhancing their stability and availability to retinal tissue, which is crucial for long-term eye health.

Lycodark™ is a dry extract obtained from whole fruits of Camone® tomatoes grown in the Pachino area of Sicily, standardized to 6% lycopene.

Camone® tomatoes, an Italian excellence, are an exclusive tomato variety from our islands and are protected by a registered trademark.

Lycodark™ has an optimized nutritional profile for both cosmetics and nutraceutical companies and for those operating in the functional food and beverage sector looking to offer premium products.

Lycodark™ positions itself as a key ingredient to meet the growing demand for natural products, enriched with powerful nutrients: by including it in formulations, you can achieve a distinctive product capable of meeting market needs with an ingredient that combines the best of Sicilian agricultural tradition with the innovation of Amunì®.