Did you know your favorite tomato isn’t sharing all its health perks unless you match it with the right sidekick? The star compound in tomatoes, lycopene, is a fat-soluble antioxidant linked to support for heart health and skin resilience. But here’s the kicker: lycopene isn’t easily absorbed on its own.
When you pair tomatoes with a healthy fat—think canola oil, sunflower oil, or even a bit of cheese—your body absorbs much more lycopene. In fact, research shows that cooking tomatoes in oil can boost lycopene bioavailability by up to four times compared to eating them raw and plain (as seen in studies like the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2002).
This is because lycopene dissolves in fats, making it easier for your digestive system to pick up and transport. So next time you whip up a tomato sauce, drizzle roasted tomatoes with oil, or add a slice of tomato to your grilled cheese, you’re not just improving flavor—you’re turbocharging the nutrition. Make this simple pairing part of your kitchen routine to get more out of every bite.
