Ever wonder how a tomato gets so red, even though it starts as green? Well, the tomato gets its classic red hue from an antioxidant called lycopene. Some studies have shown that lycopene has the potential even to fight prostate cancer. The evidence is even stronger for processed tomato products, such as tomato sauce and even ketchup. That is a surprise since it has the word “processed” right in the description. So that leads us to ask this next question, how is that possible?

As crazy as it sounds, it’s true. By processing the tomato, it ups its health-boosting power because it releases the lycopene so the body can more easily absorb it. So it is safe to say that you don’t have to just bite into a raw tomato to snack on in the hope of getting its health advantages. Adding some savory tomato sauce to a pasta dish or ketchup to a meal can have some of the same benefits, and maybe even a little bit more.