This delayed diagnosis of a cut or nicked bowel can be deadly. If left untreated, contents of the bowel leak out into the patientâs abdomen area, leading to sepsis. Sepsis, abdominal cavity infection, can cause damage to multiple organ systems. This can lead to organ failure and death.
Food Sources. The best sources of lycopene are tomatoes and tomato products, which is where about 80 percent of lycopene in the average American diet comes from. Small amounts can also be found in guava, watermelon, and pink grapefruit. Table 1 shows the estimated lycopene content of some foods.
Tomatoes are a good source of lycopene, an antioxidant that may help protect cells from damage. Cooking by Color. With red foods, such as tomatoes, heat is important for optimal lycopene absorption because it breaks down the cell wall to unleash potency. Overcooking kills nutrients in green foods, such as broccoli.