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.
The antioxidant lycopene is the star player in watermelon, a compound now known to pack even more of a punch than tomatoes, pink grapefruit, and guavas. While most of these fruits get their reddish color from anthocyanin flavonoids, it's the lycopene content that does it for watermelon. What does this do for the body? While nearly 92% of watermelon is water, the 8% left over is rich in this compound, protecting and nourishing the heart, prostate, and skin. Lycopene discourages inflammation and may also be important for maintaining strong healthy bones, not to mention its ability to neutralize harmful free radicals.