When scientists at Ohio State University made two batches of sauce–one with tangerine tomatoes and one with red Roma (plum) tomatoes–they found that people absorbed about 2 1/2 times as much lycopene from the orange-hued dish. The cancer-fighting lycopene in tangerine tomatoes may be more fat soluble, which eases absorption. Prefer to stick with reds? Heat them so you get more lycopene. 5: Number of hours it takes for tomatoes to boost blood lycopene levels. Get 6 Tasty Tomato Recipes