I didn't say go out and buy some in a bottle. I just threw in lycopene as an example of a nutrient that is abundant in tomatoes.

Lycopene is a caratenoid anti-oxidant. I didn't say it was a muscle builder. But I'd sure like to see all the proof you have that it doesn't "do" anything since it's right now one of the most heavily researced nutrients.

I found 229 studies right off the bat just in the Journal of Nutrition.

I can't personally attest that most of the vitamins and other micronutrients I take in are actually doing anything for me. I have to go by the modern nutritional info that is available.

Ok, I'm editing this because I expanded the search and found 482 articles. Given the kind of research that is being done, all the claims about lycopene cannot be definitively be backed up. But that it has some benefits can be backed up, and much easier than the statement "it does nothing". It is quite clear that lycopene has many potential health benefits and the research is very promising in terms of cancer and cholesterol.