Pomegranate has quickly become one of the most talked about health foods in the past year. Preliminary evidence suggests that drinking concentrated pomegranate juice can reduce platelet aggregation, slow the buildup of cholesterol in your arteries and naturally lower blood pressure; factors that prevent both heart attacks and strokes.
Pomegranate juice is a rich source of phytochemical compounds, which have proven to be beneficial to the heart and blood vessels. It not only lowers cholesterol, but can lower blood pressure and increase the speed at which heart blockages (atherosclerosis) melt away.
Pomegranate juice has more antioxidants than red wine, green tea, blueberries, and cranberries. Antioxidants can provide several heart-protecting benefits, including reducing low-density lipoprotein LDL, or bad cholesterol.
Pomegranates contain high levels of flavonoids and polyphenols, potent antioxidants offering protection against heart disease and cancer. Pomegranate juice is safe to drink, just make sure it’s pure pomegranate juice and not a mixture of juices that contains added sugar. The added sugar amounts to extra calories in the juice, which reduces its heart-health benefits.
Not only are pomegranates good for your heart and blood vessels but they have been shown to inhibit breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, leukemia and to prevent vascular changes that promote tumor growth in lab animals.
The pomegranate tree, Punica granatum, especially its fruit, possesses a vast medical history due to its phytochemical reservoir. The tree and its fruit can be divided into several parts: seeds, juice, peel, leaves, flowers, bark, and roots, each of which has interesting pharmacologic activity. Juice and peels, for example, possess potent antioxidant properties, while juice, peel and oil are all weakly estrogenic, of interest for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. The use of juice, peel and oil has also been shown to possess anticancer activities associated with the plant anti-inflammatory effects.
Pomegranate is the most powerful anti-oxidant of all fruits
It contains Potent anti-cancer and immune supporting effects
Pomegranate Discourages platelet aggregation that could cause heart attacks, strokes and embolic disease
Lowers cholesterol and other cardiac risk factors
Lowers blood pressure
Additional medicinal benefits of pomegranates:
Atherosclerosis – Due to its richness of flavonoids and antioxidant vitamins C and E, pomegranates prevent atherosclerosis. In a recent study, patients who took a glass of pomegranate juice every day felt better after 10 days of start taking it.
Degenerative illnesses – Due to its content of antocianines (pigments of red and blue color known as flavonoids) and vitamins C and E, pomegranates stop the aging process and appearance of degenerative illnesses.
Blood purifier – A long treatment with pomegranate juice detoxifies and regenerates the blood. Pomegranates are known as “the queen” of naturopath geriatrics; they are excellent nutrition for old people as well as children.
Diabetes – Pomegranates are an excellent fruit for diabetics because they do not raise blood sugar. They protect them against atherosclerosis and hypertension, two major risks for diabetics.
Menopause – Due to their content of estrogens, pomegranates are recommended to prevent discomforts caused by menopause. Japanese women eat this fruit to prevent such discomforts.
Anti-anemia – Because of its richness in minerals, vitamin C and copper, pomegranate juice is well known for is anti-anemia effects. Pomegranates improve anemia cause by iron deficiency.
Chronic inflammations – Pomegranate juice, taken before breakfast and half hour before meals is quite effective to fight laryngitis, sinusitis, and ear inflammation with suppuration.
Pomegranates are fast becoming known as one of the healthiest foods we can eat, largely because of their beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. The benefit of supplementing with pomegranate extract (rather than drinking the juice or eating the fruit) is that the extract, unlike the juice, contains virtually no sugar or calories, and requires no refrigeration to maintain optimal quality.
**Pomegranate is considered a dietary supplement, so make sure you talk to your doctor before you start drinking it regularly. Pomegranate juice may interact with some prescription medications, such as certain high blood pressure medications and statins.
American Nutrition Website
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