In the Fall, pomegranates should be part of your dietary intake as cold/flu prevention. They are only in season from October through February, so take advantage of this Superfood while you can.
Here are 18 health benefits pomegranates have:
- Pomegranates, like red grapes, are high in resveratrol and rich in anthocyanins, like blueberries and acai. Anthocyanins protect against inflammation, which triggers cancer, heart disease and aging of the brain. Pomegranates also support healthy lipid levels and resistance to infection through suppressing bacterial and fungal growth.
- Anti-aging effects: pomegranates contain plentiful amounts of antioxidants. They rate high on the US Dept. of Agriculture’s ORAC scale (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) – a measure of how well free radicals are absorbed.
- Kidney protection: New research just published in the journal Renal Failure showed that pomegranates prevent kidney damage and protects the kidneys against harmful toxins.
- Liver protection and regeneration: More new research published in the Journal Toxicology and Industrial Health showed that pomegranate juice not only protects the liver, it helps it to regenerate after it has been damaged.
- Immune-boosting: Pomegranates and pomegranate juice are packed with immune-boosting Vitamin C – an essential and quickly depleted nutrient at this time of the year.
- Anti-allergic: pomegranates are high in substances called polyphenols which have been shown to reduce the biochemical processes that are linked with allergies.
- Protects against heart disease: New research published in the journal Atherosclerosis shows that pomegranate improves the body’s ability to synthesize cholesterol and destroy free radicals in the vascular system.
- Prostate cancer protection: Research conducted at the University of California, Riverside and published in the journal Translational oncology indicates that pomegranate juice caused cancer cell death.
- Breast Cancer protection: Scientists at the University of California, Riverside, also studied the effects of pomegranate juice and its nutritional components: luteolin, ellagic acid, and punicic acid against breast cancer. They published their results in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment and concluded that pomegranate juice is “potentially a very effective treatment to prevent cancer progression…”
- Skin Cancer protection: Consumption of pomegranate juice was associated with a decrease in both main types of skin cancer – basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma, according to new research in the British Journal of Dermatology.
- DNA protection: New research shows that ellagic acid, a phyto (plant) chemical found in pomegranates, binds to the DNA and prevents its breakdown from environmental free radicals. Ellagic acid also supports the body in fighting viral, fungal, yeast and bacterial infections. Ellagic acid prevents the replication of viruses and bacteria in our cells. It can also cause cancer cell death (it stimulates a process known as apoptosis that causes abnormal cells (such as cancer cells) to self-destruct. It also inhibits development of estrogen responsive breast cancer.
- Blood pressure normalizing: Early research published in the journal Plant Foods for Human Nutrition found that pomegranate juice may help prevent high blood pressure by preventing stiffness in the arteries, which occurs with free radical damage over time. The more stiff the arteries get, the higher the blood pressure gets.
- Metabolic syndrome regulating: Research published in the journal Food and Function shows that pomegranate helps regulate blood sugar, improves the body’s sensitivity to insulin, decreases inflammation, and improves numerous other factors involved in metabolic syndrome – frequently implicated in obesity and often a precursor to diabetes.
- Anti-infectious: New research published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology found that pomegranates increased the effectiveness of a drug used against gram- negative bacteria. Many gram-negative bacteria are known for drug-‐resistance.
- Blood pressure lowering: Researchers at Queen Margaret University in Edinburg, Scotland found that drinking pomegranate juice lowered blood pressure “significantly” in 90 percent of the group studied.
- Boosts sexual desire: Researchers from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh tested 58 volunteers between the ages of 21 and 64. Men and women drank a daily glass of pomegranate juice for two weeks and experienced a surge in the hormone testosterone, which increases sexual desire in both genders. It also boosted female adrenal gland and ovarian function, raising a woman’s sex drive and strengthening bones and muscles. It also raised mood and memory.
- Pomegranate juice is high in 3 different types of polyphenols, a potent form of antioxidants. The three types – tannins, anthocyanins, and ellagic acid – are present in many fruits, but fresh pomegranate juice contains particularly high amounts of all three. They are also high in potassium, vitamin C and low in calories.
- Researchers from the Probelte Bio Laboratory in Spain have found that pomegranate juice slows down the natural oxidation (wear and tear) of DNA. The destruction of the ageing DNA was unknown to scientists until this study was conducted and researchers say they are, “excited about this study.” We get old because we fall apart, cell by cell. “One way to look at ageing is to think of it as rusting or oxidizing, a damaging process. The free radicals that oxidize our body’s molecules include fats, heavy metals and numerous other chemical compounds we breathe, eat and drink. If these free radicals reach the DNA of our cells, the damage is cumulative and significant. Being able to guard against this process would be a significant breakthrough,” Dr. Streitenberger (one of the authors of this study) noted.
As you can see, pomegranates are one of the healthiest foods you can eat!
The best news of all is this: you can juice your own pomegranates, which insures no heat or electricity was used, which can damage the delicate nutrients. Also, it will be freshly pressed – as the juice sits on the shelves it loses its pranic energy and nutritional value each day.
You can find several pomegranate presses online. Go to Amazon.com and search for “pomegranate presses”. Look for the one, about $125.00, that is stainless steel and presses manually by hand. (It is one of the first juicers that comes up when you do a search). You’ll notice a definite difference in taste and will feel great after only a couple of days of juicing.
Stay healthy this winter by enjoying your pomegranates while they are in season!
