Pomegranate Juice: a healthy addiction

Pomegranate plays a significant role in the prevention or the confrontation of various factors of dangerous diseases such as high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, oxidative stress, hyperglycaemia and various inflammatory activities. It is proved that particular pomegranate constituents like polyphenols have antioxidant, inflammatory and anti-cancer action.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) has been used for medical purposes since ancient times. Today, there are clinical proofs for the benefits of particular categories of pomegranate biodrastic substances like its juice and its extract.
Extensive study on the biodrastic substances of pomegranate extract has shown potential applications on chemoprevention against common forms of cancer.
This study concerns cell cultivation, studies on humans and clinical studies. All the aforementioned studies certify pomegranate’s prevention dynamics.

Pomegranate contains 124 different natural and chemic substances, some of which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action against cancer cells.

Some of the benefits of pomegranate fruit and its juice are the following (brief presentation):

-Prostate cancer:  The daily intake of a glass of pomegranate juice decelerates the development of prostate cancer cells.

-High Blood Pressure: There are studies which show that the daily consumption of 50-200ml pomegranate juice for a whole year can reduce systolic blood pressure up to 5-21%. Some studies prove diastolic blood pressure reduction, too.

-Cholesterol: Some studies indicate that pomegranate juice can reduce the “bad” (LDL) cholesterol.

-Coronary artery disease: Findings from recent studies show that pomegranate juice consumption can improve blood circulation towards heart.

-Arteriosclerosis: Recent survey shows that pomegranate juice consumption can prove beneficial for the carotid arteries, preventing their narrowness and fat accumulation.

-Muscular pain: There are recent findings which prove that pomegranate juice consumption twice a day for 15 days can reduce the pain of particular muscles after exercise.

-Metabolic Syndrome: According to recent studies, the daily pomegranate juice consumption for a month seems to improve the blood vessels’ circulation of teenagers with the metabolic syndrome.

-Other situations: Surveys show the positive effects of pomegranate consumption against various health problems (intestinal infection, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, dysentery, menopausal symptoms etc).
Conclusion:

The antioxidant activity of pomegranate and its juice is intense since a great number of studies and surveys prove that it is higher than that of the red wine and the green tea. Wonderful pomegranate variety prominently represents the belief which says “consume pomegranate, drink its juice since it does good”.
So, start consuming pomegranate on a daily basis or continue consuming it since its pleasant smell and taste can be a healthy addiction.

Indicative Bibliography:

-Zarfeshany Α., Asgary S. & Haghjoo Javanmard S. (2014). ‘Potent health effects of pomegranate’. Adv Biomed Res. 2014 (March), 3: 100.

– Heber D. (2011). Chapter 10: Pomegranate Ellagitannins, at ‘Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects’, 2nd edition (Edit: Iris F. F. Benzie & Sissi Wachtel-Galor).

-National Cancer Institute (2016). Prostate Cancer, Nutrition, and Dietary Supplements (PDQ)–Health Professional Version: Pomegranate: Overview. Source: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/hp/prostate-supplements-pdq#link/_79_toc

DEMETRIOS P. BERTZELETOS

Clinical Dietician – Nutritionist, MSc

Public Health Expert Team of the Pan-Hellenic Dietetic – Nutrition Association

Sports Diet Expert Team of the Pan-Hellenic Dietetic – Nutrition Association

Grigoriou Ε’ 29, Tripolis

Phone number: 2710 232364

e-mail: bertzeletos@gmail.com

Site: www.bertzeletos.gr

Blog: nutripolitics.blogspot.gr