Health Benefits of Pomegranate Juice

Pomegranate has gotten its reputation as a superfood based almost entirely from the health benefits of pomegranate juice and from some of the pomegranate extract products.

More than eight decades of research has gone into discovering the pomegranate juice benefits. A good majority of this research has been done in the last decade as a result of pomegranate’s increase in popularity.

In short, there’s a lot of research supporting the health benefits of pomegranate juice.

Here is the nutritional profile before we go into the health benefits of the juice.

• It is a good source of Vitamin C, Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5), Folate, Potassium and Vitamin K.
• The real claim to fame is the antioxidants it has!

Both the whole fruit and juice version are loaded with antioxidant polyphenols similar to those found in wine and tea.

There  are also some other interesting antioxidants such as punicalagins and anthocyanins to be exact.

—    Anthocyanins are found in blueberries and acai. Studies have shown it may be effective against cardiovascular disease, aging/neurological disorders, bacterial infections and inflammation.

—    Punicalagins so far have only been found in pomegranate and has been under the scientific community’s spotlight for its anti-disease and anti-cancer benefits.

Pomegranate Juice: Benefits

In recent years, health food enthusiasts having been singing the praises of pomegranate juice, and for good reasons.

Pomegranate juice is made from the pomegranate, a fruit, that is used in cooking as well as enjoyed as a refreshing drink.

Early evidence is emerging that suggests that drinking pomegranate juice can lower the cholesterol levels in the body.

Granted, the number of studies done so far have been few, but considering what is known today, this healthy juice can provide us with several benefits that can optimize our health.

The pomegranate itself is a round shaped fruit that is about the same size of a large orange. The rind is smooth and reddish-pink on the inside are hundreds of seeds in a juicy red pulp.

Nutrition Facts – Juice of Pomegranate

Pure pomegranate juice contains antioxidants-mainly polyphenols.

Pomegranate juice actually contains much higher amounts of polyphenols compared to other citrus juices and in fact, it contains three times the amount of antioxidants than red wine or green tea.

Most people also enjoy the rich taste, making it a pleasure to drink.  It is a fact that antioxidants do protect the heart and reduce LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol and if drinking a delicious juice can lower the levels of LDL in the body- then that’s just terrific!

Pomegranate juice is also known to act as a blood thinner and research has proven that it is an outstanding way to ensure proper blood flow to the heart muscle. The juice is also known to reduce the build up of plaque in the arteries, so more and more doctors are recommending this juice to heart patients for those very reasons.

Health Effects to Expect

• Very high levels of anti-oxidants

The juice contains polyphenols, tannins and anthocyanins. In fact, the levels of anti-oxidants in pomegranate juice are 3 times higher than for green tea and red wine. These anti-oxidants are effective at combating free radicals that may be responsible for causing a number of physical afflictions.

• Artery Health

It has been shown that pomegranate juice helps protect the arteries and can improve blood flow to the heart by more than a third (American Journal of the College of Cardiology, Sept 2005). It also helps the prevention of plaque-forming oxidized LDL (“bad” cholesterol) in the arteries, thus helping to keep the arteries clear which reduces the chances of heart attacks and strokes (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, May 2000). Another one of the health benefits is that it also increases the heart-protective HDL (“good” cholesterol) levels.

• Prevention of Osteoarthritis

The juice inhibits the production of the enzyme within the human body that is responsible for damaging the cartilage as we age (Journal of Nutrition, Sept 2005).

• Fights Breast Cancer

Studies performed in Israel show that pomegranate juice destroys breast cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone. It may also prevent breast cancer cells from forming.

• Slows Prostatic Cancer

Pomegranate juice has been shown by American scientists to slow the growth of prostate cancer in mice injected with the human form of the disease and improve their survival rate. A study was done of 50 men who were given 8 ounces of pomegranate juice per day, these men had previously gone through the traditional medical treatments. It was found that their PSA levels remained stable, this is very promising as PSA is a biomarker for prostate cancer. Stable PSA levels may indicate that the cancer is not spreading as quickly (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Sept 26, 2005).

• Lung Cancer Prevention

The juice may inhibit the development of lung cancer as shown by studies on mice.

• Skin Cancer

There may be an agent within the extract of the pomegranate fruit that possesses anti-skin-tumor-promoting effects according to studies done by Dr. Farrukh Afaq and his team at the University of Wisconsin.

• Alzheimer’s Disease

A study was carried out on mice that were bred to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Some of the mice were given pomegranate juice and these were found to perform mental task better than the control group who were not given the juice. Also the group being given the juice accumulated significantly less amyloid plaque than the control group.

• Lowers Blood Pressure

One study showed another of the health benefits of pomegranate juice whereby systolic blood pressure was lowered from drinking 1.7 ounces of pomegranate juice per day, some people by as much as 5 percent. Also inhibits the activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE).

• Dental Protection

Drinking pomegranate juice may even help prevent dental plaque building up on the teeth.

• Neonatal Benefits

The juice taken by the mother can help babies inside the womb resist brain injuries from low oxygen and reduced blood flow.

• Erectile Dysfunction

As drinking pomegranate juice improves the blood flow it can improve erections.

Editors verdict

Although the jury is not yet in, it is thought that natural pomegranate juice is useful in battling breast and skin cancer and it has also been tested in mice and was found to slow the growth of prostate cancer.

One more rather interesting study found a correlation between pomegranate juice and the treatment of osteoarthritis.

The juice plays the role of an inhibitor on the enzymes that are responsible for damaging the cartilage of the joints in the body. In this particular study, pomegranate juice was applied directly to the arthritic joint.

More studies are underway to determine if ingesting the juice can reduce the deterioration of damaged cartilage.

You can find pomegranate juice at most health food stores and it is available as a concentrate as well as in its natural form. The internet is also a great place to find high quality pomegranate juice that is considered to be today’s antioxidant superpower.

Be sure that the juice you purchase is indeed 100% pure pomegranate juice and not just a watered down blended fruit juice.