ACCORDING to research results stacking up in scientific circles, the health benefits of pomegranate juice burst from this bejeweled large red fruit like a fountain of youth. Although it is still early days as far as tests are concerned, this is one fruit that has been proven time and again to have a vast antioxidant store and substances highly beneficial to the cardiovascular system. Various studies have also linked the juice's high antioxidant properties to the prevention of illnesses such as Alzheimer and cancer, as well as to treating erectile dysfunction successfully.
The pomegranate tree grows up to 12 feet in height, making it suitable for a growth spurt in your backyard. This is a fairly easy plant to grow and doesn't need lots of attention. Don't let it dry out and keep it in a sunny spot for the best fruit yield.
For centuries the plant's medicinal properties have been woven into folklore and legends. It is still widely used by healers in Asian countries. The fruit also abounds in Central Asian and Middle Eastern cooking. Commercial juice is widely available, but the health benefits of fresh pomegranate juice can be extracted in the comfort of your own kitchen.
Scientific studies have shown pomegranate juice to have higher levels of flavonoids, polyphenol, tannins and anthocyanins than red wine, green tea or blueberry juice. The blueberry plant is also widely known for its health benefits, but nutritionally it seems that the pomegranate tree may have the upper hand. The juice has a phenomenal ability to inhibit LDL oxidation - the process during which free radicals alter cholesterol, ultimately leading to the hardening of arteries.
Scientific journals worldwide, such as the American Journal of the College of Cardiologists, report that studies indicate that ischemic heart disease seems to improve when pomegranate juice is taken regularly. There are clear indications that blood flow to the heart improves in this case.
Further studies at a number of universities in Israel and other major centers indicate that blood pressure may be lowered with regular intake of the juice. In addition, the fruit aids general heart health, can have a thinning effect on the blood and helps to clear arteriosclerosis, artery blockages or plaque by as much as 30 percent. Tests also show that nitric oxide levels increase with pomegranate juice ingestion.
If there is trauma during a baby's birth, there may be brain damage. Free radicals are largely responsible for this occurrence. Since antioxidants have been proven to neutralize free radicals, studies are underway to examine whether mothers who take pomegranate juice may contribute to protecting the neonatal brain.
Harvard Men’s Health Watch also points to the heart benefits of this magical fruit, as well as the possibility that it may play a role in maintaining prostate health, as well as in fighting prostate cancer.
Also present in the fruit are phytochemicals that help to keep hormone levels healthy. This plant can stimulate serotonin production and normalize estrogen levels. If incorporated into your diet and nutrition plan, it can also play a role in bone density.
The health benefits of pomegranate juice can be obtained by cutting it and putting it through a juicer, or by using a juice press. The juice can be strained afterwards if desired. The seeds are great for use as a garnish. If you want to remove these, hold the cut side of the fruit over a container and give the skin a firm whack with a wooden spoon. One pomegranate fruit gives more or less half a cup of juice.
The biggest problem usually is how to eat a pomegranate fruit, as this juice can stain. Take care! For the sweetest juice, make sure that the fruits are ripe. It is said that a pomegranate martini recipe will really kick your body systems into action!
The fruit's properties are now also finding their way into skin care products. It is widely known that free radicals contribute to skin damage and the ageing process. Antioxidant rich pomegranate oil can therefore come in handy in a rejuvenating skin care arsenal. It also contains other substances such as punicic acid and phytoestrogens that further improve its working. Research has shown that the oil stimulates keratinocyte proliferation. This leads to regeneration of the epidermis. Scientist are also looking into the possibility that the oil may be beneficial in certain cases of skin cancer.
Whether you opt for pomegranates grown in California, or those organically cultivated in the Mediterranean, the health benefits of pomegranate juice seem to be as sweet as the richly colored seeds nestling in the fruit. This fruit clearly is no longer just another part of folk medicine.
