Guest Author - Carolyn Chambers Clark, ARNP, EdD

What is in pomegranates that can help keep you healthy?

Pomegranates contain tannins, phenolic acids, polyphenols, punicic acid, and flavonoids---all known to be helpful substances that can reduce menopausal stress. Overall, pomegranate juice has some of the strongest antioxidant activity of any food.

In the Middle East, pomegranates have been used medicinally for thousands of years. The healing power of pomegranates are mentioned in the Bible, Chinese literature, and Greek mythology.

What can pomegranates do for you?

In one study, high-risk cardiovascular patients were spared both bypass and carotid artery surgery by drinking pomegranate juice. After a year, the study participants who didn't drink pomegranate juice had a 9 percent increase in thickness in their carotid arteries, while the pomegranate juice drinker had a decrease in the thickness of their arteries of 35 percent indicating. Cholesterol and systolic blood pressure (the top number) also went down an average of 22 mm.

Pomegranate juice also shows promise for suppressing cancer, and treating wounds and infection.

Where can you find pomegranates?

You can find pomegranates in your grocery, health food store and large retailers carry it, too. If you purchase a juice concentrate, get one without added sugars.

Sources:

Antiviral activities of medicinal herbs traditionally used in southern Mainland China. Phytotherapy Research, September 2004.

Breast cancer chemopreventive properties of pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit extracts in a mouse mammary organ culture. Europen Journal of Cancer Prevention, August, 2004

Study on wound healing activity of Punica granatum peel. Journal of Medicinal Food. Summer 2004.