Sunday, September 18, 2011

4 Amazing Health Benefits of Pomegranate Juice

In recent years, news outlets have carried numerous reports on the health benefits of pomegranate juice, lifting it to superfood status. This article explores four major health benefits that are associated with pomegranate juice.
Research on pomegranate juice has exploded in the past few years and scientists are finding that it can fight cancer, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and slow the deterioration of human cartilage.
Good for your heart - A 2004 study published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that patients with severe cartoid artery blockages benefited significantly from drinking an ounce of pomegranate juice daily for a year. These individuals experienced a 20 percent drop in their blood pressure readings and a 30 percent decrease in the amount of plaque in their arteries. Other studies have shown that juice from pomegranates improves hearth health by decreasing the oxidation of LDL or bad cholesterol.
Possible natural treatment for arthritis -A 2005 issue of the Journal of Nutrition reported that pomegranate compounds slow the deterioration of human cartilage, which is the root cause of osteoarthritis. An in 2009, the Journal of Inflammation published an animal study that showed that pomegranate inhibits cells' inflammatory response.
Cancer fighter - Researchers have discovered that pomegranates and their juice can slow the growth of human prostate and lung cancer cells. Part of the pomegranate's cancer-fighting ability may lie in its outstanding antioxidant capacity. University of California Los Angeles researchers have determined that pomegranate juice has more antioxidants than red wine, orange juice, blueberry juice, Acai berry juice, white tea, green tea and Concord grape juice.
Alzheimer's prevention - Consuming juice from pomegranates may also halt the progression of Alzheimer's disease, according to research published in 2006. Aging mice were split into 2 groups, one group received plain water and the second group received diluted pomegranate juice. The pomegranate group was 35 percent faster than the plain water group when negotiating a maze. This mice fed pomegranate also had 50 percent fewer brain deposits that are associated with Alzheimer's disease.
What does pomegranate juice taste like? The juice is similar in appearance to cranberry juice. It it tart, but sweeter than cranberry juice. Pomegranates are rather difficult to eat, slicing through thick skin and removing hundreds of small, red fleshy seeds. The juice is an easy and healthy alternative.
When choosing a pomegranate juice, look for a variety that names just a few ingredients, with pomegranate being the first or second in the list. You will want to steer clear of mixed juice products where pomegranate is combined with cheaper filler juices. These mixed varieties generally do not contain significant amounts of health-enhancing pomegranate juice.
Try some pomegranate juice-- you'll very likely enjoy the taste and you'll be doing your body a favor.
For information about other foods that lower blood pressure
and foods that help arthritis, visit http://www.foods-that-heal.com.
Cathy Hickman writes about natural health, focusing on foods and herbs that are helpful for those with arthritis, gout and high cholesterol. She is a former newspaper researcher/reporter and is currently a contributing writer at Twin Cities Naturally, a natural health magazine.


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