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Pomegranate Juice protects against Heart Disease

The pomegranate has been revered in many ancient traditions for its mystical properties and health benefits. Ancient Greek, Hebrew, Babylonian and Chinese cultures regarded the pomegranate as providing powers of resurrection, invincibility and longevity. Recent scientific research has now provided some evidence for, at least, its health benefits.

Michael Aviram of the Lipid Research Laboratory, Technion Faculty of Medicine in Haifa, Israel, has been conducting research into how Pomegranate Juice may prevent heart disease.

Pomegranate Juice reduces the oxidation of LDL (i.e. makes LDL, the “bad cholesterol,” less toxic) and so fights the development of atherosclerosis (or “hardening of the arteries”).

According to the most widely accepted view of heart disease, this would suggest that daily consumption of Pomegranate Juice lowers the risk of developing heart disease.

It is postulated that the reason Pomegranate Juice has such a powerful anti-atherogenic effect (i.e. reduces hardening of the arteries) is due to the high concentration of antioxidants contained in Pomegranate Juice.

Not all antioxidants help fight heart disease. Fat soluble antioxidants, such as Vitamins E and A, have not been shown to be helpful against hardening of the arteries (though they are very helpful in other ways). Water soluble antioxidants, such as polyphenolic flavonoids (as found in Pomegranates, Red Wine, and Blueberries), have a potent anti-atherogenic effect.

Review abstract here. Other abstracts here, and here.

In other studies, Pomegranate Juice was shown to have the highest concentration of polyphenols when compared with red wine, blueberry juice, cranberry juice, green tea, and orange juice. (Study by same author, but found via pomegranate juice company here, and a different study found via PubMed here.)

Pomegranate Juice has also been shown to lower blood pressure (through the inhibition of ACE, or Angiotensin II Converting Enzyme. This is a similar mechanism to that used by captopril.) High blood pressure, of course, is another major risk factor in the development of heart disease. (abstract)

Other uses for pomegranate products include:

Antifungal for denture stomatitis by pomegranate gel (study abstract)

Potential preventive topical agent protecting against skin cancer (abstract)

Potnetial protective action against breast cancer by pomegranate seed oil (and a bit by fermented juice, though not so much by fresh juice) (abstract)

If you have questions about heart disease, and how to prevent or treat it, please contact us at Natural Health California on (650) 327-2053 for more information.