Benefits of Pomegranate

Today, it is widely cultivated throughout the Middle East and Caucasus region, north and tropical Africa, South Asia, Central Asia, the drier parts of southeast Asia, and parts of the Mediterranean Basin. It is also cultivated in parts of Arizona and California. In the 20th and 21st centuries, it has become more common in the shops and markets of Europe and the Western Hemisphere. As far as fruits go, pomegranates seem like more trouble than they’re worth. They have spiny skin, and if not sliced into just so, they make a mess and leave some of the seeds inside, which is the actual fruit part, cut and bruised; the surrounding white membrane is too bitter to eat. Pomegranate juice, too, easily stains hands and fingers. They’re a kind of berry, so it would be easier to spring for some strawberries instead. The thing is pomegranates are healthy in their own right. Sure, like strawberries, they’re a rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants, not to mention fiber and anti-inflammatory properties — but more than that, studies show eating the fruit and/or drinking pomegranate juice can help protect against disease, like certain cancers and Alzheimer’s.

 Here are benefits of eating pomegranate

• Pomegranates Contain Two Plant Compounds With Powerful Medicinal Properties. Pomegranates pack two unique substances that are responsible for most of their health benefits. Punicalagins are extremely potent antioxidants found in pomegranate juice and peel. They’re so powerful that pomegranate juice has been found to have three times the antioxidant activity of red wine and green tea. Pomegranate extract and powder is typically made from the peel, due to its high antioxidant and punicalagin content. Punicic acid, found in pomegranate seed oil, is the main fatty acid in the arils. It’s a type of conjugated linoleic acid with potent biological effects.

• Pomegranate Has Impressive Anti-Inflammatory Effects. Chronic inflammation is one of the leading drivers of many serious diseases. This includes heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and even obesity. Pomegranates have potent anti-inflammatory properties, which are largely mediated by the antioxidant properties of the punicalagins. Test-tube studies have shown that they can reduce inflammatory activity in the digestive tract, as well as in breast cancer and colon cancer cells. One 12-week study in people with diabetes found that 1.1 cups (250 ml) of pomegranate juice per day lowered the inflammatory markers CRP and interleukin-6 by 32% and 30%, respectively. If you are interested in reducing inflammation in your body, pomegranate is an excellent addition to your diet.
• Pomegranate May Also be Useful Against Breast Cancer. Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in women. Pomegranate extract may inhibit the reproduction of breast cancer cells — even killing some of them. However, the evidence is currently limited to laboratory studies. More research is needed before any claims can be made.
• Pomegranate May Lower Blood Pressure. High blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the leading drivers of heart attacks and strokes. In one study, people with hypertension had a significant reduction in blood pressure after consuming 5 ounces (150 ml) of pomegranate juice daily for two weeks. Other studies have found similar effects, especially for systolic blood pressure, which is the higher number in a blood pressure reading.
• Pomegranate May Help Fight Arthritis and Joint Pain. Arthritis is a common problem in Western countries. There are many different types, but most involve some form of inflammation in the joints. Given that the plant compounds in pomegranate have anti-inflammatory effects, it makes sense that they could help treat arthritis. Interestingly, laboratory studies suggest that pomegranate extract can block enzymes that are known to damage joints in people with osteoarthritis. This extract has also been shown to relieve arthritis in mice, but evidence from human-based research is very limited so far.
• Pomegranate Juice May Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease. Heart disease is currently the world's most common cause of premature death. It’s a complicated disease, driven by many different factors. Punicic acid, the main fatty acid in pomegranate, may help protect against several steps in the heart disease process.A 4-week study in 51 people with high triglyceride levels showed that 800 mg of pomegranate seed oil per day significantly lowered triglycerides and improved the triglyceride-HDL ratio. Another study looked at the effects of pomegranate juice in people with type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol. They noted significant reductions in “bad” LDL cholesterol, as well as other improvements. Pomegranate juice has also been shown — in both animal and human studies — to protect LDL cholesterol particles from oxidation, one of the key steps in the pathway towards heart disease. Finally, one research analysis concluded that pomegranate juice reduces high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease.
• Pomegranate Juice May Help Treat Erectile Dysfunction. Oxidative damage can impair blood flow in all areas of the body, including erectile tissue. Pomegranate juice has been shown to help increase blood flow and erectile response in rabbits. In a study in 53 men with erectile dysfunction, pomegranate appeared to have some benefit — but it was not statistically significant.
• Pomegranate May Help Improve Memory. There is some evidence that pomegranate can improve memory. One study in surgical patients found that 2 grams of pomegranate extract prevented deficits in memory after surgery. Another study in 28 older adults with memory complaints found that 8 ounces (237 ml) of pomegranate juice per day significantly improved markers of verbal and visual memory. Studies in mice also suggest that pomegranate may help fight Alzheimer's disease.