The pomegranate fruit has a bit of a starring role in the bible. It appears a number of times throughout the scriptures. Some biblical experts even believe pomegranate trees may have grown in the Garden of Eden.
If you’ve enjoyed one before I’m sure you’ll agree they are clearly a gift from God. But if you’ve never eaten a pomegranate, I’ll admit they can seem a bit intimidating at first
Don’t let their appearance scare you off. The pomegranate is worth getting to know. Because not only are they delicious, they’re incredibly good for you too.
Miraculous biblical fruit fights MAJOR diseases
They could even help you stay healthy, protecting your brain, heart, and body as you age. In fact, according to a comprehensive review of all the existing research on this ancient fruit, pomegranates may be one of the HEALTHIEST foods you can get your hands on.
Packed with a bunch of anti-inflammatory phytochemicals, and literally dozens of antioxidants, it’s time to put pomegranates on your menu.
Following are just three of the many terrific reasons you should eat a pomegranate today…
1. Fight Alzheimer’s:
We’re learning new things about Alzheimer’s every day. And there’s still a lot to learn. But one thing we do know is that the buildup of beta amyloid plaque in the brain is associated with this form of dementia.
And it turns out pomegranate could be your secret weapon against this devastating memory-stealing disease.
Several animal studies have shown that supplementing with pomegranate leads to significantly less amyloid buildup, in one case slashing the plaques by 50 percent. Plus dementia-prone mice given a pomegranate supplement were able to solve water mazes more quickly and swim faster than control mice that didn’t get the supplement.1,2
And a study, published in the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience, gave us even more insight into how this delicious fruit can help protect our brains and boost brain power.
It appears that when the antioxidant polyphenols found in pomegranate are broken down in your gut they produce inflammation-fighting compounds called urolithins. Urolithins are able to move through the blood-brain barrier where they then pass on their anti-inflammatory benefits..3
2. Combat heart disease:
Research has revealed pomegranates might be your heart’s best friend too. Punicic acid and several potent antioxidants found in the ruby-red fruit have been found to help naturally lower cholesterol and triglycerides as well as reduce blood pressure.4,5
In one exciting study on a group of folks with diabetes and high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, pomegranate significantly reduced the volunteer’s risk for heart disease and hardening of the arteries.6
3. Crush Cancer:
Research has revealed pomegranate extracts can inhibit the growth of breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancer cells in the lab.
Research has revealed pomegranate extracts can inhibit the growth of breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancer cells in the lab.
In animal experiments, scientists have also shown that pomegranate supplements can keep skin, colon, lung, and prostate tumors from growing.7 And the fruit extracts may even slow the progression of prostate cancer.
In a human clinical study, eight-ounces a day of pomegranate juice significantly slowed the amount of time it took PSA levels—a blood marker used to measure how fast prostate cancer is growing—to double.8
And in another study pomegranate extract increased PSA doubling time by 100 percent in 43 percent of the men tested, according to the study published in the journal Prostate Cancer Prostatic Diseases.9
Wondering the best way to get those juicy seeds out? It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3…
- Gently roll the fruit across a hard surface to loosen up the seeds.
- Score all the way around the center of the fruit, and then gently tear it into two halves.
- Hold each half, one at a time, over a bowl with the seeds facing down and tap firmly on the rind while gently squeezing the fruit to release the seeds.
So what are you waiting for? Put pomegranates on your shopping list today and start tomorrow off just a little bit healthier.
References:
1. “Pomegranate juice decreases amyloid load and improves behavior in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease” Neurobiol Dis. 2006 Dec;24(3):506-15. Epub 2006 Sep 28.
2. “Pomegranate extract modulates processing of amyloid-β precursor protein in an aged Alzheimer’s disease animal model,” Curr Alzheimer Res. 2014;11(9):834-43.
3. “Pomegranate’s Neuroprotective Effects against Alzheimer’s Disease Are Mediated by Urolithins, Its Ellagitannin-Gut Microbial Derived Metabolites,” ACS Chem. Neurosci., 2016, 7 (1), pp 26–33
4. “Potent health effects of pomegranate,” Adv Biomed Res. 2014; 3: 100
5. “Pomegranate for Your Cardiovascular Health,” Rambam Maimonides Med J. 2013 Apr; 4(2): e0013.
6. “Anti-oxidative effects of pomegranate juice (PJ) consumption by diabetic patients on serum and on macrophages,” Atherosclerosis, Volume 187, Issue 2, August 2006, Pages 363–371
7. “Cancer Chemoprevention by Pomegranate: Laboratory and Clinical Evidence,” Nutr Cancer. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2010 Nov 22.
8. “Long-term Follow-Up of Phase 2 Study of Pomegranate Juice for Men with Prostate Cancer Shows Durable Prolongation of PSA Doubling Time. Journal of Urology, April 2009, Volume 181, Issue 4, Supplement, Page 295
9. “A randomized phase II study of pomegranate extract for men with rising PSA following initial therapy for localized prostate cancer,” Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 2013 Mar; 16(1): 50–55
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