Health Benefits of Pomegranate Juice

Most of the health benefits appear to come from the variety of antioxidants hidden inside this superfood. Read on for the specifics including why a daily dose of pomegranate juice helps with certain types of cancer, male erectile dysfunction and heart disease...

Pomegranate Juice : More Antioxidants than Green Tea

The unique antioxidant profile accounts for most of the health benefits of pomegranate juice. While many fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, pomegranate juice has a very wide range including punicalagin, anthocyanins, and ellagic acid.

This wide range of antioxidants in pomegranates is important because they synergize with one another. This means that a blend of antioxidants is more effective than comparable amounts of any single antioxidant. By having a very wide range of antioxidants, pomegranate juice is able to prevent cellular damage to healthy cells very effectively.

We've all heard that green tea is "the antioxidant drink" with red wine a close second in it's footsteps. While they do contain excellent levels of antioxidants, studies show that pomegranate fruit juice has even higher levels.

Pomegranate juice contains tannins, athocyanins, and polyphenols, beneficial antioxidants that reduce the levels of free radicals in the body. Studies show that pomegranate juice contains 17% more antioxidants than red wine, and that each antioxidant molecule is more potent as well, neutralizing 54% more free radicals than red wine.

This pomegranate magic is probably why there are so many wonderful and scientifically proveable health benefits of pomegranate juice.

Health Benefits of Pomegranate Juice for Heart Disease

Many of the studies completed have been focused on the cardiovascular benefits of pomegranate juice. Researchers have found that drinking 8 ounces of pomegranate juice daily helps to lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, reduce hardening of the arteries, and increase oxygen levels in the blood.[1][2][3][4]

Health Benefits of Pomegranates for Cancer Prevention

These findings alone are impressive. In addition, pomegranate juice has also been found to be helpful in reducing the likelihood of breast and prostate cancer. The nutrient profile and antioxidant profile has proven to be excellent to help the body balance these hormone related cancers, both of which kill hundreds of thousands of people every year.[5]

Pomagranate Juice for Male Erectile Dysfunction

Improvements to male erectile dysfuntion have also been proven. A study published in the Internation Journal of Impotence Research showed strong findings.

The study found that 8 ounces a day of pomegranate juice for a period of one month improved erections by 50% in men who suffered from moderate erectile dysfunction. This improvement is likely due to improvement to blood flow, as proven in earlier studies.[6]

Health Benefits of Pomegranate Juice

Obviously, there are excellent health benefits in pomegranates and their juice. From the research, eight ounces of pomegranate juice a day is recommmended for anyone interested in a healthy lifestyle.As a nutritionist, I would give it top shelf status for its antioxidant and nutrient profile. Try it out for a month and judge for yourself.

How to Use It

Not everyone is set up to make their own pomegranate juice. If you are, read how to make pomegranate juice for quick and easy tips to juice this fruit.

Other options include drinking a full 8 ounce serving of ready made pomegranate juice from quality companies such as Lakewood Organics. Amazon offers Lakewood Pomegranate in bulk six pack bottles of pomegranate juice for much less than you can find it in local health food stores.

There are also concentrates available like the Jarrow Pomegranate Fruit Juice Concentrate (an excellent company).

If you don't care for juice, or don't find it easy to get a full serving every day, consider Solgar Pomegrante , POM Pomegranate , and Solaray Pomegranate for concentrated Pomegranate juice capsules.

Related Pomegranate Juice Pages:

References

[1]Aviram M, Dornfeld L, Pomegranate juice consumption inhibits serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity and reduces systolic blood pressure Atherosclerosis 158 (2001) 195-198

[2]American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, May 2000

[3]Clinical Nutrition 23(2004):423

[4]American Journal of the College of Cardiology, Sept. 2005

[5]Kim ND, Mehta R, Yu W, Neeman I, Livney T, Amichay A, Poirier D, Nicholls P, Kirby A, Jiang W, Mansel R, Ramachandran C, Rabi T, Kaplan B, Lansky E. Chemopreventive and adjuvant therapeutic potential of pomegranate (Punica granatum) for human breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2002 Feb;71(3):203-17.

[6]International Journal of Impotence Research (Nature Publishing) Advance online publication 14 June 2007; doi: 10.1038/sj.ijir.3901570 "Efficacy and safety of pomegranate juice on improvement of erectile dysfunction in male patients with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study"