Pomegranates and black currants are two fruits that are not only delicious, but they have health benefits as well. Pomegranates are native to southern Asia and grow in parts of South America, the Mediterranean and the southern United States, according to Medicinal Herb Info. Black currants are native to Europe, but are often cultivated in other areas of the world, including North America. Before you begin to use pomegranates or black currants to treat health conditions, consult your health-care provider.
Black Currants for Cancer Prevention
Black currants may be useful in helping to prevent cancer. A research study at Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz in Mainz, Germany, published in the August 2010 issue of "Mutation Research," examined cancerous cells that are formed when cooking meats and fish at high temperatures. Black currants and other fruits and vegetables were studied for their potential to prevent the formation of these cells. When the results were examined, black currant was shown to help prevent the formation of the cancerous agents.
Pomegranate for Breast Cancer Treatment
Results from a study conducted at the University of Texas at Austin Department of Nutritional Sciences were published in the October 2010 edition of "Oncology Reports." This study looked at pomegranate's ability to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. The researchers looked specifically at cancer stem cells, which are highly resistant to the usual chemotherapy. When the results were examined, pomegranate was shown to keep the breast cancer stem cells from growing. The study concluded that pomegranate extract shows promise as a treatment for cancer stem cells.
Pomegranate for Prostate Cancer Prevention
Men, in particular, may benefit from eating pomegranates or drinking pomegranate juice for their potential to help prevent prostate cancer. Another recent study, conducted in Paris, France, at the Service d'urologie, hôpital Saint-Louis and published in the September 2010 issue of "Progrès en Urologie," found pomegranate to have a protective effect against prostate cancer cells. The study recommends eating pomegranate and other protective foods to help protect the body against prostate cancer.
Black Currant to Lower Cholesterol
People with high cholesterol could benefit from drinking black currant juice or eating black currants. These fruits have been shown to lower LDL, the "bad" cholesterol, and raise HDL, the "good" cholesterol levels. A study published in the June 2010 edition of "Phytotherapy Research" tested this ability on a wide sampling of patients. The study was held at Harbin Medical University Department of Biostatistics in Harbin, China. Over 2,000 patients took the black currant capsules for six weeks, after which time they were tested to see if the capsules had a cholesterol-lowering effect. The study found that the patients' overall cholesterol levels had improved, and their triglycerides had been reduced. The study concluded that the black currant supplements were effective in reducing serum cholesterol levels and may be a safer alternative to conventional medications.
Black Currant as an Antioxidant
Antioxidants help the body eliminate free radicals that can cause cell damage and premature aging; black currant seeds may offer powerful antioxidant protection. A recent study in Alberta, Canada, at the University of Alberta Department of Agriculture looked at the potential antioxidant activity of black currant seeds. The results of the study were published in the December 2009 issue of "Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry" and showed that black currant is an antioxidant also offers a rich source of essential fatty acids and other compounds that are beneficial to health.
Pomegranate as an Antioxidant
Research shows hat pomegranate is also an effective antioxidant. One research study of pomegranate as an antioxidant was held at Aligarh Muslim University Department of Agricultural Microbiology in Aligarh, India. The results were published in the August 2010 edition of "Mutation Research." Researchers looked at the chemical components of pomegranate peel extract in lab tests and concluded that it is a very effective antioxidant.
Pomegranate as a Malaria Treatment
Pomegranate peel extract also shows promise as a treatment for malaria. This was discovered in a study conducted at Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti in Milano, Italy and the results were published in the July 2010 issue of "Malaria Journal." Researchers studied the effects of pomegranate peel extract on cells from cerebral malaria. The malaria cells were shown to have their growth stopped by the extract. Researchers concluded that pomegranate peel extract is useful in treating and preventing malaria. The anti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory properties of the extract were shown to be responsible for the effect.
References
- "Mutation Research"; Fruits and vegetables protect against the genotoxicity...; KL Platt; August 2010
- "Oncology Reports"; Pomegranate extract inhibits mammary cancer stem cells...; Z Dai et al.; October 2010
- "Progrès en Urologie"; [Nutrition, dietary supplements and prostate cancer]; September 2010
- Medicinal Herb Info: Pomegranate
- Medicinal Herb Info: Black Currant
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