Bad Cholesterol & Pomegranate Juice

Rich in color and flavor, the ruby-red pomegranate may have properties that make it a treasure for cardiovascular reasons as well. Pomegranate juice contains bioactive chemicals called polyphenols that may decrease the effects of "bad" cholesterol and lower your risk of heart disease. Although clinical research has not proven that pomegranate juice can lower LDL in humans, a 2000 study published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" demonstrated that pomegranate juice prevented cholesterol-related arterial damage in mice. Pomegranate juice is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for high cholesterol.

Theories/Speculation

Low-density lipoprotein, commonly known as "bad" cholesterol, is a substance that carries water-insoluble fats through the blood. LDL poses a risk to cardiac health when it circulates in the bloodstream in excessive amounts; it accumulates on the arterial walls and creates blockages that could lead to heart attack or stroke. A 2000 study by Michael Aviram and colleagues of the Lipid Research Laboratory in Haifa, Israel showed that fatty arterial plaques in mice were reduced after ingesting pomegranate juice. The researchers speculated that pomegranate juice may prevent similar damage in humans. The authors of this study theorized that the polyphenols in pomegranates, along with other antioxidant nutrients like vitamin C, inhibited plaque formation by preventing the oxidation of LDL.

Benefits

Limited studies using human subjects have shown that pomegranate juice may improve arterial blood flow. Nutritional data indicates that the pomegranate's antioxidant content is indisputably high--a single pomegranate provides 40 percent of the Recommended Daily Allowance of vitamin C. Pomegranate is rich in polyphenols, flavonols and other phytonutrients that may protect the heart from the cellular damage that contributes to cardiovascular disease.

Uses

The tough skin of the pomegranate encases its bright red seeds. The juice has a tangy-sweet flavor that makes it both an appealing beverage as well as a natural immunity booster. Although there is no standard dosing for pomegranate juice, the University of Maryland Medical Center suggests drinking 50 ml of juice per day to prevent atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Pomegranate juice is not recommended as a substitute for pharmaceutical therapy.

Side Effects

Drinking eight to twelve ounces of pomegranate juice per day should produce few side effects unless you are allergic to the fruit. In medicinal amounts, pomegranate juice may cause diarrhea or lower your blood pressure. If you are taking ACE inhibitors to control your blood pressure or statins to lower your cholesterol, consult your health care provider about the possible interactions of pomegranate juice with these medications.

Considerations

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have had an allergic reaction after eating pomegranates, consult your health care provider before consuming pomegranate juice in medicinal doses. MayoClinic.com advises you to avoid pomegranate juice with added sugar as the extra sugar may counteract its cardiac benefits. Drinking pomegranate juice is not a replacement for medical treatment of high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease.