Pomegranate Juice & Cholesterol

Pomegranate juice has a rich red color and a crisp, fresh tart taste. The juice contains powerful antioxidants called polyphenols that have been shown to have positive effects on cholesterol. Research shows that this fruit has more antioxidants than many other fruit juices and has been identified as a heart-healthy food.

The Fruit

The pomegranate is native to the Middle East and is about the size of a large orange. It has a tough, smooth red rind, but once you cut into the fruit, small, crunchy seeds can be found that are covered in juicy pulp. It is a time-consuming fruit to peel and eat, with hundreds of seeds found inside but is often produced into juice, which makes the health benefits of the fruit easier to enjoy.

Antioxidant Content

Antioxidants help decrease the process of oxidation. The body's cells are under constant attack from free radicals, which are molecules with unpaired electrons that reek havoc on the body contributing to certain chronic diseases such as cancer and certain heart diseases. Free radicals are responsible for cellular damage, including damage done to the heart and the arteries and vessels in your body. Polyphenols found in pomegranate juice not only help slow the oxidation process down, but they are also absorbed by the body to help utilize other powerful antioxidants such as flavonoids and lignins. A study published in the "Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry" found that pomegranate juice contains more polyphenols than red wine, grape and acai juices.

LDL Oxidation

Limited studies done by Harvard University, The National Nutrition and Food Technology Institute and other clinical research facilities suggest pomegranate juice as a helpful supplementation to fighting LDL cholesterol oxidation. LDL cholesterol is a low-profile lipo-protein that increases plaque build-up in the arteries of the heart and increases the risk for developing heart disease. When LDL cholesterol is oxidized, it becomes much more reactive and unstable, increasing the possibility of tissue and cellular damage. In these limited studies, results showed a decrease in overall LDL oxidation. One study showed that participants that drank pomegranate juice saw a decrease in LDL oxidation by 90 percent. Other studies found positive results in mice, where the progression of plaque build-up, or atherosclerosis, was slowed and cardiac blood flow improved.

Dietery Amounts

Researchers are unsure about the specific amount of pomegranate juice needed to effect positive cardiovascular results. Many studies suggest a small concentrated dosage of 1.5 oz per day, but these results are preliminary. Capsules full of extract can also be used on a daily basis. Recommendations are one to two capsules per day with food or water.

Considerations

Research and studies done on the correlation of cholesterol, heart disease and pomegranate juice are preliminary; more research is needed to solidify these theories. Eating pomegranates and drinking pomegranate juice as part of a balanced diet is safe for most individuals. Consult your physician before ingesting pomegranate juice as part of normal diet or as a dietary supplement due to possible interactions with specific medications.