Is Pomegranate Juice Beneficial?

The pomegranate dates back to Biblical times and has been used medicinally to treat many ailments. Its juice delivers numerous benefits, primarily due to its high content of polyphenols--plant chemicals that are responsible for its color, taste and antioxidant content. A July 2008 article in "Health Magazine" reports that pomegranate juice was named as the healthiest beverage by the University of California, outranking red wine and acai juice for its health benefits.

Protects the Heart

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, killing more people than cancer, pneumonia, accidents and diabetes combined, according to a 2008 report from New York Presbyterian Hospital. Pomegranate juice may help keep your heart healthy and prevent heart problems. Researchers at the Sapienza University of Rome, reporting in the April 2009 issue of the "Journal of Medicinal Food," state that the tannins, or polyphenols, in pomegranate juice help prevent clotting of the blood and reduces the blood, which reduces cardiovascular events such as heart attacks.

Lowers Cholesterol

Lowering your cholesterol is another way in which pomegranate juice protects your heart. When researchers at the National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute in Tehran tested the effects of pomegranate juice on the cholesterol levels of diabetic patients, they had promising results. Total cholesterol levels and LDL, or "bad," cholesterol levels were significantly reduced without affecting HDL, or "good," cholesterol levels in study participants. The participants' diets and activity levels were not changed during the study; results indicated that simply adding pomegranate juice to the diet for 8 weeks lowers LDL and total cholesterol numbers. The results of the study, published in the May 2006 issue of "International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research," conclude that pomegranate juice is beneficial in lowering cholesterol and heart disease risk factors, especially in diabetic patients.

Reduces Blood Pressure

Add another heart benefit to pomegranate juice is blood pressure reduction. Along with high cholesterol, hypertension is a risk factor for heart disease. The June 2010 issue of "Phytotherapy Research" explains that a protein in the blood -- angiotensin II -- can cause blood vessels to constrict, which increases blood pressure. When researchers in India tested pomegranate juice in rats they found that it reduced blood pressure by blocking the production and action of angiotensin. The results of this study are published in the June 2010 issue of "Phytotherapy Research."

Prevents Cancer

One of the most studied areas of pomegranate juice is its effect on cancer cells. An examination of these studies, published in the May 2009 issue of "Nutrition and Cancer," indicates that consuming pomegranate juice may prevent the development and slow the progression of cancer cell lines including lung, colon, prostate and skin cancer. The anticancer action is attributed to the high antioxidant and polyphenic content of the juice. While there are several individual components in pomegranate that contribute to cancer protection, it is noted that the greatest benefit is obtained when all of the compounds in pomegranate juice work together.

A Word of Caution

The potent activity of pomegranate juice may interfere with certain medications, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you are on cholesterol lowering, blood pressure reducing or blood thinning medication speak to your physician before making pomegranate juice a regular part of your diet.