Pomegranate Juice For Daily Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

Pomegranates have been cultivated throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East since the days of ancient Egypt. The abundance of small red seeds inside the hard-skinned, round red fruit has been the subject of mythology as well as a popular delicacy and source of richly flavored juice. Daily consumption of pomegranate juice may help lower blood pressure and reduce the damaging effects of serum cholesterol.

Blood Pressure

Daily consumption of pomegranate juice over time may lower blood pressure. A clinical study of subjects who drank pomegranate juice daily yielded a drop in systolic blood pressure of up to 21 percent after one year of consumption, according to the Huntington College of Health Sciences. Components in pomegranate juice inhibit the serum angiotension converting enzyme, or ACE, by a mechanism similar to that used by ACE-inhibiting pharmaceuticals prescribed for hypertension and other cardiac health problems. Check juice labels to ensure that the beverage contains 100 percent pomegranate juice and is not watered down, mixed with other juices or loaded with sugar and other unhealthy ingredients, which undermines pomegranate's heart health benefits, according to MayoClinic.com.

Atherosclerosis

Laboratory studies on mice indicate that pomegranate juice may slow atherosclerosis, the hardening of the arteries that leads to heart attacks. Pomegranate's high antioxidant levels confer protection to arteries, helping slow the buildup of plaque that causes arteries to thicken and harden, according to the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. The polyphenol antioxidants in pomegranate juice are also present in other berries and juices, such as grapes and blueberries, but pomegranate juice contains higher concentrations of these beneficial nutrients. Polyphenols can even reverse arterial damage done by long-term high blood pressure, according to the Columbia University Health Services. However, the claims of arterial health benefits from pomegranate's antioxidants have not yet been sufficiently proven in clinical studies on humans, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Serum Cholesterol

Antioxidants such as those in pomegranate juice can reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, also known as LDL or bad cholesterol, in the bloodstream, according to MayoClinic.com. In a clinical trial on diabetic patients with high serum cholesterol levels, eight weeks of consuming pomegranate juice as a dietary supplement resulted in significant serum cholesterol level improvements, according to the Huntington College of Health Sciences. High serum cholesterol levels are associated with increased risk of heart disease. Pomegranate juice antioxidants may also reduce inflammation, reducing the risk for development of diseases like arthritis and cancer, in addition to protecting cardiovascular health.

Warnings and Considerations

Since pomegranate juice may lower blood pressure, it can exacerbate feelings of dizziness and other side effects of medication taken for hypertension, according to pharmacist Dr. Robert James Goetz. Pomegranate juice as well as grapefruit juice can also interact with other types of medications, potentially allowing more of the medication to enter the bloodstream swiftly, which may have dangerous health consequences. Although pomegranate juice is generally considered safe to drink as an occasional beverage or dietary supplement, consult a physician before beginning a daily pomegranate juice regimen, and consult your pharmacist with each change in medication type or dosage. If you choose to consume pomegranate for its health benefits, choose the fresh fruit or juice over pomegranate supplements in pill form, which are not regulated by the FDA. Their content and effects may be unpredictable.