The pomegranate fruit contains pungent, bitter-sweet seeds and a tart juice you can scoop straight from the plant or drink as a juice. The pomegranate has host of health benefits because it is an antioxidant and vitamin-rich fruit. Buy a variety of pomegranate juice brands from your local market and drink them as often as you like because there is not standardized dose or limit precautions.
About Pomegranate
The pomegranate grows from a fruit-bearing tree native to Asia but is cultivated in many parts of the world. Historically, the pomegranate was considered a sacred fruit yielding powers of fertility and good fortune and in Ayurvedic medicine it is conceived as a healing fruit to remedy ailments like diarrhea and ulcers. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, clinical studies exploring the biochemical properties of pomegranate indicate it has a host of polyphenol compounds, which are strong antioxidants important for protecting your immune system and neutralizing harmful molecules from damaging your cells.
Daily Recommendation for Heart Health
High cholesterol, a fatlike substance, that can accumulate in your arteries and cause plaque buildup or blocked arteries is also a leading risk factor for developing heart disease. According to Thomas Behrenbeck, MD, with the Mayo Clinic, drinking pomegranate juice may help reduce your cholesterol but research is inconclusive. Dr. Behrenbeck indicates that pomegranate juice is safe to drink if you choose to use this for managing your cholesterol however, you should consult your physician first. To sustain heart-healthy benefits with pomegranate juice, drink 50 ml, the equivalent of 1.7 oz. per day.
Daily Recommendation for Prostate Health
A 2006 study by UCLA researchers Dr. Allan Pantuck and colleagues, found that men treated for prostate cancer with radiation and that afterward implemented daily consumption of pomegranate juice had a significant reduction in the time of prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, level doubling. The PSA numbers are a biomarker indicating cancer presence. While drinking the pomegranate juice, study subjects PSA levels took longer to grow, which could result in longevity of life even with the cancer diagnosis. The recommended daily consumption of pomegranate juice for protecting your prostate is 8 oz.
Precautions and Interactions
Drinking a glass or more of pomegranate juice per day is generally safe. You cannot overdose on the juice. Choose real fruit juice without added sugars for the most benefit. If you have diabetes, talk to your physician first to ensure safety. If you take certain medications for high blood pressure or high cholesterol the pomegranate may interact with these medications making them less effective. As with any supplement for health consult your physician first for recommendations.
References
- Alternative Medicine Review; Therapeutic Applicatins of Pomegranate (Punica Granatum L.); A Review; Julie Jurenka; 2008
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Pomegranate
- MayoClinic.com; Pomegranate Juice; Can It Lower Cholesterol?; Thomas Behrenbeck, MD; December 2009
- UCLA Newsroom: Pomegranage Juice Helps Keep PSA Levels Stable in Men With Prostate Cancer; Kim Irwin; July 2006
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Pomegranate



Member Comments