HEALTH BENEFITS OF POMEGRANATE
Pomegranate is the favourite fruit of everyone even without knowing the benefits it carries. Read the article till the end to find out how it affects our health positively.
Antioxidant effects: Pomegranate is rich in polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants.
Nutrient boost: Pomegranate contains many nutrients and is a good source of:
vitamin E, which is an antioxidant
vitamin K, which is essential for blood clotting magnesium, which helps manage blood pressure and glucose levels
Cancer prevention: The NIH lists pomegranate as one of the natural remedies that may help treat or prevent prostate cancer. Ingredients in pomegranate may also help prevent breast, lung, and skin cancer.
Alzheimer’s disease: In an older study, mice consumed either a control diet or one that was 4% pomegranate. The authors found evidence that ingredients in pomegranate helped restore the activity of certain enzymes. The researchers suggest that pomegranate could have a role in treating Alzheimer’s disease.
Arthritis: In a 2016 study, 38 people with osteoarthritis of the knee consumed either pomegranate juice or no juice for six weeks. Results suggest that pomegranate juice helped reduce the breakdown of cartilage. The participants who consumed it reported better function and less stiffness than those who did not.
Heart disease: Pomegranate juice may help lower blood pressure and protect the heart and arteries.
Blood pressure: Drinking pomegranate juice daily may help lower systolic blood pressure. One study found evidence of significant drops in blood pressure after consuming pomegranate juice. The authors note that regular consumption of this juice could be part of a heart-healthy diet.
Memory: Drinking pomegranate juice every day may improve learning and memory. In the study, 32 people consumed either eight ounces of pomegranate juice or another drink for eight weeks. After four weeks, those who consumed pomegranate showed better scores on memory tests. fMRI scans also revealed increased brain activity during these tests.
Endurance and sports performance: Compounds present in pomegranate may help improve exercise performance and help with post-exercise recovery. In a study, cyclists who consumed pomegranate took significantly longer to reach a point of exhaustion than those who did not.
Wound healing: Some researchers have used the flowers and extract of pomegranate to heal wounds, noting a significant decrease in the size of wounds treated in this way. They also observed that the structure of the new skin was well-formed and that there were few inflammatory cells in the area.