Pomegranate juice may not be on your daily diet but perhaps it should be. There are many health benefits of pomegranate juice that can help you in many ways. Pomegranate juice is rich in antioxidant polyphenols, which can inverse atherosclerosis as well as vascular inflammation, thereby helping to lower blood pressure. However, there are other anti-inflammatory health benefits of pomegranate juice that can impact your body in a few weeks if you consistently have five ounces a day. That’s pretty fast!
Systolic Blood Pressure
Can pomegranate juice lower blood pressure? A study from the University of Edinburgh looked at the average systolic and diastolic blood pressure points in those who were either drinking pomegranate juice or not drinking it. The systolic blood pressure level is about 120 mmHg and the diastolic blood pressure level is about 80mmHg on average. What they discovered was drinking pomegranate juice condensed systolic blood pressure by nearly 5 mmHg, and diastolic blood pressure by 2 mmHg.
Systolic blood pressure is the measure that is easier to decrease through dietary variations. The study showed that systolic blood pressure can decrease within test subjects who were drinking the pomegranate juice for less than 12 weeks and those who were drinking for more than 12 weeks. For diastolic blood pressure to decrease at the same rate, the number of servings per day needed to be three or more glasses.
Fight with Cancer Cells – Health Benefits of Pomegranate Juice
Another study published in Cancer Prevention Research, indicated that pomegranate juice can help slow down the progress of cancer cells in the body. Specifically, the study showed that pomegranate juice can inhibit the growth of estrogen-responsive breast tumors through the presence of phytochemicals called ellagitannins. These ellagitannins work to block an enzyme called aromatase which bolsters estrogen and has a primary role in breast tumor growth.
Arthritis
Another study published in the National Library of Science showed the anti-inflammatory agents of pomegranate juice may alleviate some of the symptoms associate with arthritis. Specifically, the pomegranate extract was able to show a decrease in swelling, joint pain, tender joints and morning stiffness.
Dental Infections
A Pace University study suggested that pomegranate juice extract has antiviral and antibiotic effects that can help with dental infections such as gingivitis and periodontitis because as well as inhibit the growth of plaque. You can find toothpaste and other oral hygiene products that have pomegranate in them.
Other Health Benefits of Pomegranate Juice
Studies have also shown that pomegranate juice can help verbal and visual memory in the aged, who are drinking as much as eight ounces of juice daily. In addition, pomegranate extract and its leaves are helpful in the treatment of stomach disorders or diarrhea caused by digestive complications dysentery and cholera.
So, while an apple a day may help keep the doctor away, so might drinking pomegranate juice. Consider the numerous health benefits pomegranate juice listed above and there is a strong case to add this incredible fruit to your daily diet.