Curiously Awesome

If this is your first visit, please consider subscribing to my RSS feed. You'll be sure not to miss one awesome thing!

The pomegranate has long been known for its benefits to your heart. We now know it also can be beneficial in treating diabetes, dementia, cancer and menopausal problems. It can even prevent sunburn!

As far as the pomegranate’s juice, it has improved the ability of macrophages (immune-response cells) to absorb low-density lipids. It has been concluded that drinking pomegranate juice for three months may help diabetics by lowering the oxidative stress that often leads to vascular disease.

Those with diabetes should realize, though, that this juice is very high in sugar content. 8 oz. of pomegranate juice (one serving) has over 30 grams of sugars. It’s a lot of sugar! Obviously, if you’re diabetic or hypoglycemic, you should never drink these juices on an empty stomach. Eating the real pomegranate seeds enables the natural seed fibers to slow the absorption of the pomegranate sugars. Thus, the glycemic index of pomegranate seeds is much lower than the glycemic index of pomegranate juice.

Scientists have been studying the pomegranate to figure out what makes it so beneficial. This seedy fruit has more anti-oxidative power in its seeds than red wine, green tea and blueberry juice. The seeds contain a number of flavonoids with estrogenic capabilities.

It is the anti-oxidant power of pomegranates that are so beneficial for the heart. If you eat the seeds regularly over a long period of time it appears that hardening of the arteries may be prevented. Studies have also shown that eating pomegranate reduces the progression of high blood cholesterol.

Eating pomogranates may also prevent or help combat several kinds of cancer. The reason seems to be the fruit’s ellagic acid. Drinking eight ounces of pomogranate juice per day appears to help inhibit cancer of the prostate and inflammatory enzymes in colon cancer cells.

It has been shown that drinking the juice slows down the antigen doubling which occurs after patients receive traditional therapies, including surgery, for prostate cancer. These antigens cause a recurrence of the cancer in about a third of these patients.

Tests have shown the ability of pomegranate seed oil to cause cancer cells to self-destruct in metastatic breast cancer cells. At the same time, the juice is not toxic to the healthy breast cells. This means that the pomegranate could be used as a way to prevent cancer.

The pomegranate, along with dark berries and watermelon, is a natural sunburn protector. A double-blind study over a four-week period showed that not only did eating the fruit prevent sunburn, but it also resulted in improvement in complexions by the subjects.

The pomegranate is living up to its Biblical reputation as a life-giving fruit. It has now been shown to prevent or heal many disorders. Unfortunately, both fresh pomogranates and the juice are very expensive. Another negative is that drug companies have now discovered this fruit and will be exploiting it.

If you live in the southern United States or South America and especially in the arid regions of California, Arizona and northern Mexico, you could very easily grow your own pomegranates. The tree grows well in a wide range of climates and is well adapted as an ornamental shrub in cool coastal areas.