Pomegranate juice: Elixir of life and health!
Pomegranate juice is not accidentally characterized as a health elixir, since its benefits for the human body are enormous. Let’s look at some basics:
Antioxidants
The intense red color of pomegranate comes from polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants. Pomegranate juice, in fact, contains higher levels of antioxidants than most other fruit juices.
Vitamin C
The juice of a pomegranate contains 40% of our daily dose of vitamin C. Prefer fresh juice, or make your own to get as much as possible.
Cancer prevention
It has recently been discovered through studies that pomegranate juice can help prevent the growth of prostate cancer cells. The results are still in the preliminary stage and more research is needed, but it is definitely very good and promising news.
Protection against Alzheimer’s disease
The antioxidants in juice are thought to delay the development of Alzheimer’s, and protect our memory. A recent study showed that daily consumption of juice can improve memory.
Better digestion
Pomegranate juice can reduce inflammation in the intestine and improve the function of the digestive system. This could greatly help patients with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory bowel diseases. There are still no unanimous conclusions as to whether the juice helps with diarrhea or if it makes it worse, but most doctors recommend not consuming it until it stops.
Anti-inflammatory action
Due to the high concentration of antioxidants, pomegranate juice has anti-inflammatory action throughout the body, protecting against oxidative stress.
Arthritis
Flavonols in pomegranate juice can stop the inflammation associated with osteoarthritis and damage to the cartilage of the joints. At the same time, research is being done to find out if the juice can help patients with osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and other forms of arthritis.
Heart disease
Pomegranate juice is one of the best juices for our heart health. Small-scale studies have shown that it improves blood flow and protects arteries from hardening. But you need to be careful, as it can react with some blood pressure and cholesterol medications. Talk to your doctor first if you are taking such medication.
Arterial pressure
Juice can help lower systolic blood pressure, but more studies are needed.
Against diseases
It contains vitamin C and other nutrients that strengthen the immune system (such as vitamin E) and can help prevent colds and other infections.
Lots of vitamins
In addition to vitamins E and C, pomegranate juice is a good source of vitamin K, folic acid and potassium.
Sexual performance and fertility
The antioxidants in the juice fight, as we have said, oxidative stress, and therefore can help in fertility. Oxidative stress can damage sperm and reduce fertility in women. It is also likely to increase testosterone levels in men and women.
Better performance in gymnastics as well
Juice can help reduce pain after exercise and help us regain our strength faster.
Diabetes
In traditional medicine of the Middle East and India, pomegranate was used as an antidote to diabetes. Of course, we do not know much about how it works in the disease, but it can reduce insulin tolerance and blood sugar levels.