Thursday, March 28

Why pomegranate juice can work almost like a medicine


In Greek mythology, Hades, god of the underworld, used the seeds of a pomegranate to trick Persephone into returning to his side for a few months of the year. The pomegranate symbolized fertility in ancient Greece and Rome, and its juice was a remedy against infertility.

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As is often the case, the ancients were not so far off the mark. Among the possible benefits of pomegranate juice are its antioxidant power, which can help prevent cancer and other diseases, its high content of vitamin C and its ability to improve the immune system and insulin resistance.

These benefits are supported by numerous studies that have used pomegranate juice or its extract with patients of all kinds. Like any other fruit juice, pomegranate juice is high in sugar. However, in a study with diabetics in Israel, drinking pomegranate juice daily did not worsen your blood glucose levels, and on the contrary, they improved their analyses. What was happening?

The possible explanation is that the virtues of pomegranate juice as an antioxidant more than compensate for the possible damage caused by sugar. In another experiment it was seen that pomegranate juice protected nitric oxide (NO) from oxidation, and also potentiated the positive effects of this moleculenecessary for the proper functioning of the entire body, from the brain to the immune system.

These are the most studied beneficial effects of pomegranate juice to date:

antioxidant effects

Pomegranate is rich in polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants, especially ellagitannin and other tannins. These antioxidants may help reduce the body’s levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), a type of free radical. The body produces ROS during normal metabolism, but if they are not kept in check, or if they are increased by exposure to toxins, such as tobacco, ROS cause damage to cells, called oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is precisely behind metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases, so the antioxidants in pomegranate juice can help prevent it.

Nutrient source

In addition to its antioxidant properties, pomegranate juice is a source of micronutrients, the deficiency of which increases inflammation. These include vitamins E and K and magnesium, which helps control blood pressure and glucose levels.

anticancer

There are numerous studies that indicate that pomegranate is one of the natural remedies that can help treat or prevent prostate cancer, with reduced levels of prostate-specific antigen. Pomegranate slows the progression of tumors and helps prevent metastasis, as it induces apoptosis, the programmed death of cancer cells. The preventive effects can be applied to breast, lung and skin cancer.

Prevents Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the accumulation of plaques of a protein called amyloid beta that affects cells in the hippocampus, where memory resides. Animal research has shown that pomegranate juice prevents the formation of amyloid plaques and help restore the activity of certain enzymes that prevent disease.

Treats autoimmune and inflammatory diseases

Studies indicate that pomegranate juice may benefit people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other intestinal conditions due to its polyphenol content, which reduce inflammationsomething that could be applied to other autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

improves arthritis

Osteoarthritis is characterized by joint pain and loss of connective tissue, such as cartilage, in a inflammatory process. It has been seen that pomegranate extract could silence the genes that contribute to the progression of this disease and that pomegranate juice helps to slow down cartilage degeneration, improving the mobility of patients.

Prevents cardiovascular diseases

Pomegranate juice can help lower blood pressure by boosting nitric oxide, thus protecting the heart and arteries. In a article review It has been seen that pomegranate juice reduces oxidative stress and atherosclerosis, or plaque formation in the arteries, in addition to improving cholesterol levels.

Improves sexual performance and fertility

Historically, this was the pomegranate’s use as medicine. As with other substances, antioxidant effects are behind these benefits. Oxidative stress can affect fertility in both men and women. Pomegranate juice can increase the quality and motility of sperm and testosterone levels. The effects on nitric oxide explain that it also improve erectile dysfunction.

Improves sports performance

The regulation of inflammation and the enhancement of nitric oxide also explain the effects of pomegranate juice in improving performance during physical exercise and aiding recovery. In a study with cyclists it was observed that they improved their times and took longer to run out.

What is better to drink, pomegranate juice or extract? Keep in mind that a single pomegranate contains 39 grams of sugar. The extracts are obtained from the peel, which is where 70% of the polyphenols that give it its properties are concentrated, and may be a better option since they do not contain sugar.

* Darío Pescador is editor and director of the quo magazine and author of the book your best self Posted by Oberon.

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