You’ve most certainly heard the buzz around pomegranates, or “pom” juice. But is there really much to that buzz, other than a marketing ploy? Apparently so. Research has suggested that the benefits of pomegranates are numerous.

In Greek mythology, the pomegranate was the cause of Persephone being forced to spend a portion of each year in the underworld with Hades. Because she ate a few pomegranate seeds, the world had to experience a winter season while nature mourned her absence from the world. In reality, eating pomegranates and drinking their juice do not have nearly such dire consequences. The truth is that there are several health benefits associated with the pomegranate.

Pomegranates are high in antioxidants. These chemicals bond with free radicals in the blood, including LDL cholesterol (the bad kind), and prevent their oxidation. This prevents the buildup of plaque inside the walls of the arteries that leads to heart disease. The juice of the pomegranate has also been shown to help keep blood platelets from clumping together to form blood clots.

The pomegranate is still the subject of a great deal of research. In one study, it was found that consuming eight ounces of pomegranate juice on a daily basis for just three months produced a definite increase in the oxygen supply to the coronary arteries that feed the cells of the heart. This improved oxygenation means a decreased risk of heart attack. Another study shows promising results based on the long-term use of pomegranate juice as a treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED).
Pomegranates have also been linked to a decrease in new instances of certain types of cancers and slowed growth of existing ones. This improves a person’s chances of avoiding cancer altogether or surviving it if it develops. Two specific cancers studied were breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. Both were reduced in frequency and showed slower growth rates in patients consuming pomegranate juice on a regular basis.

A study exists that shows that pomegranate reacts with certain enzymes known to attack the cartilage and cause inflammation. This indicates that pomegranates may slow or prevent the onset of rheumatoid arthritis for many people and help relieve symptoms in others.

Another possible benefit of pomegranate juice is as an antidiarrheal drink. While no known studies exist to back this up, empirical evidence and subjective studies have indicated that pomegranate juice can slow or stop diarrhea. However, an overdose may lead to constipation. Therefore, moderation is an important aspect of using pomegranate juice in this manner.
With so many proven health benefits and a large number of suspected benefits, it is no wonder the pomegranate has been called a super food. Some even claim it to be nature’s most perfect food. While a steady diet of nothing but pomegranates does not sound even remotely appealing, there can be no doubt that eating pomegranate or drinking pomegranate juice can help anyone become healthier.

From its antioxidant properties that improve heart health, a proven reduction in cancer incidence and higher survival rates among cancer patients, possible treatment for arthritis and aid to digestive health, the pomegranate may very well be one of the big guns in the food arsenal that fights off disease. It can also help with the aging process to improve the quality of life for those who make it a part of their diet.