Il pomegranate is one of the healthiest fruits on the entire planet, did you know?
These fruits contain a range of beneficial plant compounds, unrivaled compared to other foods and can have many benefits for the body; let's find out!
Index
Important nutrients
Il pomegranate is a shrub that produces a red fruit, classified as a berry; the peel of the pomegranate is thick and inedible, but inside there are hundreds of edible seeds, with the following nutritional values for 175 gr (one cup):
- fiber: 7 gr
- protein: 3 gr
- sugars: 24 gr
- Kcal: 144
- vitamin C: 30% of the recommended daily allowance (RDI)
- Vitamin K: 36% of the RDI
- folate: 16% of the RDI
- potassium: 12% of the RDI
Plant compounds
Pomegranates contain two important plant compounds:
- punicalagin: very powerful antioxidants
- punicinic acid: linoleic acid with powerful biological effects
Anti-inflammatory effects
Il pomegranate has powerful anti-inflammatory properties mediated by the antioxidant properties of punicalagin; test-tube studies have shown that they can reduce inflammatory activity digestive tract, breast cancer and colon cancer cells.
Prostate Cancer
Laboratory studies suggest that pomegranate extract can slow down the reproduction of cancer cells and induce apoptosis, or cell death, in cancer cells in prostate cancer, but further research is needed.
Breast cancer
Laboratory studies suggest that pomegranate extract may inhibit the production of breast cancer cells, but more in-depth human studies are needed.
Blood pressure
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes; in one study, subjects with hypertension had a significant reduction in blood pressure after consuming 150 ml of pomegranate juice per day for 2 weeks.
Arthritis and joint pain
There are many types of arthritis, but most involve some form of joint inflammation; herbal compounds with anti-inflammatory effects can help keep arthritis symptoms at bay.
Heart disease
Punicinic acid can help protect against several steps in heart disease; pomegranate seed oil helps lower triglycerides and improve triglyceride-HDL ratio.
Erectile dysfunction
Oxidative damage can impair blood flow to all areas of the body, including erectile tissue.
A rabbit study showed that pomegranate juice helps increase blood flow and erectile response, but more research is needed.
Bacterial and fungal infections
The plant compounds in pomegranate help fight harmful microorganisms, such as certain types of bacteria and the yeast Candida albicans.
The antibacterial and antifungal effects can also protect mouth inflammations, such as gingivitis, periodontitis and denture stomatitis.
Conference proceedings
There is some evidence that pomegranate can help memory: a study in surgical patients showed that 2 grams of pomegranate extract can help prevent post-surgery memory deficit.
Physical exercise
Pomegranate is rich in nitrates, useful for improving physical performance; a study conducted on athletes running on a treadmill showed that a gram of pomegranate extract, 30 minutes before exercise, improves blood flow, delaying the onset of fatigue.
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