Check out the video below, for all the health benefits of pomegranates included in this article:
Contents
- They’re high in antioxidants
- They provide vitamin C
- Heart health benefits
- Cancer prevention
- Inflammatory conditions
- Supports digestive health
- Lowers blood pressure
- They may help improve memory
- Benefits for the skin
- Increases physical performance
They’re high in antioxidants
Pomegranates are rich in antioxidants. The Cleveland Clinic explains that antioxidants are substances that help protect cells from environmental toxins such as pollution and cigarette smoke. Antioxidants help prevent and repair DNA damage that can lead to cancer. Pomegranate juice alone won’t keep cancer at bay, but studies suggest it may be a nutritious addition to a healthy, plant-based diet such as the Mediterranean diet.
They provide vitamin C
Good Housekeeping explains that pomegranate arils are a good source of vitamin C per half cup serving. A half cup provides around 9 milligrams of vitamin C, which is about 10% of our daily value of the important micronutrient for adults. Most animals can produce their own vitamin C, but humans cannot, making it a dietary necessity for us.
Heart health benefits
According to WebMD, studies have suggested that pomegranates can protect your heart in many ways, including lowering blood pressure and reducing blood sugar levels. Pomegranate juice has high amounts of plant pigments called anthocyanins and anthoxanthins that support good heart health.
Cancer prevention
The National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) list pomegranate as one of the natural remedies that may help treat prostate cancer. Pomegranate juice and extract, as well as some of their bioactive compounds, inhibit the proliferation of various prostate cancer cell lines in vitro and induce apoptotic cell death in a dose-dependent manner.
Inflammatory conditions
According to Medical News Today, polyphenols have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. As a source of polyphenols, pomegranate could be suitable for treating various inflammatory conditions.
Supports digestive health
Healthline explains that eating pomegranate may help support the health of your gut microbiome, which plays a key role in many aspects of health. Test-tube research has shown that pomegranate can increase levels of beneficial gut bacteria, suggesting that it may have prebiotic effects.
Lowers blood pressure
Very Well Health explains that a review of research says pomegranate juice may lower blood pressure and improve high blood pressure risk factors. In addition, a randomized controlled trial demonstrated that eight-week pomegranate juice consumption showed beneficial effects on blood pressure.
They may help improve memory
BBC Good Food explains that research into how pomegranates may affect cognitive function is still in the early stages. Research has suggested that pomegranate juice may have cognitive benefits in mice. Another study asked middle aged adults with mild memory complaints to drink pomegranate juice daily, and found an improvement in verbal and visual tasks after four weeks.
Benefits for the skin
Pomegranates help improve skin health by preventing sun damage. UCLA Health explains that a study asked women to drink pomegranate juice for several weeks and then examined the redness of their skin after exposure to UV light, which causes oxidation in the skin. After 12 weeks, you needed a higher dose of UV to cause oxidation in the skin of those who regularly drank pomegranate juice compared to a placebo drink without the pomegranate’s antioxidants.
Increases physical performance
HealthifyMe explains that similar to beetroots, pomegranates promote better physical performance. It helps delay fatigue after exercising. Studying a group of athletes’ efficiency post-workout elucidated this effect of pomegranate. In addition, consuming a gram of pomegranate extract showed a significant increase in their exercise efficiency.