Discover the superfood power of

pomegranate
Foods that have an incredible array of health benefits that go well beyond just their nutrient value
are considered 'super-foods.' Pomegranate is an ancient food that has symbolic meaning in many
traditions and is mentioned throughout the Old Testament of the Bible and the Homeric Hymns
of Ancient Greece. Science has shown that this ancient symbolic food is also extraordinarily
beneficial for human health.

Pomegranates are one of the fruits that the scouts brought back to Moses to show the promised
land of Israel was rich and fertile. The bible consistently uses pomegranates with their many
seeds to symbolize the blessing of fruitfulness. They are one of the seven species of foods
enumerated in the Hebrew Bible as being unique and special products of the Land of Israel. Due
to its frequent mention throughout the Old Testament of the Bible many scholars believe it may
have been the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.

Pomegranates are loaded with nutrition and are particularly abundant in vitamin C, potassium, &
pantothenic acid (B5). Pomegranate is rich in anti-oxidant phytonutrient polyphenols such as
tannins & flavonoids. The most abundant polyphenols in pomegranates are ellagitannins,
punicalagins, catechins, gallocatechins, and anthocyanins. These nutrients have incredible free-
radical scavenging effects that are just now being studied by scientists.

The antioxidant capacity (ORAC) of pomegranate is 2,860 units per 100 grams making it one of
nature's richest sources of free-radical scavenging anti-oxidants. This potent defense against
oxidative stress makes pomegranate a powerful tool for preventing degenerative and
inflammatory based diseases like cancer, heart disease, & arthritis.

In 2008, the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry ranked Pomegranate Juice as healthiest
of all fruit juices. For comparison, study authors used four tests of antioxidant potency, a test of
antioxidant functionality and an evaluation of the total polyphenol content. The rankings:
1. Pomegranate juice
2. Red wine
3. Concord grape juice
4. Blueberry juice
5. Black cherry juice
6. Acai juice
7. Cranberry juice
8. Orange juice
9. Tea
10. Apple juice

Studies have shown that the polyphenol anti-oxidants within pomegranates are powerfully
effective at preventing the oxidation of lipids and endothelial tissue which are the steps that
produce atherosclerosis and heart disease. These unique anti-oxidants have also been shown to
have a significant effect on stabilizing blood pressure by inhibiting serum angiotensin converting
enzyme. The specific metabolites of ellagitannin polyphenols have been shown to localize in the
prostate gland, colon, and intestinal tissues of mice where they take on powerful anti-
carcinogenic properties.

The polyphenol composition of pomegranate has been shown to significantly boost the Th 1
portion of the immune system. Th 1 immunity is our bodies immediate response to antagonistic
organisms in our body and is classified by T helper cells, T suppressor cells, and Natural Killer
cells. This makes pomegranate a powerful anti-infection and cancer cell destroying tool.
However, people with dominant Th1 function may have problems with pomegranate. Be sure to
keep a food journal to monitor how you feel when consuming this fruit and its juice.

Due to the high sugar content of fruit juices it is always advisable to either eat the entire fruit or
drink just small quantities of the juice. The fruit itself contains a high content of fiber that slows
down the release of the fruit sugars into the bloodstream. The rich array of anti-oxidants is also
in its most pure form within the covering of a freshly ripened pomegranate. The juice does have
many beneficial factors and due to pomegranates incredible anti-oxidant potency a 1-2 oz shot
can be of significant benefit for those who react well to it.

[Editor`s Note: NaturalNews is strongly against the use of all forms of animal testing. We fully
support implementation of humane medical experimentation that promotes the health and
wellbeing of all living creatures.]

http://www.naturalnews.com/029841_c...
http://www.naturalnews.com/030600_i...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomegr...
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/a...
Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry 2008; 56(4): 1415-1422

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