13 Reasons to Love Pomegranates

6.  Protects against heart disease:  New research published in the journal Atherosclerosis shows that pomegranate improves the body’s ability to synthesize cholesterol and destroy free radicals in the vascular system.

7.  Prostate-cancer protection:  Research conducted at the University of California, Riverside, and published in the journal Translational Oncology indicates that pomegranate juice and pomegranate extracts caused cancer cell death.

8.  Breast-cancer protection:  Scientists at the University of California, Riverside, also studied the effects of pomegranate juice and its nutritional components: luteolin, ellagic acid, and punicic acid against breast cancer.  They pubished their results in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment and concluded that pomegranate juice and its extracts “are potentially a very effective treatment to prevent cancer progression…”

9.  Skin-cancer protection:  Consumption of pomegranate was associated with a decrease in both main types of skin cancer—basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, according to new research in theBritish Journal of Dermatology.

10.  DNA-protection:  The antioxidants and/or phytonutrients in pomegranates also appear to interact with the body’s genetic material for protection.

11.  Blood pressure normalizing:  Early research published in the journal Plant Foods for Human Nutritionfound that pomegranate extract may help prevent blood pressure increases associated with eating high fat meals.

12.  Metabolic syndrome regulating:  Research published in the journal Food and Function shows that pomegranate helps regulate blood sugar, improves the body’s sensitivity to insulin, decreases inflammation, and improves numerous other factors involved in metabolic syndrome—frequently implicated in obesity and often a precursor to diabetes. Because of these effects, pomegranate may aid weight loss.

13.  Anti-infectious:  New research published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology found that an extract of pomegranate increased the effectiveness of a drug used against gram-negative bacteria.  Many gram-negative bacteria are known for drug resistance.