From being a safeguard against the flu to fighting serious illnesses, pomegranates have proven to be great protectors of our bodies. They are rich in antioxidants and that’s why they can fight many intruders that cause us pain and inflammation. While many benefits are mentioned online, only a few have been actually proven by scientists.
Bright Side did some thorough research and found 6 beneficial ways that pomegranates can impact your body and overall health.
1. It can keep viruses and the seasonal flu away.
With their juice, their seeds, and even their peel, pomegranates can shield your body from pathogens. The juice, especially, can protect you from attracting viruses from infected food by defending the oral cavities. Also, the fruit extract, that is a great source of Vitamin C, has shown to be great protection against the common flu.
2. It can lower high blood pressure.
The antioxidant properties of pomegranates have been found to successfully reduce hypertension and high blood pressure. A study has shown that those who suffer from these things have to consume at least 240 ml per day in order to start seeing results. Also, they have to make sure that the pomegranate juice is 100% natural with no added sugar.
Another way pomegranates help with blood pressure is through potassium. 100 grams of pomegranate contains 236 grams of potassium, something that helps maintain the health of our bones and the function of our heart.
3. It can improve digestion problems.
People battling Crohn’s disease are very familiar with the stomach problems that result in reduced appetite and weight loss, among other things. The reason for that is the build-up of bacteria inside the stomach that results in severe inflammation. One solution that many studies have found to be helpful, is the consumption of pomegranates. The fruit’s extract seems to be a good defender and attacker against those bacteria that cause all the pain.
4. It can strengthen your memory, especially in those battling Alzheimer’s.
This was the conclusion of Dr. Hartman’s studies, where he gave pomegranate pills to patients that were about to have heart surgery. The first pill was given a week before the surgery and the second, 6 weeks after. The patients noticed that their memory was 100% intact and even better than before. On the other hand, the patients that didn’t get the pills experienced the expected memory loss that follows a surgery.
Dr. Hartman went even further by saying that he had some evidence that the pills helped create more neurons in the brain. This does not mean that he found a cure for Alzheimer’s. It simply means that consuming pomegranate from a young age can have amazing benefits.
5. It can balance the effects of diabetes.
It has been found that high sugar levels connected to diabetes can be controlled by simply eating a pomegranate daily. These fruits can reduce oxidative stress which is the main cause of diabetes. They also reduce the bad type of cholesterol, helping to maintain a relatively low blood sugar level.
However, diabetic patients should be very careful with their daily intake of pomegranate. At the end of the day, it contains sugar, something that they should consume in very low quantities.
6. It improves bone health and reduces the pain from arthritis.
In a 2011 study, it was found that pomegranate seed oil can relieve joint tenderness. Moreover, scientists have found significant evidence showing how the fruit’s antioxidants can fight arthritis successfully. Not only that, but it can be used by anyone in order to increase their bone strength and function.
This was further proven in a 2016 study, where participants were given 200ml of pomegranate juice daily. 6 weeks later, the subjects noticed that their bone stiffness decreased and their physical function increased.
Do you consume pomegranates and if so, have you noticed any of the above benefits? Or have you experienced any other perks?