by Beth Anderle

Created on: February 13, 2009   Last Updated: July 04, 2009

The pomegranate, virtually ignored for years, is finally receiving recognition for its health benefits. Rather than just being the latest "miracle food," scientific research indicates that daily pomegranate consumption may actually hold the key to maintaining good health and vitality. Countless generations of writers have praised the pomegranate's healthful benefits, but only recently have scientists begun to publish studies backing up some of these claims.

Pomegranates have been around for years and were especially prized by the Romans, who called them "Punic apples." Regularly eaten by kings and princes, they were highly sought after during the Italian Renaissance, where authors and artists regularly extolled their virtues.

Today we know that pomegranates are a great source of vitamins A, E, folic acid, and provide 40% of the adult daily recommended allowance of vitamin C. They have twice the amount of antioxidants found in other popular "super-foods," such as red wine or green tea. Drinking 8 ouces of pomegranate juice a day increases the amount of blood to the heart and helps keep blood platelets from clumping together. It is especially high in polyphenol antioxidants, which keep LDL (bad cholesterol) from oxidizing and causing plaque-buildup that can lead to atherosclerosis. Antioxidants from pomegranates are more rapidly absorbed by the body and are completely non-toxic.

The high level of antioxidants in pomegranates also fight cancer-causing free radicals. Based on studies with mice, scientists believe that pomegranates may actually prevent certain types of cancer, such as skin cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer. It has been shown to help older men recover from prostate cancer treatment, and shows some promise in helping to treat and prevent erectile dysfunction. Pomegranate may also have an impact on arthritis as they have been shown to reduce inflammation. Scientists have discovered that pomegranate extract seem to prevent the production of the enzyme responsible for the damage of osteoarthritis, and may also help the pain of rheumatoid arthritis.

A study by Saitama Prefectural University in Japan showed that pomegranate is a natural source of estrogen and used during menopause it can help to relieve night sweats, hot flashes, and other symptoms. It can help with bone loss, and in some cases actually has been shown to rebuild the bones. Additionally it has also been shown to boost the immune system, and helps to ward off the common cold and other viruses.

Adding pomegranate into your diet is easy and delicious. Drink an 8 ounce glass of pomegranate juice everyday. Blend pomegranate juice, berries, and yogurt for a delicious fruit smoothie or make pomegranate muffins and enjoy them for breakfast. Toss some pomegranate seeds with mandarin oranges, sliced strawberries, and healthful greens for a refreshing salad. Add pomegranate seeds on top of a bowl of vanilla ice cream. Try making your cocktail with pomegranate juice instead of another mixer. Or just snack on a handful of the delicious jewel-toned seeds.

Pomegranates are late fall fruit, so fresh pomegranates must be used promptly or carefully preserved. You can store a whole pomegranate in the refrigerator for up to two months and individual seeds can be frozen and kept for one year. Fresh juice is more perishable, however, and must be used within about three days. Before beginning to consume pomegranate, however, check with your doctor and pharmacist, as there are some medications that are adversely affected by pomegranate.

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