Pomegranates

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Hi folks:

From the BBC website (edited):

" Pomegranates: the fruity panacea

By Jini Reddy

Pomegranates are being hailed as a super-food which can protect the

heart. Scientists in Israel have shown that drinking a daily glass

of the fruit's juice can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

" Pomegranate juice contains the highest antioxidant capacity compared

to other juices, red wine and green tea, " said Professor

Aviram, who led the team.

This is good news, for antioxidants are the naturally occurring

substances in plants that protect the body from free radicals - 'bad'

chemicals in the blood.

Free radicals alter cholesterol in a process known as oxidation,

which is thought to speed up the hardening of the arteries.

In studies at the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, the juice of the

fruit was found to slow down cholesterol oxidation by almost half,

and reduce the retention of LDL.

That is the 'bad' cholesterol which forms atherosclerotic lesions,

the fatty deposits which narrow the arteries and lead to heart

disease.

" Antioxidants can protect us against the oxidative stress in our

industrialised world, such as pollution, chemicals, viruses and

bacteria, and consequently cardiovascular diseases and cancer, " said

Professor Aviram.

The theme is being taken up by a team at London's Hammersmith

Hospital, who are launching a study to see if they can replicate the

Haifa findings.

Their work will focus on people whose arteries are currently healthy.

Researcher Dr Bogle said the fruit contained polyphenolics,

tannins and anthocyanins - all compounds that could have a beneficial

effect.

Dr Bogle said: " This study will test the idea that drinking a glass

of pomegranate juice every day improves the function of blood

vessels, reduces hardening of the arteries and improves heart

health. "

" Preliminary studies suggest that pomegranate juice may contain

almost three times the total antioxidant ability compared to the same

quantity of green tea or red wine " . The round, leathery fruit is

full of edible seeds nestled in tiny juice sacs.

Brimming with vitamins A, C, E and iron, the pomegranate has been

cultivated since pre-historic times. Thought to be native to Persia,

the fruit is now grown everywhere from Spain to California.

The fruit has long been used in folk medicine in the Middle East,

Iran and India. Healers have used the bark, leaves, skin and rind as

well as the edible bits of the fruit to cure everything from

conjunctivitis to haemorrhoids. In Iran, a dish known as Fesenjan is

prepared with pomegranate concentrate. " Fesenjan consists of ground

walnuts, fried until brown, which are added to fried onions and duck,

or chicken along with the pomegranate sauce. It has a wondrous

flavour, but very rich. "

In the West, the fruit is still regarded as a novelty, but food

writers like Rosemary Stark are keen to change this. She said: " I

find it has one of the finest sweet/sour balances of any fruit. " Try

sprinkling some over your breakfast muesli, or lunchtime hummus. " "