Discover the superfood power of pomegranate

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http://www.naturalnews.com/031068_pomegranate_superfood.html#ixzz1BgNaIE1PFriday, January 21, 2011 by: Dr. Jockers, citizen journalist(NaturalNews) 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 usespomegranateswith their many seeds to symbolize the blessing of fruitfulness. They are one of the seven species offoodsenumerated 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 forbiddenfruitin the Garden of Eden.Pomegranates are loaded withnutritionand are particularly abundant in vitamin C, potassium, & pantothenic acid (B5). Pomegranate is rich in anti-oxidant phytonutrientpolyphenolssuch 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.Theantioxidantcapacity (ORAC) ofpomegranateis 2,860 units per 100 grams making it one of nature's richest sources of

free-radical scavenginganti-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 allfruit 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 juice2. Red wine3. Concord grape juice4. Blueberry juice5. Black

cherry juice6. Acai juice7. Cranberry juice8. Orange juice9. Tea10. Apple juiceStudies 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 heartdisease. These unique anti-oxidants have also been shown to have a significant effect on stabilizingbloodpressure 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 andcancercell destroying tool. However, people with dominant Th1 function may have problems with pomegranate. Be sure to keep afoodjournal to monitor how you feel when consuming this fruit and itsjuice.Due to the highsugarcontent

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:NaturalNewsis strongly against the use of all forms of animal testing. We fully support implementation of humane medical experimentation that promotes thehealthand 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): 1415-1422About the authorDr. Jockers owns and operates Exodus Health Center in Kennesaw, Ga. He is a Maximized Livingdoctor. His expertise is in weight loss, customized nutrition & exercise, & structural corrective chiropractic care. For more information go towww.exodushc.comTo find a Maximized Living doctor near you go towww.maximizedliving.comArticles Related to This Article:• The top ten consumer questions about superfruit juices: Pomegranate, blueberry, acai and cherry• A Pomegranate a Day Keeps the Doctor Away• Drug Industry Pushing New Treatment for Prostate Cancer While Ignoring Far Safer and Less Costly Pomegranate Seeds•Pomegranate

juice components block cancer cell migration• Total Blueberry Pomegranate cereal from General Mills contains no blueberries and no pomegranates•Pomegranate juice shown to halt Alzheimer's disease progressionRelated video from NaturalNews.TVYour NaturalNews.TV video could be here.Upload your own videos at NaturalNews.TV (FREE)