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One very wise man once said:
The future of prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease will not be found in your medicine cabinet, but rather on your kitchen counter or in your garden on a tree.
Pomegranate can prevent arterial disease
A new study published in the journal Atherosclerosis confirmed that pomegranate extract can prevent and even reverse the primary pathology associated with death from heart disease.
Specifically, they meant a disease called atherosclerosis, which is characterized by the clogging of arteries by the accumulation of fats within them.
In the experiment, mice prone to spontaneous coronary artery occlusion were given pomegranate extract in their drinking water for two months.
Although pomegranate treatment increased the levels of very low-density cholesterol in these mice, the result was a reduction in arterial deposits.
In addition to the above effect, the researchers noted several other beneficial effects:
- reduction of oxidative stress levels
- reduction of the amount of protein that acts as a chemical messenger in inflammatory processes in the arteries
- reduction of lipid accumulation in the heart muscle
- reduction of macrophage infiltration in the heart muscle
- reduction in the degree of thickening of the heart muscles
- reduction of ECG abnormalities
How can pomegranate do all this?
It is remarkable how the extract of one common and unassuming fruit can reverse so many aspects of coronary artery disease.
The answer to this small mystery is found in the understanding that our distant ancestors evolved in an environment where certain crops were present.
This process of co-existence lasted so long that the lack of some foods can directly lead to failure of certain organs.
For example, Linus Pauling, a two-time Nobel laureate, found that vitamin C deficiency is a primary cause of cardiovascular disease.
At one time our ancestors had year-round access to fresh fruit, and over time they lost the ability to produce it themselves.
Other interesting facts about pomegranate’s effect on the arteries
The previous study examined the effects of extracts.
But does regular consumption of pomegranate, or juices made from it, have the same effect?
It seems so…
For example, in 2004 the journal Clinical Nutrition published the results of a 3-year clinical study in an Israeli population. It was found that daily consumption of pomegranate juice reversed carotid artery stenosis by up to 29%.
It was also remarkable that in the control group artery blockages increased by 9%. This means the true effect of pomegranate juice was even greater!
Overall health benefits of consuming pomegranate
The benefits of consuming pomegranates are fairly broad. This is demonstrated by the following experimentally confirmed effects:
a) Anti-inflammatory
As with many other chronic degenerative diseases, inflammation plays a significant role in cardiovascular diseases.
There are 5 different studies confirming the anti-inflammatory properties of pomegranate.
b) Blood pressure reduction
Pomegranate juice has an effect of inhibiting the angiotensin-converting enzyme and also increases nitric oxide.
These are two fairly well-known mechanisms for lowering blood pressure.
In addition, pomegranate contains a lot of punicalagin, which reduces the adverse effects of pressure on arterial walls.
c) Antimicrobial
The deposition of plaques in the arteries is often accompanied by secondary bacterial or viral infection, including hepatitis C or pulmonary chlamydia.
Pomegranate has fairly broad antibacterial and antiviral effects.
d) Antioxidant
One of the ways blood lipids become disease-causing is through their oxidation process.
For example, bad LDL cholesterol can technically be present in the blood yet be completely harmless. This only holds true until it begins to oxidize.
It has been found that pomegranate reduces oxidative stress in the blood.
In one mouse study it even showed that reducing this stress led to up to a 44% decrease in the size of atherosclerotic lesions.
