Pomegranate Juice:
Why Should You Drink It?
Pomegranate juice is a natural juice that has literally exploded into
the health food market recently, offering those looking for healthier
choices another delicious option. The juice is packed with
antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Some even refer to this richly
colored juice a “superdrink” and claim that it can not only prevent some
diseases, but cure them as well.
Although we can’t unilaterally say these claims are true, there is ongoing research that would suggest that juice from the pomegranate may provide a immune system boost naturally and add many health benefits. The best juice for you to drink is juice that is made from fresh fruit and vegetables.
What is a Pomegranate?
Pomegranates are a fruit the size of a large apple. The outside of the fruit is red and feels a bit leathery. Inside the fruit is the best part – the seeds. The richly colored red seeds are roughly the size of a pea and are the one part of the fruit that is actually edible.
These ancient fruits have origins in the Middle East, parts of Europe and North Africa. Ancient Egyptian drawings and writings included the pomegranate fruit and it has even been mentioned in the Bible.
What Are Antioxidants?
Pomegranate juice has antioxidants which are essentially the nutrients in food and drink that help to prevent damage to our bodies caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable and highly reactive molecules, that when oxidized, are the cause of certain types of cancer. Antioxidants eradicate free radicals, so the more of them that we eat or drink, the healthier our bodies will become and the more readily we’ll be able to fight disease.
A pomegranate drink packs some of the world’s most recognized antioxidants. In fact, the juice contains higher levels of antioxidants than even drinks such as green tea, red wine, cranberry juice, orange juice, or blueberry juice, it is a good antioxidant juice.
Health Benefits of Pomegranate Juice
If you knew that a pomegranate drink could help prevent debilitating diseases, would you add it to your diet? It’s quite possible that a cup of juice per day made from this interesting fruit is the new food that will keep the doctor away.
Based on various health studies conducted, there is several health benefits associated with drinking the juice from the pomegranate which is packed with antioxidants.
- May help in treatment and possibly prevention of certain types of cancers such as breast cancer, lung cancer, and prostrate cancer.
- Lower risk of developing diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and heart problems
- Possibly reduces the risk of suffering a stroke
- Has lowered blood pressure in some people in place of medicine
- May help prevent the deterioration of cartilage
- Increases bone density (preventing osteoporosis)
- Protects the arteries by preventing plaque accumulation
- Lowers cholesterol
- Some studies even suggest that it may prevent the buildup of dental plaque on teeth
Easy Ways to Add Pomegranate Antioxidant Juice to Your Diet
It’s quite easy to incorporate a pomegranate drink or juice to your
diet each day. Recipes using it's juice or seeds have become quite
plentiful both online and in cookbooks. Here are a few quick and easy
ideas for which you don’t even need an involved recipe.
- Pomegranate smoothies
- Add some juice to your bottled water
- Pomegranate antioxidant juice (juice it yourself, purchase it from the grocery or on line.)
- Adding the seeds to a fresh mixed green salad
- Add a little juice to your tea
- Sprinkle seeds over ice cream, yogurt, oatmeal, or breakfast cereal
- Simply eat the seeds as a snack
Recipes for using pomegranates include foods such as chutney, jelly, martinis, lamb, soup, vinegar, gravy, pork, baked goods, and beef tenderloin to name just a few. We have several pomegranate recipes for you so you can get a start on including pomegranate antioxidant juice into your diet as soon as possible.
It’s easy to learn how to make pomegranate juice on your own from a pomegranate fruit and then store it in the refrigerator for up to one year. Juicing your own pomegranates is probably a bit less expensive, but requires a bit of planning of your time. However, you can juice as much as you like at one time because the juice can also be frozen in glass bottles without the need for preservation techniques. Overall, the best way to benefit from the pomegranate is to drink the pomegranate juice plus vitamins fresh whenever possible.
This antioxidant-packed juice can also be found at your local grocery store or on line. You can buy the pure pomegranate juice without sugar, cholesterol or preservatives in case you already have health issues that require you to monitor the intake of certain ingredients. Pomegranate juice concentrate and organic pomegranate juice, is also available at health food stores and some grocery stores.
These facts were taken directly from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomegranate_juice.
One 8-ounce glass of juice provides roughly half of an adult’s RDA of
vitamins A, C, and E, 100% of RDA of folic acid, and a whopping 13% of
potassium. However, a cup of the juice also contains nearly 30 grams of
sugar, which is higher than the RDA, so some people may need to drink
only a little at a time, depending on other health issues.
Why Drink Pomegranate Antioxidant Juice?
Pomegranate juice therapy is very promising for fighting cancer. By drinking merely one cup of pomegranate antioxidant juice fresh every day, you’ll be giving your body yet another way to fight disease and feel stronger and healthier. Perhaps you’ll be helping to prevent a disease within your body that may have otherwise taken hold. There are no harmful side effects to drinking the juice, so why not begin drinking one cup per day to keep the doctor away? You can add it to your best weight loss programs.
The juice is not inexpensive, granted, but you need to keep the big picture in mind. The cost of some pomegranate juice weighed against the cost of medical tests and procedures as a result of a disease like cancer, heart disease, or the like…really there is no comparison.
Not to mention, it’s always fun to add a new ingredient to recipes as well, so enjoy experimenting with your own recipe creations using the seeds and the fruit of the pomegranate. We’d love it if you would share your pomegranate recipes with us when you discover one you really like!
One quick note: people on hypertensive medications should closely monitor blood pressure levels while drinking pomegranate juice. Drinking large amounts of the juice can actually lower blood pressure, whereas drinking just the right amount can help relieve hypertension. Consult with your physician before combining pomegranate juice and hypertension medications.
Read enough about
pomegranate juice and want to discover more about the amazing pomegranate health benefits?
