Pomegranate Juice and Heart Disease
February 27, 2008 by Kitchen Table Medicine
Filed under Antioxidants, Cholesterol, Heart Disease, Superfoods
So, I had basically banned juice in our house for years either because of its high-fructose corn syrup content or because it is always a better idea to just drink water and eat a piece of fruit.
However, this has changed recently in regard to one particular fruit: the pomegranate. The pomegranate, when transformed into juice, does some amazing things for the body, and in particular, the cardiovascular system.
First and foremost it has been shown to lower blood pressure, and inhibit the formation of plaque along artery walls (aka atherosclerosis). Not only has it been shown to inhibit new plaque formation, but it also can reverse the atherosclerosis that has already occurred!
This last result is pretty amazing. The study was done in Israel and involved ten patients taking 50 mL of pomegranate juice every day for a year, after which a doppler ultrasound of the carotid artery showed up to a 30% decrease in the thickness of the artery. Patients who did not take the pomegranate juice showed a 9% increase in the thickness of their carotid arteries.
It has also been shown to help diabetic patients lower their LDL and total cholesterol, while having no significant effect on their blood glucose levels. Yep, you read that right, a juice that does not significantly increase blood glucose levels.
You can find the juice at most supermarkets and health food stores. However, make sure it is 100% pomegranate juice with no added sweeteners or other types of juice as they will only add calories and reduce the positive effects you have just been reading about!
Aviram M, Rosenblat M, Gaitini D, et al. Pomegranate juice consumption for 3 years by patients with carotid artery stenosis reduces common carotid intima-media thickness, blood pressure and LDL oxidation. Clin Nutr. 2004 Jun;23(3):423-33.
Esmaillzadeh A, Tahbaz F, Gaieni I, Alavi-Majd H, Azadbakht L.
Cholesterol-lowering effect of concentrated pomegranate juice consumption in type II diabetic patients with hyperlipidemia. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2006 May;76(3):147-51.
Rosenblat M, Hayek T, Aviram M. Anti-oxidative effects of pomegranate juice (PJ) consumption by diabetic patients on serum and on macrophages. Atherosclerosis. 2006 Aug;187(2):363-71. Epub 2005 Oct 13.
~Dr. Emily Gonzalez
Dr. Nicole Sundene, NMD is a licensed Naturopathic Medical Doctor at Fountain Hills Naturopathic Medicine 16719 E Palisades Blvd, Suite 205, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268.She believes we should utilize natural medicines to treat the root cause of disease rather than just treating symptoms, as symptoms are a message of imbalance sent from the body and will persist until they are properly addressed.
For appointments please visit http://FHnaturopathic.com for more information about Naturopathic Medicine services.
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When I suddenly had symptoms of arterial pain mostly under the right collarbone, I realized I had a severe calcium accumulation or “hardening.” I saw no doctor, no pharmacist, no nurse. I didn’t want to be split open then placed on harsh drugs. I remembered a dentist once told me lemon juice is very hard on enamel, due to high citric acid content. So I raced to get lemons and after juicing 2 large lemons daily in pure unsweetened water for 11 days, all symptoms were gone. However, I stayed on the lemon water for 169 more days because the hardening took many years to accomplish. I also noticed my running endurance time saw a strong gain. When arteries are clear, they can and do circulate oxygenated blood better. I believe the reports on pomegranate. Lemon does run circles around pomegranate. But I would use both at different AM & PM times. Drink lemon water fast and rinse 3X to avoid enamel damage. Any kidney stones will also be sent into solution and voided. Upon starting this routine the usual urine salts were not seen. A whitish residue did accumulate in bottom of bedpan which when dry, seemed like hard “chalk,” undoubtedly, the calcium I USED to have in my arteries. Lemon bioflavonoids strengthen artery walls, its potassium is good for cardiac muscle, it is said to contain five (5) anti-cancer compounds and is very likely hostile to any internal parasites for reasons such as the “limonene” it contains is used as an organic insecticide but beneficial in the human system. Will I someday need a prescription to buy lemons, or sign an affidavit that I am not buying them for medicinal purposes? I would not trade lemons for the entire MD cardiologist armamentarium. And yes, the cost is VERY LOW.