The pomegranate makes wonder of life visible to us. With its beauty of colour and shape the age-old tree stands gracefully in the centre of its red blossoms, overwhelming are the usefulness and the taste of its red fruit. It symbolizes the overflowing abundance of nature, its strength and power of resistance, its diversity within the entity of life and its capacity of constant renewal and regeneration.
The latest research shows that the pomegranate hasn't been cultivated by mankind without reason for more than 5.000 years. In former times the skin and juice were often used as ink as well as dye for oriental carpets. The pomegranate has many positive effects on our health. A fatty acid appearing almost only in this fruit, which is demonstrably highly concentrated and has especially positive effects on our health, is important for all metabolism processes in the body.
The pomegranate is an excellent water and food supplier: it contains beta-carotine, vitamins B1, B2 and C, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, albumen a.o. and above all large quantities of antioxidants, secondary plant substances like poly-phenolen (flavonoids, tannins). Of special importance to nutrition experts is the poly-phenol ellag-acid . An optimal anti-oxidative protection, the anti-oxidative effect of the pomegranate is 3 to 10 times higher than in well-known plants like bilberry(blueberry), cranberry or green tea.
According to dietetic studies (Dr. Michael Avriam, 2004) the complete anti-oxidative protection in the blood rises by 130 % after having consumed pomegranate concentrate (10 ml per day). Furthermore, other controlled studies by Dr. Avriam prove the optimal effect on the heart circulation system. The oxidation of the cholesterol LDL could be reduced strongly after the consumption of pomegranates. Oxidized LDL cholesterol is more easily deposited in sediments and results in the so called arterio-sclerotic plaque, which is known as the main reason for heart circulation problems. Even a clear decrease of the sediments in the arteries could be seen. Regular consumption prevents anti-aging, arteriosclerosis and heart circulation diseases.
From the fruit, the skin, the blossoms, the leaves of the pomegranate to its trunk - everything can be used. The fresh juice has a stimulating impact on the blood in the body, helps for anaemia and improves digestion, especially the activity of the stomach. The pomegranate has a contracting quality and thus stops strong bleeding and sweating, heat flushes as well as diarrhoea. It soothes inflammation, increases the healing of wounds by regeneration of the tissue, is useful for the healing of the skin and mucous membranes, helps for bronchitis and tuberculosis, is effective against skin aging, has a proven, strengthening impact on epidermis, increases the firmness and elasticity of the skin, acts positively compensating on skin moisture and reduces wrinkles. At the same time the preventive as well as healing effect on cancer diseases like skin, breast and prostate cancer is to be stressed. Also today the pomegranate is still used in natural medicine as worm and tapeworm medicine. Last but not least the microbial effects on infections of the gums and urinary passages are to be mentioned.
Japanese studies from 2004 prove that because of its enormous quantities of phyto-estrogens (natural hormone treatment) the pomegranate provides for a noticeable soothing of frequent troubles of women in menopause like change of mood, osteoporosis and heat flushes. Also the typical pre-menstruation complaints will be deminished. The oil of the seeds and leaves shows a high substance of plant hormones. The fatty acid of the pomegranate contributes to the formation of prostaglandins in the human body. Prostaglandins are hormones of utmost importance for the metabolism and immune system, which the body produces itself.
American researchers, the team of Prof. Dr. A. R. Neurath, discovered substances in the juice of the pomegranate which prevent the entrance of the HI-virus into cells and thus an infection. The researchers did tests with different HIV stems and thus revealed the mechanisms how the virus binding takes place and how the infection is stopped by it.
Another scientific research of the pomegranate by Dr. Lansky, Schubert and Neemann brought to light different bio-flavonides which can stop infection supporting enzymes. This is also the reason for the anti-infectious and pain soothing effect.
Because of his intensive research of many years the "re-discovery" of the pomegranate is especially due to Dr. Ephraim Lansky. He started the research on the effects of pomegranates on cancerogene cells and developed processing methods of the pomegranate for the maximization of the anti-cancer effect on breast and skin cancer, leukaemia a.o. Through many other controlled studies in the following years he supplied evidence for the many-sided effectiveness of the pomegranate, such as that the seeds have the highest portion of estrones amongst all plant components. In all his studies Dr. E. Lansky was keen to produce a medically effective extract of the whole pomegranate with different extraction methods.
The newest, world-wide most innovative machines presently on the market are for hygienic perfect extraction of the arils. Only these newest aril extracing machines permit the maintaining of the full, 100 % potential of the pomegranate, which is important and precious for nutrition, as medicine and as cosmetic. To protect all natural, especially valuable components it must be secured that the arils are removed from the skin without being crushed. This way all natural qualities of the fruit are preserved and the fresh arils can be eaten or from the fresh arils thus the best pomegranate juice world-wide is produced in this form.
The pomegranate is extremely important in nutrition and in the preventive as well as curative medicine and can simply be called the "cure-all" of the year. Already 2.400 years ago Hippocrates said: "May your food be your medicine and your medicine your food!"
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Pomegranates 'slow tumour growth'
Pomegranates have been linked to many health benefits
Pomegranate juice may help to slow down the progress of prostate cancer, research suggests.
Tests on mice showed the juice dramatically slowed down prostate cancer cell growth.
Pomegranates, native to the Middle East, are packed with healthy anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory agents.
The study, by the University of Wisconsin, appears in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the UK.
Every year over 30,000 men are diagnosed and 10,000 men die from it.
Our study adds to growing evidence that pomegranates contain very powerful agents against cancer
Professor Hasan Mukhtar
Previous research has shown pomegranate extract is effective against tumours in mouse skin.
And scientists in Israel have shown that drinking a daily glass of the fruit's juice can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The Wisconsin team first tested the juice on laboratory cultures of human prostate cancer cells.
They found the extract killed the cancer cells - and the higher the dose, the more cells died.
Supplemented diet
Next the team injected mice with human prostate cancer cells. One group was given pure water, and two others received water supplemented with 0.1% or 0.2% pomegranate juice.
Cancer progression was significantly slowed in mice receiving the higher pomegranate dose.
Their blood contained decreased levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a marker commonly used to monitor prostate cancer.
In comparison, tumours grew much faster in animals that were given only water.
Lead researcher Professor Hasan Mukhtar said: "Our study, while early, adds to growing evidence that pomegranates contain very powerful agents against cancer, particularly prostate cancer.
"There is good reason now to test this fruit in humans, both for cancer prevention and treatment."
Dr Chris Hiley, of The Prostate Cancer Charity, said: "This is useful research as it might well benefit both men who may get prostate cancer and men who already have it.
"It's still to early to know what, if anything, the science will tell us about potential effects in men, but it is not too soon to point out that diet is plainly significant in the development of prostate cancer.
"As there are sound reasons for adopting a healthy diet with a generally increased intake of fruit and vegetables, why not consider pomegranate, and its juice, as one of the ways of achieving this."
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