Pomegranate

Pomegranate (Punicagranatum) is one of the first cultivated fruits known to man, native to the Middle East, but now grown in many areas around the world. The different forms of pomegranate are made from high quality pomegranate fruit.

Forms

Pomegranate Juice Concentrate: Pomegranate Juice Concentrate is made from the juicy seeds, known as arils that are removed and pressed. The pressed juice is then further concentrated. The seeds and red pulp of the fruit contain a variety of phytonutrients including punicalagins that act as antioxidants.

Pomegranate Extract Powder: The pomegranate fruits are washed, extracted, concentrated, and spray-dried to a fine powder. The extract is water soluble and standardized to punicosides, natural compounds with potent antioxidant activity.

Health Benefits

Pomegranate has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.1,2 Pomegranate may increase insulin sensitivity and reduce blood cholesterol levels and blood pressure.1,3 Pomegranate consumption may reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, systolic blood pressure, lipid levels, and risk of cardiovascular diseases, especially atherosclerosis, in patients with hemodialysis.4-6 Pomegranate may also reduce blood glucose levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes.7

References

  1. Medjakovic S, Jungbauer A. Pomegranate: a fruit that ameliorates metabolic syndrome. Food Funct. 2013 Jan;4(1):19-39. doi: 10.1039/c2fo30034f. Epub 2012 Oct 12. Review. PubMed PMID: 23060097.
  2. Mazani M, Fard AS, Baghi AN, Nemati A, Mogadam RA. Effect of pomegranate juice supplementation on matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 following exhaustive exercise in young healthy males. J Pak Med Assoc. 2014 Jul;64(7):785-90. PubMed PMID: 25255587.
  3. Lynn A, Hamadeh H, Leung WC, Russell JM, Barker ME. Effects of pomegranate juice supplementation on pulse wave velocity and blood pressure in healthy young and middle-aged men and women. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2012 Sep;67(3):309-14. PubMed PMID: 22648092.
  4. Shema-Didi L, Kristal B, Ore L, Shapiro G, Geron R, Sela S. Pomegranate juice intake attenuates the increase in oxidative stress induced by intravenous iron during hemodialysis. Nutr Res. 2013 Jun;33(6):442-6. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2013.04.004. Epub 2013 May 9. PubMed PMID: 23746559.
  5. Shema-Didi L, Kristal B, Sela S, Geron R, Ore L. Does Pomegranate intake attenuate cardiovascular risk factors in hemodialysis patients? Nutr J. 2014 Mar 4;13:18. doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-13-18. PubMed PMID: 24593225; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3975840.
  6. Shema-Didi L, Sela S, Ore L, Shapiro G, Geron R, Moshe G, Kristal B. One year of pomegranate juice intake decreases oxidative stress, inflammation, and incidence of infections in hemodialysis patients: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Free Radic Biol Med. 2012 Jul 15;53(2):297-304. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2012.05.013. Epub 2012 May 17. PubMed PMID: 22609423.
  7. Banihani SA, Makahleh SM, El-Akawi Z, Al-Fashtaki RA, Khabour OF, Gharibeh MY, Saadah NA, Al-Hashimi FH, Al-Khasieb NJ. Fresh pomegranate juice ameliorates insulin resistance, enhances β-cell function, and decreases fasting serum glucose in type 2 diabetic patients. Nutr Res. 2014 Oct;34(10):862-7. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2014.08.003. Epub 2014 Aug 20. PubMed PMID: 25223711.