The high
concentration of polyphenol in pomegranates protects your body from early aging
and many other health problems.
Oxidative Damages and Free Radicals
Aging,
along with other diseases, is frequently a consequence of oxidative damages to
enzymes, cell structures, proteins or acids. The Oxidative reaction in our body
is similar to the reaction that occurs when metal is rusting. In our body
oxidative damages develop because of free radicals. But what is bad about free
radicals? They are molecules with unpaired “free” electrons, who are trying to
pull electrons out of other molecules. This causes a chain reaction, which harms
the body´s cell structure. Free radicals
are a significantly involved in the development of high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, allergies, diabetes,
rheumatism and even Parkinson´s and Alzheimer. Free radicals in our bodies can
come from cigarette smoke, exposure to sunlight and many residues in food. Our
body produces them as a by-product too and our emotional well-being influences
the oxidation processes.
Our body
relies on external assistance to keep the oxidative reactions under control.
Some antioxidant plant substances are for example protectors of oxidative
damages. However, studies have found that certain antioxidants are less helpful
than others. Two strong protectors against oxidative damages are for example red
wine and green tea.
Pomegranate Juice is much stronger than other Antioxidants
Pomegranate
juice contains much more antioxidants than red wine, green tea, cranberry
juice, noni- or orange juice. This exceptionally high amount of antioxidants
enables pomegranate polyphenols to intercept free radicals and to create safe compounds
with their unbound electrons. High quality pomegranate
juice has an antioxidant power which is three to four times higher than red
wine or green tea (tested with the
so-called TEAC test).
The
indirect antioxidant impact of the pomegranate does activate our body´s own
antioxidative protective system. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
found that people increased their antioxidative protection by 9% after drinking
pomegranate juice for only 1 week! Another study found that one year of daily
pomegranate juice consumption increased the antioxidative protection by 130%
(Aviram at al., 2004).
Enjoy !