Pomegranates hold a huge number of health benefits
Pomegranates have long been hailed as a healthy food we should all be eating more of and new reasearch indicates that it can have a positive effect of arterial health, blood pressure and moving fat cells away from the waist.
The newly published paper in the Journal of Nutritional Science from researchers at Queen Margaret University (QMU) in Edinburgh finds that pomegranate juice consumption can have a beneficial effect on your diet.
The peer-reviewed paper adds further weight to a body of clinical research that charts the health benefits associated with regular pomegranate juice consumption.
The range of benefits derived from consumption may soon widen. Queen Margaret University is investigating the possibility that pomegranate juice is an effective appetite suppressant, raising the possibility that it could be a diet aid, and Spanish scientists are exploring the possibility that pomegranate juice consumption could deflate so-called “bingo wings” on the backs of arms.
Widely regarded as a superfood, pomegranate juice is packed with anti-oxidants and is also known to lower blood pressure, guard against heart disease and help fight certain types of cancer.
Amongst the benefits associated with pomegranate juice consumption are:
· Bulge-busting. Pomegranate juice can deflate so-called muffin tops and belly fat, according to a study by Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh, published in the last few weeks in the Journal of Nutritional Science. Volunteers who drank 500ml of juice every day for four weeks had lower levels of plasma NEFA (non-esterified fatty acids), which are linked to the storage of abdominal fat.
· Perfect skin. A £2 million research programme by scientists in Spain has discovered that pomegranate extract stimulates type I procollagen synthesis in the skin, which helps promote skin repair. The team at Probeletebio laboratories, Murcia, is now conducting further clinical trials on the ability on pomegranate extract to restore the skin’s youthful appearance.
· Anti-stress. In a separate study, the QMU team reported that pomegranate juice significantly reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol in saliva, while volunteers reported feeling more enthusiastic and less distressed after having the drink.
· Love Potion. The same study also found that a daily glass of juice increases levels of testosterone – which can boost sexual desire – in both men and women. Testosterone can also boost memory and calm nerves.
· High Energy. Some brands of pomegranate juice drink now contain a natural fruit sweetener which provides a slow, continuous energy release rather than a short-term energy rush.
Tagged in Healthy eating Skin Healthy Diet Plan Healthy Food