History and Significance
Early Jewish, Islamic and Christian art all use the pomegranate as a symbol of unity and eternal life and in Middle eastern and Mediterranean cultures the myths related it to spiritual and agricultural abundance.

The seeds and rinds were once thought to prevent conception and is still used today as a folk contraceptive in some parts of Africa. In modern Chinese herbal medicine pomegranate rinds are used to treat diarrhea and dysentry, stop bleeding and as a common treatment for parasites or intestinal worms.

In North America, pomegranates are valued for their antioxidant properties and have been studied for their potential in cancer prevention.

Medicinal Constituents
Pomegranate juice has become widely available and popular in North America over the past few years Research has shown pomegranates to be rich in anthocyanidins – the constituent responsible for the majority of its antioxidant, as well as potential anti-inflammatory properties. Some scientists and health professionals believe that pomegranate may play a role in the treatment of a variety of 'silent inflammatory' processes, like those involved in cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Water extracts of pomegranate rind, rich in polyphenols, were found to promote differentiation of leukemia cells, causing them to revert to normal cells.

More research needs to be conducted in terms of cancer therapy, specifically further evaluation in the treatment and prevention of breast, prostate and colon cancers, among others. Pomegranate has also been shown to contain a number of fatty acids, including oleic, linoleic, palmitic and punicic acids, which may explain some of its potential cardio-protective properties. Several studies have shown it may play a part in reducing LDL cholesterol and lowering blood pressure. It is also thought that the tannins are responsible for balancing the good versus bad cholesterol, by interfering with the oxidation of LDL cholesterol specifically.

Supplement or Fruit?
Pomegranate fruit can be purchased at your local grocery or health food store, along with the juice. It can also be purchased as a supplement, in capsule form. Pomegranate extracts are usually standardized to include a certain percentage of poly phenol/ellagic acid. There is no consensus in terms of dosage or recommended juice consumption. Pomegranate has a very strong safety profile.

If you have an existing allergy to peanut or hazelnut, there may be some cross reactivity with pomegranate. Consume with caution. Pomegranate should be avoided during pregnancy, as there is mild evidence to suggest that the peel, high in ellagic acid may stimulate menstruation and uterine contractions. Due to high tannin content, it has been suggested to separate iron supplementation with pomegranate by a minimum of 1-2 hours.