Navitas Naturals Pomegranate Powder (Organic) - 227g

POMEGRANATE

A rich source of antioxidants and nutrients that can improve cardiovascular health, and help slow the physical signs of aging...

Pomegranates are the fruit of the shrub Punica granatum, which is native to Iran and Iraq, although now it is cultivated in many arid regions around the world. The seeds of this fruit are eaten for the sweet tangy seed casings (arils). The juice from the seed casings is often extracted for its delicious flavour.

Interestingly, the grenadine syrup used in cocktails is actually concentrated and sweetened pomegranate juice. In addition to its delicious flavour, pomegranate juice also provides a number of health benefits, and pomegranate has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years.

Traditional Uses

Traditionally, the rind of the pomegranate fruit is used in India for the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery and intestinal parasites, and modern Chinese herbal medicine uses it for these purposes as well. The seeds and the juice are used to treat heart and throat conditions and to help balance a diet high in sweet and fatty foods. The seeds and rinds were once thought to prevent conception and are still used today as a folk-remedy for family planning in some parts of Africa. Fresh and dried pomegranate seed arils are used in many Persian, Greek, and Pakistani dishes as well for their sweet, tart flavour and nutritional benefits.

Nutritional Content

Pomegranate juice contains a relatively high dose of vitamin C, vitamin B5, and potassium. The seeds within the arils also contain large amounts of fibre, and a number of fatty acids, including oleic, linoleic, palmitic and punicic acids, which may explain some of its potential cardio-protective properties.

Cardiovascular Benefits

Preliminary research has also shown pomegranate to be beneficial in reducing many of the risk factors associated with heart disease, particularly by reducing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and by lowering blood pressure. It is also thought that the tannins present in the juice are responsible for balancing the “good” (HDL) and “bad” (LDL) cholesterol, by interfering with the oxidation of LDL cholesterol specifically. Interestingly, one human study found that pomegranate juice helped to treat carotid artery stenosis (narrowing) by reducing the thickness of the artery wall.

Antioxidant

Pomegranate juice contains a large number of different phenolic compounds that act as strong antioxidants. In fact, the antioxidant capacity (ORAC) of pomegranate has been measured as 2,860 per 100g. 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 and diabetes.

Supplement or Fruit?

Pomegranate fruit can be purchased at your local grocery or health food store, as can the bottled juice. Pomegranate extract can also be purchased as a supplement, in capsule form. Pomegranate extracts are usually standardized to include a certain percentage of polyphenols / ellagic acid. There is no consensus in terms of dosage or recommended juice consumption. Pomegranate juice has a very strong safety profile, and is generally considered safe. The rind should be used with caution by women who are pregnant or breast feeding.

POMEGRANATE – QUICK FACTS

PARTS USED
Fruits & Seeds

INDICATIONS
Anxiety, insomnia, depression, high stress

APPLICATIONS
Cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, healthy immune function,, oxidative/free radical damage, inflammatory processes.

OPTIMUM DOSAGE
Unknown. Follow supplement instructions

WORKS WELL WITH
Green tea extract, grape seed extract, vitamin C, bilberry, blueberry, cherry.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Allergic reactions to pomegranate can be serious. There is some evidence of cross reaction in individuals with peanut or hazelnut allergies. These individuals should consume pomegranate with caution.
Pomegranate or pomegranate juice should be avoided during pregnancy. For individuals taking iron supplementation, try to separate supplementation from pomegranate consumption by approx. 2 hours, as the high tannin content can interfere with iron absorption.