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Advantage of Pomegranates
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The amount of cholesterol in the blood, both in the LDL ("bad cholesterol") and in the HDL ("good cholesterol") is one of the main danger factors in the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and its results – heart and vascular disorders such as heart seizures and strokes. Nevertheless, even the quality of the cholesterol plays an important part as a danger factor in these diseases.
When the cholesterol becomes oxygenated (as metal turns to rust) it settles into the walls of the arteries and causes the acceleration of atherosclerosis, even when its level in the blood is satisfactory. These findings have led to many researches into the influence of antioxidants on the development of atherosclerosis. During the last few years, a team headed by Prof. Michael Aviram succeeded in isolating the elements active as antioxidants and atherosclerosis delayers, and have identified them as tannins – which are found distinctively in pomegranates. Prof. Aviram was the first to prove that a combination of unique antioxidants from the polyphenol family – which can be found in pomegranates, red wine, licorice root and olive oil – can defend the body against the sclerosis process due to the antioxidant activity found in these foods. A diet including these foods – widely used in Mediterranean dishes – will help to slow down atherosclerosis development and its results, by delaying the oxygenating of the cholesterol on one hand and accelerating the breakdown of the oxygenated cholesterol on the other.
The front line battle against heart and vascular diseases is lowering the level of cholesterol in the blood and preventing its oxygenating. Prof. Aviram's research team discovered that pomegranate juice has highly active antioxidants as well as a substance from the tannin family called punicalagins – unique to pomegranates.
From here the researchers turned to check out the results in the field. They gave healthy people one cup of pomegranate juice a day. In 2 weeks their level of cholesterol oxygenating noticeably decreased by 45%! The next step included patients with partial occlusion of their carotid artery (leading blood to the brain). They were asked to drink one cup of pomegranate juice a day for 4 years. Results showed that the pomegranate juice led to a considerable delay in cholesterol oxygenating, as well as a 30% decrease in the size of the occlusion in the carotid artery. Without any treatment, the size of the blockage grows by 10% a year. The obvious conclusion was that by drinking 1 cup of pomegranate juice a day you can lead a healthier life, for longer.
Prof. Aviram's research during the past decade were the first to prove that the antioxidant elements in pomegranates which are responsible for the protective characteristics against heart and vascular diseases, are found mainly in the outer peel and even in the pomegranate flowers. Therefore squeezing the entire pomegranate – and not only the arils (seeds) – has great significance in realizing the healthy characteristics of this unique fruit.
Pomegranate juice is important in other medical fields. Research conducted in the US shows that drinking pomegranate juice daily can delay the development of prostate cancer. Further research confirms that pomegranate juice includes ingredients which delay and prevent the penetration of HIV1 virus, and as such is an inexpensive and available source for the production of microbicides, which is a preparation for spreading on the skin in order to prevent the transmitting of AIDS and other sexually related infections.
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