________________________
________________________
Pomegranate Juice May Clear Clogged Arteries
WebMD Medical News
A new study shows that pomegranate juice may help fight hardening
of the arteries.
Researchers found that pomegranate juice not
only appears to prevent hardening of the arteries by reducing
blood vessel damage, but the antioxidant-rich juice may also
reverse the progression of this disease.
Hardening of the arteries, known medically as
atherosclerosis, refers to the build up of plaque in the walls
of arteries. This causes decreased blood flow that can lead
to heart attacks and strokes.
Pomegranate Juice Soothes Stressed Arteries
In the study, researchers tested the effects
of pomegranate juice on samples of human cells that line blood
vessels. The cells were exposed to excessive physical stressstress,
such as might occur with high blood pressurehigh blood pressure.
Cells that were treated with pomegranate juice
had less evidence of damage from the stress.
In addition, tests on mice showed that pomegranate
juice significantly slowed hardening of the arteries that developed
from high cholesterolhigh cholesterol.
If further studies show those results in humans,
researchers say pomegranate juice may be useful in both prevention
and treatment of heart diseaseheart disease.
Pomegranate Tops Other Juices
The tests showed that pomegranate juice reduced
the effects of stress on human blood vessel cells by stimulating
the production of nitric oxide. This chemical is thought to
help keep arteries open and keep blood flowing.
Researchers say the beneficial effects of pomegranate
juice on hardening of the arteries are likely largely due to
its high antioxidant content. The study showed that the antioxidant
level in pomegranate juice was higher than that found in other
fruit juices, including blueberry, cranberry, orange, and even
red wine.
Previous studies on red wine, black tea, and
purple grape juice have already indicated these antioxidant-rich
beverages can protect arteries from damage by improving blood
flow. However, large clinical trials using different antioxidants
have yet to show that antioxidants can prevent heart attacks
and other major heart-related events.
________________________
________________________
The Original Pomegranate
Supplement
Estragranate
is the original pomegranate supplement formulated just for women.
Made entirely from pomegranate fractions, the carefully balanced
Pomegranate Synergy Powder™ in Estragranate delivers the
full spectrum of synergistic benefits offered by the whole fruit.
No fillers or carriers are used in this 100% pomegranate powder.
Estragranate is a safe and natural alternative to prescription
hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which is controversial because
of its many serious side effects. Estragranate has been shown
in hundreds of individual cases to significantly help diminish
hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings, while also increasing
libido.
Estragranate is a patented blend of pomegranate
seed, juice, peel and leaf. Along with phytoestrogens and other
antioxidants, pomegranates are rich in lignins, which provide
a natural storage and “slow-release” system for
gentle estrogenic pomegranate lignan. Pomegranates also contain
protective anti-inflammatory flavonoids, including quercetin,
kaempferol and luteolin. Furthermore, pomegranates contain trace
amounts of safe bioidentical estrogens, such as 17-alpha estradiol,
a particularly rare and mild phytoestrogen that helps protect
brain tissue, and campesterol, which can help to reduce LDL
cholesterol and stimulate the immune system.
The estrogen alternatives in Estragranate can
help you safely regain control of your life and put menopause
in the background — where it belongs.
Health benefits
Providing 16% of an adult's daily vitamin C
requirement per 100 ml serving, pomegranate juice is also a
good source of the B vitamin, pantothenic acid, potassium and
antioxidant polyphenols. Overall, however, pomegranate is not
a significant source of nutrients.
The most abundant polyphenols in pomegranate
juice are the hydrolyzable tannins called punicalagins shown
in 39 peer-reviewed research publications over 1990-2007 (August)
to have potent free-radical scavenging ability in laboratory
studies. The antioxidant punicalagins absorb into the human
body after consumption of pomegranate extracts, and an ex vivo
study of human plasma after consumption of a pomegranate extract
standardized to punicalagins indicated an average 32% increase
in plasma antioxidant capacity.
Many food and dietary supplement makers have
found the advantages of using pomegranate extracts (which have
no sugar, calories, or additives), instead of the juice, as
healthy ingredients in their products. Many pomegranate extracts
are essentially ellagic acid, which may only be absorbed into
the body after consumption of punicalagins.
In preliminary laboratory research and human
pilot studies, juice of the pomegranate has been found effective
in reducing heart disease risk factors, including LDL oxidation,
macrophage oxidative status, and foam cell formation, all of
which are steps in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
Tannins such as punicalagins have been identified as the primary
components responsible for the reduction of oxidative stress
which led to these risk factors. Pomegranate has been shown
to reduce systolic blood pressure by inhibiting serum angiotensin-converting
enzyme (ACE).
Metabolites of pomegranate juice ellagitannins
have been shown to localize specifically in the prostate gland,
colon and intestinal tissues of mice. Other research indicates
that pomegranate juice may be effective against prostate cancer
and osteoarthritis.
In 2007, six clinical trials in the United States,
Israel and Norway have been approved to examine the effects
of pomegranate juice consumption on parameters of prostate cancer
or prostatic hyperplasia, diabetes or lymphoma.
The juice may also have antiviral and antibacterial
effects against dental plaque.
Pomegranates and symbolism
Exodus 28:33–34 directed that images of
pomegranates be woven onto the borders of Hebrew priestly robes.
1 Kings 7:13–22 describes pomegranates depicted in the
temple King Solomon built in Jerusalem. Jewish tradition teaches
that the pomegranate is a symbol for righteousness, because
it is said to have 613 seeds which corresponds with the 613
mitzvot or commandments of the Torah. However, the actual number
of seeds varies with individual fruits.[23] For this reason
and others, many Jews eat pomegranates on Rosh Hashanah. The
pomegranate is one of the few images which appear on ancient
coins of Judea as a holy symbol, and today many Torah scrolls
are stored while not in use with a pair of decorative hollow
silver "pomegranates" (rimmonim) slid down over the
two upper scroll handles.
In modern times the pomegranate still holds
strong symbolic meanings for the Greeks. On important days in
the Greek Orthodox calendar, such as the Presentation of the
Virgin Mary and on Christmas Day, it is traditional to have
at the dinner table "polysporia", also known by their
ancient name "panspermia," in some regions of Greece.
In ancient times they were offered to Demeter[citation needed]
and to the other gods for fertile land, for the spirits of the
dead and in honor of compassionate Dionysus. In modern times
the symbolic meaning is assumed by Jesus and his mother Mary.
Pomegranates are also prominent at Greek weddings and funerals.
When Greeks commemorate their dead, they make kollyva as offerings
that consist of boiled wheat, mixed with sugar and decorated
with pomegranate. It is also traditional in Greece to break
a pomegranate on the ground at weddings, on New Years and when
one buys a new home for a house guest to bring as a first gift
a pomegranate which is placed under/near the ikonostasi, (home
altar), of the house, as it is a symbol of abundance, fertility
and good luck. Pomegranate decorations for the home are very
common in Greece and sold in most homegoods stores.
View
Product
________________________
________________________
Pomegranate
May Ward Off Prostate Cancer
by Steve Myers
LOS ANGLELES—Pomegranate extract, high in ellagitannins,
appears to concentrate in the prostate after administration
and protect against prostate cancer cell growth in mice, according
to recent research reported in the Journal of Agriculture
and Food Chemistry (2007; Epub Aug. 28 ahead of print). Researchers
from the University of California (UCLA) following up on a
previous phase II clinical study—which showed pomegranate
juice doubled PSA (prostate specific antigen) doubling time
in prostate cancer patients with rising PSA—conducted
an animal trial on pomegranate extract in wild-type male mice,
including secondary work in mice given human prostate cancer
cells.
Working off the theory that ellagitannins
(ETs) hydrolyze to release ellagic acid (EA), which is then
converted by gut microflora to 3,8-dihydroxy-6H-dibenzo[b,d]pyran-6-one
(urolithin A, UA) derivatives, researchers sought to further
define the metabolism and tissue distribution of ET metabolites.
They administered a standardized ET-enriched pomegranate extract
(PE) and UA to the mice, and measured metabolite levels in
plasma and tissues over a 24-hour period. After administration
of PE and UA, ET metabolites were concentrated at higher levels
in mouse prostate, colon, and intestinal tissues, compared
to other tissues.
Next, they tested PE on prostate cancer growth
in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice injected subcutaneously
with human prostate cancer cells (LAPC-4). They noted PE significantly
inhibited LAPC-4 xenograft growth in SCID mice, compared to
controls. Further, they showed EA and several synthesized
urolithins inhibited the growth of human prostate cancer cells
in vitro.
The researchers concluded the chemopreventive
potential of pomegranate ETs and localization of their bioactive
metabolites in mouse prostate tissue suggest that pomegranate
may play a role in prostate cancer treatment and chemoprevention.
They recommended future human tissue bioavailability studies
and further clinical studies in men with prostate cancer.
________________________
________________________
Pain at the
Pump
by Dr. Ron Paul
This past week Americans traveled approximately 2 billion
miles to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with family and
loved ones. While you cannot put a price on time with family,
Americans sure felt the pain of higher fuel prices at the
gas pump. It is time to take an honest look at the government's
direct and indirect role in inflating those prices.
Taxation is the most direct way government
increases Americans' cost at the pump. The national average
price of gas now is well over $3.00 per gallon now, $4 in
some areas. Federal taxes take 18.4 cents, while state and
local taxes average another 28.5 cents per gallon. That's
an average of 47 cents per gallon Americans are paying just
for government, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Less
directly, our loose monetary policy gives taxpayers double
jeopardy at the pump, simultaneously increasing prices and
undermining purchasing power. Wages always lag behind price
increases, making average Americans feel as though they can
never quite keep up, never quite get out of debt. Not to mention
the ripple effect of higher diesel costs on the trucking industry.
When trucking and shipping is more expensive, everything is
more expensive.
The indirect costs government imposes on gas
prices are much more serious. A major bottleneck that causes
gas prices to surge is our very meagre and vulnerable refinery
capacity due mostly to regulatory red tape. Environmental
regulations and litigation have kept our existing refinery
capacity barely adequate. In fact, no new refineries have
been built since the 70's and these are operating at capacity,
which makes our gasoline market especially vulnerable as demonstrated
by skyrocketing gas prices in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
when many coastal oil facilities were brought to a halt. In
addition, many foreign refineries don't have the ability to
produce the specialized blends of gasoline mandated by our
government, and therefore 90% of our gasoline is refined in
the United States under extreme regulatory burden. When our
domestic refineries are damaged or jeopardized, there are
few options other than soaring prices or long lines.
I've introduced The Affordable Gas Price Act
(HR 2415) to deal with some of these issues. My bill would
suspend Federal fuel taxes when prices rise above $3.00 a
gallon, giving some immediate relief at the pump. It would
also repeal misguided legislation that causes more investment
in attorneys and nuisance litigation than in actually producing
affordable gasoline and strengthening our refining capacity.
Also, it would open up ANWR for oil exploration and repeal
the federal moratorium on off-shore drilling.
Much of government intervention in the oil
industry in the past has been counter-productive and has resulted
in disastrous unintended consequences. This Thanksgiving,
I am grateful for every mile Americans can still afford to
travel to be with family. I am working hard in Congress to
reverse the costly trend of government interference and return
markets, including oil markets, to true economic freedom.
