Over Thanksgiving break, I was at my Aunt’s house in Southern Illinois and after stuffing myself with turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie, I still found the need to check out the fridge, and I am glad that I did.

Inside, I found what has now become a delicacy for me amongst the fruit population: the Pomegranate. When discussing plants, we often forget the importance of the great diversity of fruits that sometimes accompany these plants. To me, the pomegranate is and always will be at the apex of my list of favorite fruits. When my mother was expecting me 20 years or so ago, she told me that she would eat 1 pomegranate every single day. While this quite possibly could be the reason for my affinity towards these delectable fruits today, there is a greater importance to the pomegranate that revolves around the anti-toxic and anti-carcinogenic nature of its juice.
Recently, a study conducted by a research team at Case Western Reserve University found an additional benefit to consuming this super fruit, that is, its inhibitory effect on inflammation.

While inflammation is often a much needed temporary response in humans, chronic inflammation such as that in arthritis, heart disease, and Type II diabetes is a much bigger problem that requires a safe solution since many of these aforementioned diseases contribute to the deaths of millions around the world annually. Until now, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s) such as aspirin and ibuprofen have been the most prescribed combatants against chronic inflammation. The problem with these drugs, however, lies in their many dangerous side effects. My brother is currently a third year student in medical school and he told me not too long ago that a teacher of his once said that if Aspirin had come out today, it probably wouldn’t pass FDA standards because of the many averse side effects associated with this often prescribed drug. With the potential benefits of natural remedies such as pomegranate juice now becoming more known, this may no longer present a problem. At the conclusion of their study, the research team wrote, “Consumption of pomegranate fruit extract may be of value in inhibiting inflammatory stimuli-induced cartilage breakdown and production of inflammatory mediators in arthritis.”

It’s great to know that the fruit I have loved so long has such beneficial effects on the human body. As diseases such as cancer and heart disease continue to rise in prevalence globally, I hope future research will reveal further remedies readily available to us in the natural world.

Discussion Question: Have you personally experienced the beneficial effects of the pomegranate or any other fruit? Feel free to write your experiences below.

News Article Link: http://www.naturalnews.com/024772.html
Research Article Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18490140