Pomegranate - A symbol of health and fertility

As one of the oldest known fruits, which is mentioned in documents and artefacts of many cultures and religions, the pomegranate (Punica granatum) originally comes from Persia. This nutritious fruit was revered as a symbol of health, fertility and eternal life.

The pomegranate has been used in medicine for over 8,000 years but has not received much attention from the western world. Until now. Because of the news about the unsurpassed antioxidant ingredients of the pomegranate and due to astonishing clinical results, the fruit became a real star among the super fruits.

The pomegranate is back in focus as a health source. Here's what you should know about the pomegranate:

The pomegranate deserves to be called the 'most healing fruit' because it reduces the risk of various types of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and stroke, slows down or prevents the harmful effects of chronic inflammation and oxidation, and prevents diseases after menopause in women and prostate problems in men, maintains brain function, joint health and a strong immune system and prevents Alzheimer's, osteoarthritis and infections.

Due to its complex qualities, including its high content of antioxidants, its ability to regulate hormones and its antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties, this fruit clearly stands out from all other miracle medicines in modern natural medicine and therapeutic food supplements.

Many studies show that pomegranate is one of the most effective, nutrient-dense foods for good overall health. These clinical findings show a clear correlation between the powerful polyphenols in pomegranates and their positive effects on cardiovascular, nerve and skeletal health.

What makes the pomegranate so valuable?

The pomegranate is a nutrient-dense food that is rich in phytochemical compounds. The pomegranate contains large amounts of flavonoids and polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants. A glass of pomegranate juice contains more antioxidants than red wine, green tea, blueberries and cranberries.

Punicalagins - Polyphenols only found in pomegranates - have been linked to the fruit's powerful antioxidant capacity and its overall health benefits. Not only do they protect the cardiovascular system, but they also lower cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as increase the rate at which blockages in the heart (arteriosclerosis) dissolve.

These pomegranate antioxidant compounds are also shown to reduce platelet sticking and naturally lower blood pressure - factors that help prevent both heart attacks and strokes.

Not only is the pomegranate good for your heart and blood vessels, but it has also been shown to be able to suppress breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, leukaemia.

It is also of interest that the pomegranate contains phytochemical compounds that stimulate serotonin and oestrogen receptors, which reduce symptoms of depression and increase bone mass in laboratory animals.

Several clinical studies show that the oral intake of only 80 mg of punicalagins from the pomegranate per day can support various areas of our health.

Aren't fresh pomegranates better than taking a pomegranate extract in capsules?

Nowadays, the pomegranate can be purchased in supermarkets almost all year round. However, they tend to be quite expensive in turn making it a hassle to eat enough fresh pomegranate seeds on a daily basis.

For example, you need 500-700 ml of fresh (!!) pomegranate juice to consume the 180 mg punicalagin per day recommended by experts. Pomegranate juice in a tetra pack or bottle is pasteurized and often only contains a small amount of real pomegranate juice.

The punicalagin content of fresh pomegranates or pomegranate juice also varies greatly - so you can never be sure whether there are enough punicalagins in a pomegranate. Fresh pomegranate juice also contains a lot of sugars and calories. Standardized pomegranate extract in capsules are therefore the easiest, safest and cheapest way to get enough punicalagins every day

Pay attention to the punicalagin content, because not all pomegranate extracts are the same

If you want to take a pomegranate extract daily to support the health of your heart and blood vessels and to prevent diseases, you should choose a product that provides a guaranteed punicalagin level. This is the case with Pomegranate Royal from Vitality Nutritionals.

A pomegranate extract with the highest quality and effectiveness is used for Pomegranate Royal. This includes the full spectrum of polyphenols which is contained in the seeds, pods and juice of the fruit and therefore has a particularly high punicalagin content of 30%, which corresponds to 180 mg of punicalagins per capsule - a lot more than conventional pomegranate extracts on the market contain.

The punicalagin content of Pomegranate Royal is measured in each product batch by an independent laboratory. The punicalagin content of pomegranates can vary greatly depending on the season and processing conditions. Standardized pomegranate extract, which contains a constant amount of punicalagins, is along with the rest of the natural spectrum of polyphenols in the fruit - the best way to maximize the health benefits of the pomegranate.

Pomegranate Royal capsules contain a 100% natural extract from the whole pomegranate with a standardized punicalagin content. Punicalagins are not only found in the pomegranate seeds. In particular, the inedible peel, the rind and the inner yellow membranes that cover the seeds contain high levels of punicalagins.

The regular consumption of pomegranate extract has shown positive results in blood pressure and high blood pressure, inflammation and cardiovascular diseases. Other studies have also been carried out on protection against UV rays, prostate cancer and sexual dysfunction.

• Dr. Sergio Steinberger says: 'We threw away the peel and pulp of the pomegranate for thousands of years because they are inedible and we didn't have the science to see and use their benefits. This amazing extract now makes it possible for the first time to bring the full health benefits of the pomegranate to the public.'
• 'Our research has identified a surprising range of benefits from consuming pomegranate extract,' said Dr. Steinberger. 'Pomegranates have received extensive scientific research in recent years, but we first need to understand all the beneficial properties contained in the peel, pulp and pods of the fruit. The initial results of our research are extremely promising. The extract appears to be a real fountain of youth.'

The pomegranate and cardiovascular health

Punicalagins are known to have antioxidant and cardiovascular benefits, which have been proven by many scientific research groups. In 2000, in a groundbreaking study by staff from the University of California, Spain and South Africa, the following was noted: 'The antioxidant activity of pomegranates is primarily based on the hydrolyzable tannins, which include punicalagins'.

Research on the pomegranate shows that the overall effects of its phenolic compounds, including punicalagins, had potent effects on cardiovascular diseases that could not be found with any isolated compound.

Further notes on these punicalagins were subsequently published by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA):

• 'It is noteworthy that of all the polyphenols found in pomegranate juice, punicalagins are the most potent antioxidant ingredient that contribute greatly to the observed antioxidant properties of pomegranate juice.
• Our results show that pomegranate juice (standardized to the punicalagin content) is more effective than its separate and individual polyphenols, suggests synergistic and additional effects of the other phytochemicals found in the pomegranate.'

High bioavailability of punicalagins from the pomegranate

The bioavailability is the key to the effect, as a nutrient without bioavailability is simply transported through the body. Punicalagins have a bioavailability rate of up to 95% and offer a variety of antioxidant properties.

The uniqueness of the punicalagins, however, lies in their ability to act as 'polyphenol bombs', being able to break down into several active 'daughter' metabolites such as ellagic acid and urolithins.

When medical researchers at a US university studied components of nutrition to find the best antioxidant candidates for supporting cardiovascular health, healthy ageing and longevity, the pomegranate had the most activity. So they tried to find out which ingredient makes the pomegranate so effective.

They found a group of powerful antioxidants called punicalagins. Punicalagins are ellagitannin polyphenols, which are among the strongest free radical scavengers and score with some interesting activities, such as the effective regulation of inflammation and the protective effect on DNA and cell signals. Punicalagins are unique in that they can break down into 'daughter' polyphenols (such as ellagic acid), or hydrolyse, once they are in the bloodstream and can therefore be highly metabolized and absorbed by the target tissue.

However, there is a catch with the bioavailability of pomegranates. The researchers found that if the punicalagins break down before they enter the bloodstream, the daughter molecules are not absorbed - they must be bound to their 'parent' polyphenol - the punicalagins - in order to be bioavailable.

Pomegranate extract and its many benefits on our health

The interest in pomegranates has exploded since the year 2000. Over 3,000 new scientific documents have been created which contribute to the health characteristics of the fruit.

The benefits associated with the pomegranate come from its punicoside content. The punicalagins, ellagic acid and some glycosides (polyphenolic compounds with strong antioxidant power) are specifically responsible for this.

Extensive research into pomegranate extract has revealed a large number of benefits related to the subjects below. Current and future studies focus specifically on the areas of inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, skin regeneration and UV protection.

1. The pomegranate protects cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure and blood pressure

Pomegranate extract has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular health of patients suffering from atherosclerosis with narrowing of the carotid arteries. High cholesterol/triglyceride levels, low LDL cholesterol levels and especially oxidized LDL are among the risk factors associated with arteriosclerosis and coronary heart diseases.

The regular intake of pomegranate extract protects the cardiovascular system and prevents the occurrence of cardiovascular events, which makes it a health-promoting dietary supplement. Arterial hypertension is one of the risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Steinberger studied the effects that pomegranate extract has on arterial blood pressure and compared this with control groups that were not treated with pomegranate extract. He concluded that the pomegranate extract shows antihypertensive activities, which prevents the occurrence of cardiovascular events to a greater or lesser extent and can therefore be regarded as a health-promoting food supplement.

2. The pomegranate reduces inflammation

Pomegranate extract has beneficial effects on numerous inflammatory diseases, including arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases. The bioactive compounds of pomegranate extract (polyphenols) reduce inflammation by acting at the level of the genetic transcription factor NFkB. The anti-inflammatory effects are similar to Ibuprofen.

Dr. Steinberger analysed the anti-inflammatory effects of pomegranate extract by measuring the levels of the various cytokines involved in inflammation in the blood serum. Consumption of a pomegranate extract led to a decrease in the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL1, IL6, IL8, IL12 (p70) and TNF in the blood serum.

3. The pomegranate provides powerful antioxidants

Taking pomegranate extract leads to a decrease in 8-ox-dG levels. This metabolic product is an indicator of DNA damage. Consuming a pomegranate extract affects a wide variety of genes involved in various metabolic pathways in the body. Many of them are aimed at protecting the body from various oxidative stressful situations.

The blood test of the participants after taking the pomegranate extract showed no liver dysfunction or other abnormalities, which proves the safety of the consumers when taking standard doses. The data from this study show an antioxidant effect of pomegranate extract in humans. Other data from preclinical studies confirm this.

4. Pomegranate reduces sexual dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction patients reported improvements in their performance. Punicalagins stimulate the production of nitric oxide, a vasodilator that stimulates blood circulation and venous return. This has a strong effect on the mechanisms of erection. In a satisfaction study, after 30 days of consuming pomegranate extract daily, all participants reported an increase in libido.

5. Pomegranate provides UV protection

Excessive exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) and A (UVA) rays has numerous negative health effects on the skin, including redness, hyperpigmentation, immune suppression, and photoageing. Research shows that applying pomegranate extract protects human skin cells from these harmful rays.

6. Pomegranate protects against cancer

Laboratory tests suggest a 12% decrease in cell proliferation in prostate cancer and an inhibitory effect on cell motility and invasion in breast cancer. The bioactive compounds in the pomegranate extract also have an anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and apoptotic effect on prostate and colon cancer.