The Potential of Pomegranate

Pomegranate is the most powerful anti-oxidant of all fruits
It contains Potent anti-cancer and immune supporting effects
Pomegranate Discourages platelet aggregation that could cause heart attacks, strokes and embolic disease
Lowers cholesterol and other cardiac risk factors
Lowers blood pressure

Additional medicinal benefits of pomegranates:

Atherosclerosis – Due to its richness of flavonoids and antioxidant vitamins C and E, pomegranates prevent atherosclerosis. In a recent study, patients who took a glass of pomegranate juice every day felt better after 10 days of start taking it.

Degenerative illnesses – Due to its content of antocianines (pigments of red and blue color known as flavonoids) and vitamins C and E, pomegranates stop the aging process and appearance of degenerative illnesses.

Blood purifier – A long treatment with pomegranate juice detoxifies and regenerates the blood. Pomegranates are known as “the queen” of naturopath geriatrics; they are excellent nutrition for old people as well as children.

Diabetes – Pomegranates are an excellent fruit for diabetics because they do not raise blood sugar. They protect them against atherosclerosis and hypertension, two major risks for diabetics.

Menopause – Due to their content of estrogens, pomegranates are recommended to prevent discomforts caused by menopause. Japanese women eat this fruit to prevent such discomforts.

Anti-anemia – Because of its richness in minerals, vitamin C and copper, pomegranate juice is well known for is anti-anemia effects. Pomegranates improve anemia cause by iron deficiency.

Chronic inflammations – Pomegranate juice, taken before breakfast and half hour before meals is quite effective to fight laryngitis, sinusitis, and ear inflammation with suppuration.

Pomegranates are fast becoming known as one of the healthiest foods we can eat, largely because of their beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. The benefit of supplementing with pomegranate extract (rather than drinking the juice or eating the fruit) is that the extract, unlike the juice, contains virtually no sugar or calories, and requires no refrigeration to maintain optimal quality.

**Pomegranate is considered a dietary supplement, so make sure you talk to your doctor before you start drinking it regularly. Pomegranate juice may interact with some prescription medications, such as certain high blood pressure medications and statins.

Memory Boosting Herbs for Alzheimer’s Patients

Alzheimer’s patients experience inflammation of the brain, deposits of beta amyloid, traces of heavy metals and signs of oxidative stress.

Brahmi, a semi-aquatic plant, acts on all of these, says Con Stough, director of the National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM) involved in trials underway at Swinburne University of Technology Brain Sciences Institute (BSI).

“It has an anti-inflammatory effect, is an antioxidant and collates and removes heavy metals and beta amyloid,” he said.

Two trials with a brahmi extract conducted over 90 days, have shown improvements in working memory, particularly spatial memory accuracy.

Pine bark, lemon balm, American ginseng, rosemary and brahmi, are some of the herbs showing promise in fending off Alzheimer’s dementia, causing memory loss, depression and anxiety.

A 50-day trial of a particular pine bark extract supplement for men aged 50 to 65 years has also shown improved speed in spatial working memory and immediate recognition tasks, along with lowering blood pressure.

Another trial is investigating the short-term calmative effects of a special lemon balm product, because anxiety and agitation are major symptoms that Alzheimer sufferers experience.

Andrew Scholey, who heads BSI’s Herbal and Nutritional Medicine Research Unit, said that historically the field of alternative medicine has struggled to gain scientific credibility.

“However, Swinburne’s trials are performed to standards that provide acceptance within the mainstream scientific community,” added Scholey.

Consumer research indicates that more and more people are using some form of alternative health products as part of a proactive, preventative health strategy.